PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joey Stageberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Forrest Gump (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stageberg kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Bone Thugs and Harmony - Tha' Crossroads. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stageberg
vs
Gump

178 cm
25
185 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

180 cm
21
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Powerful

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joey Stageberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Forrest Gump!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gump looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gump stops Stageberg from standing up.
Stageberg has his hands on Gump's head, controlling the position.
Gump trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gump looking to pass the guard.
Gump trying to control but Stageberg is working from the bottom.
Stageberg bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gump's guard.
Gump has a closed guard, preventing Stageberg from standing up.

Gump looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gump has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Stageberg slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Gump has a closed guard, preventing Stageberg from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stageberg knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gump on the ground.

Stageberg got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gump has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stageberg has managed to get both his arms back between Gump's legs - danger averted.
Stageberg trying to control the position from guard on top but Gump is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Stageberg sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Stageberg stands up from Gump's guard - Stageberg perhaps looking for a knockout.
Stageberg tries to bum rush Gump with a series of wild strikes but Gump uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nice defenses there by Gump.

Gump throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Stageberg was covering up waiting for the punch and Gump finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Gump trying to control the position from guard on top but Stageberg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gump thows a big elbow that misses.
Stageberg wants to stand but Gump is controlling the position.
Stageberg keeping moving, preventing Gump from controlling successfully.
Stageberg controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stageberg wants to stand but Gump is controlling the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gump showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stageberg.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gump scores a takedown into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gump landing strikes from the mount.
Gump throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Stageberg because Gump loaded up on that one.

Gump working for a guillotine from mount but Stageberg is in no mood to give up.
Stageberg is trying to stand up.
Stageberg is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gump landing strikes, looking to finish!
Gump throwing strikes here but Stageberg is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Gump lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gump trying to control but Stageberg is having none of it.

Gump wants to finish this one by submission but Stageberg is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Gump.
Gump looks gassed!
Stageberg squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
The referee warns Stageberg that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Stageberg is trying to escape the mount.

Gump has control of Stageberg's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Stageberg regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Gump is landing with some decent strikes but Stageberg is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Forrest Gump dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A slow jab from Stageberg misses its intended target.
Stageberg cracks Gump with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

It looks like Forrest Gump has been cut.
Gump blocks a jab.
Gump fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stageberg avoids it really well and circles away.

Gump scores with a takedown into Stageberg's guard.
Gump stays in close to Stageberg's body and controls the position.
Stageberg trying to control the position.
Stageberg looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gump is one step ahead there.
Gump trying to control but Stageberg is working from the bottom.
Stageberg wants to stand up but Gump is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gump is looking to work some ground and pound but Stageberg has wrist control.
Gump trying to control but Stageberg is working from the bottom.
Stageberg tries to land a sweep but no joy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gump showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stageberg.
Stageberg displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gump.
Stageberg fails to land with a series of punches.
Stageberg jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gump keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stageberg.
Stageberg stuffs the takedown.
Joey Stageberg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Forrest Gump.
Gump is breathing heavily.
Gump fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stageberg avoids it really well and circles away.
A slow jab from Stageberg misses its intended target.
Gump slips a jab and a cross from Stageberg.
Stageberg scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gump fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Stageberg defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gump.

Stageberg drops Gump with a beautiful combination! Gump stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Stageberg is looking for the KO!

Gump is rocked!
Stageberg will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gump is still on wobbly legs! Can Stageberg finish him?
Stageberg tries to bum rush Gump with a series of wild strikes but Gump uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gump shoots in looking for a takedown. Stageberg tries to sprawl out of it but Gump keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stageberg manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gump seems to have recovered his senses.
Gump defending well as Stageberg loads up on a big left hand.
Stageberg lands a slapping body shot.
Joey Stageberg is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gump blocks a jab.
Stageberg stuffs the takedown attempt from Gump. Gump gets slowly back to his feet.
Stageberg lands with a shot to the body.
Stageberg cracks Gump with an open hand slap.
Joey Stageberg is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stageberg misses with a hook.
Gump closes the distance and clinches up with Stageberg, looking for a takedown. Gump pushes Stageberg against the cage but Stageberg circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Stageberg swinging wildly here.
Stageberg misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gump scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Gump looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Stageberg is avoiding damage well.
An elbow from Gump crashes against the mat.

Stageberg throws Gump to one side and escapes!
Stageberg misses with a hook.
Stageberg throws a right and a left that both miss.

Gump shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Stageberg's guard.
Gump trying to control the position from guard on top but Stageberg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stageberg wants to stand and escape but Gump is having none of it.
Gump loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stageberg is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gump is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stageberg keeping moving, preventing Gump from controlling successfully.
Gump works over Stageberg with some ground and pound from guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Gump shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Gump is keen to just control but Stageberg is a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stageberg keeping control of the position.
Gump stops Stageberg from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Stageberg dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Forrest Gump's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Stageberg misses with an uppercut. Gump saw that one coming.
Gump shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Stageberg pinned against the cage. Stageberg gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Stageberg fails to land with a series of punches.

Gump looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gump trying to advance position but Stageberg counters by regaining guard.
Stageberg looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gump stops Stageberg from standing up.
Gump with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stageberg is looking to stand up but Gump isn't so interested in that idea.
Gump preventing the sweep.
Gump throwing strikes from guard but Stageberg blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stageberg pushes Gump off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Stageberg misses with a series of wild punches.

Gump shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gump showed some decent athleticism there.
Gump thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gump missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gump sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Stageberg defending well though.
Gump not doing much here.

Stageberg kicks off Gump and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gump scores a takedown into full mount!
Gump won't let Stageberg get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Gump looking to control but Stageberg is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gump working Stageberg over with strikes here.
Stageberg is trying to stand.
Gump trying to control but Stageberg is having none of it.
Forrest Gump has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stageberg avoids a series of strikes thrown by Gump.
Stageberg is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stageberg tries to hold on but Gump postures up.
Stageberg is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Gump tries to control but Stageberg wriggling away.
Stageberg is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Gump lands a big shot there that rocks Stageberg but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Gump goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Stageberg turns into him and now he's in Gump's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stageberg wants to stand but Gump is controlling his posture from full guard.
Gump controlling the position.
Stageberg wants to control from the top but Gump keeps moving.
Stageberg wants to stand but Gump has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Stageberg trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Gump has his foot on Stageberg's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stageberg works his way back into a safe position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Forrest Gump comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gump has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Forrest Gump!