PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lowell Stanley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Fantana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stanley's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, The Hammer. Fantana has chosen You! Me! Dancing! as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Stanley
vs
Fantana

177 cm
22
143 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

168 cm
28
153 lbs
14 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lowell Stanley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brian Fantana!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Eddie Farnsworth and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stanley misses with a few strikes there.
Stanley looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stanley throws a hook to the side of Fantana's head but Fantana sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Stanley looks to throw the jab but Fantana is out of range.
Fantana lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Fantana digs a good hook to Stanley's body.
Fantana misses with an uppercut. Stanley saw that one coming.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fantana. Stanley does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stanley throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Stanley looks to land a left hand but Fantana moved out of range nicely.
Stanley misses with a body punch
and Fantana counters with a nice uppercut.
Stanley lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Fantana at a distance.
Fantana throws a big shot that misses.
Stanley dodges the punch combination from Fantana.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fantana misses with an uppercut. Stanley saw that one coming.
Stanley changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Stanley misses the body punch

and Fantana counters with a shoot takedown. Stanley fights it but they end up in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stanley manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fantana manages to get himself to full guard.
Stanley wants to control from the top but Fantana keeps moving.
Stanley has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stanley landing some decent shots from guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Fantana is on top in guard.
Stanley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fantana is one step ahead there.
Stanley working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fantana.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantana trying to control but Stanley is working from the bottom.
Stanley tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stanley is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Fantana works his way to full guard. Good work.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Fantana avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stanley working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fantana looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fantana manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stanley manages to get himself to full guard.
Stanley throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanley looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fantana won't allow Stanley to get back to his feet.
Fantana stopping the sweep attempt from Stanley.
Fantana working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stanley's head.
Stanley thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Fantana wants to pass the guard but Stanley is keeping the position.
Fantana won't allow Stanley to sweep him here.

Stanley throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Fantana escapes and throws Stanley's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Stanley gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Stanley tries to get to full guard but Fantana has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantana not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stanley wants to get back to full guard but Fantana has passed into side control.
Stanley tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Fantana takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Fantana lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Stanley working to try and regain half guard.
Fantana lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Stanley hang on?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fantana wants to control the pace but Stanley is squirming around nicely.
Stanley tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Fantana dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Fantana avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stanley tries to bum rush Fantana with a series of wild strikes but Fantana uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stanley throws a jab when Fantana was well out of range.
Stanley throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Fantana moves out of range of the strikes.
Fantana looks to land a left hand but Stanley moved out of range nicely.
A jab lands there for Fantana.
Stanley misses with a double jab.
The fighters circling - Stanley throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Fantana scores with a takedown into Stanley's guard.
Stanley is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanley is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Fantana prevents Stanley from getting back to his feet.
Fantana preventing the sweep.
Stanley is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Stanley is really struggling to control Fantana but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Lowell Stanley has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Stanley misses with a combination

and Fantana counters with a crisp one two that drops Stanley! Fantana thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Stanley to his feet! Stanley is in big trouble!

Stanley is rocked!
Brian Fantana is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stanley lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Fantana ducks under a wild hook from Stanley.
Stanley throws a jab but it's blocked by Fantana.
Lowell Stanley is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stanley misses the body punch
and Fantana counters with a nice uppercut.
A decent looking cross lands there for Stanley.
Stanley digs a good hook to Fantana's body.
Stanley throws a sloppy body shot
and Fantana counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Stanley thinking.
Fantana drops his hands momentarily and Stanley takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Stanley misses with an uppercut.
Stanley misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fantana.
Fantana fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stanley manages to avoid it.
Stanley waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fantana.
Fantana takes one on the button.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stanley waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fantana.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanley avoids the body shot from Fantana.
Fantana displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stanley throws out the jab.
A big right from Fantana misses.
Stanley throws the left hand but Fantana avoids the punch easily.
Stanley throws the left hand but Fantana avoids the punch easily.
Stanley takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Fantana throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stanley lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Fantana walks into a stiff left hand from Stanley.
Stanley misses with a body shot.
Brian Fantana seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fantana misses with a body shot
and Stanley counters with a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanley throws an overhand right that lands on Fantana's shoulder, as Fantana tries to avoid the shot.
Stanley misses with a looping left.
Stanley lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Fantana misses the shot to the body.
Stanley misses with an uppercut. Fantana saw that one coming.
Stanley throws a looping overhand right but Fantana ducks down to avoid it.
Stanley throws a looping overhand right but Fantana ducks down to avoid it.
Fantana lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stanley circles away quickly and effectively.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fantana tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stanley was well out of range. Poor timing from Fantana.
Stanley throws a left and a right that both miss
and Fantana connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A big left from Stanley misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Fantana showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Stanley moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Fantana lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stanley circles away quickly and effectively.
Lowell Stanley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stanley dips to his left and cracks Fantana with an uppercut!
Nice jab there from Stanley.
Stanley moves away from the strike by Fantana.
Fantana moves out of range as Stanley strikes.
Stanley looks to land a right hand but Fantana moved out of range.
Stanley uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fantana.
Stanley swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Fantana swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Stanley counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stanley fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fantana manages to avoid it.
Stanley misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fantana moves away from the strike by Stanley.
Fantana swinging wildly here.
Stanley lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Stanley just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Stanley.

Fantana is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Stanley's half guard.
Fantana prevents Stanley from improving his position.
Stanley is controlling Fantana's trapped leg to prevent Fantana from advancing to side control.
Fantana thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stanley's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stanley slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Stanley keeping moving, preventing Fantana from controlling successfully.
Fantana has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Stanley looking for a sweep. Not yet Stanley, not yet.

Fantana is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Fantana tries to free his leg and advance position but Stanley is retaining full guard.
Fantana stopping the sweep attempt from Stanley.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanley is working hard here to advance position.
Stanley is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stanley is trying to hold Fantana in close to prevent damage but Fantana has managed to pass into half guard.
Fantana is taking a breather. Stanley says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Stanley is trying to stand back up but Fantana is controlling him
Fantana missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lowell Stanley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fantana thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Stanley misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Stanley manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Fantana working some strikes from top position.
Brian Fantana is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stanley throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Fantana stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stanley swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stanley tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fantana showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Fantana working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stanley's head.
Fantana preventing the sweep.

Stanley looking for a guillotine here but Fantana defends easily.
Stanley thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lowell Stanley showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fantana 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Fantana!