PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Trickster tie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Stageberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Stageberg's choice of entrance music: Bone Thugs and Harmony - Tha' Crossroads. Trickster tie had a look across the ring there at his opponent. He definitely means business

tie
vs
Stageberg

185 cm
25
172 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

178 cm
26
185 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Trickster tie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joey Stageberg!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Chris Downing and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Stageberg misses.

tie feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Stageberg is looking to stand up but tie isn't so interested in that idea.
Stageberg seems keen to control tie's posture.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
tie trying to control the position from guard on top but Stageberg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
tie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stageberg is pulling down on tie's head. It's preventing any offense from tie, at least for the moment.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
tie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
tie prevents Stageberg from getting back to his feet.
tie being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joey Stageberg was stalling too much, according to the referee.
tie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stageberg.

tie shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Stageberg manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Stageberg looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Stageberg utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stageberg controls tie momentarily but tie frees himself.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells tie's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
tie is looking to work some ground and pound but Stageberg has wrist control.
Stageberg has a closed guard, preventing tie from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
tie stands up over Stageberg, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
tie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stageberg is trying to control the position but tie postures up.
Stageberg utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
tie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stageberg is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Joey Stageberg hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Nice sprawl there from Stageberg as tie shoots in.
Stageberg stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stageberg wants it to stay on the feet.
tie blocks a jab.
Joey Stageberg is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

tie shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Stageberg is trying to defend but tie finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
tie looks to land a strike but Stageberg avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
tie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stageberg working a defensive guard here.

Stageberg is edging up against the ropes. He's using the ropes to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Stageberg pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Stageberg throws a right hand that tie ducks under and follows up with a left that tie also avoids with ease.
tie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Trickster tie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Stageberg tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stageberg swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

tie throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Stageberg was covering up waiting for the punch and tie finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Stageberg is trying to keep tie in close.
Stageberg working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from tie.
tie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
tie throws a big right hand that misses.
tie trying to control but Stageberg is working from the bottom.
Stageberg pulls tie in close to his closed guard and prevents tie from doing any damage or advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trickster tie dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Stageberg leaves tie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Stageberg misses with the combination.
A jab from Stageberg misses.
tie slips under a jab.
Stageberg throws a looping overhand right but tie ducks down to avoid it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from tie is defended easily by Stageberg.
Stageberg throws a hook to the side of tie's head but tie sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stageberg misses with an uppercut. tie saw that one coming.
Stageberg is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Stageberg cracks tie with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
A slow jab from Stageberg misses its intended target.
tie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A swing and a miss from Stageberg.
tie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stageberg as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Trickster tie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
tie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stageberg's waist but Stageberg gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing tie off to one side.

Excellent takedown into side control there by tie.
tie is chipping away with strikes.
tie in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
tie working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Stageberg manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Stageberg is trying to stand up here but tie is controlling him well.
Stageberg is breathing heavily.
Stageberg trying to control but tie postures up.
tie is keen to just control but Stageberg is a slippery customer.
tie with the ground and pound but Stageberg uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stageberg working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from tie.
tie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stageberg avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
tie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stageberg is trying to keep tie in close.
tie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stageberg works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stageberg preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
tie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stageberg utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stageberg is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
tie is looking to work some ground and pound but Stageberg has wrist control.
tie won't allow Stageberg to get back to his feet.
Stageberg keeping moving, preventing tie from controlling successfully.
Stageberg avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stageberg is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stageberg is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
tie is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
tie throwing strikes from guard but Stageberg blocks nicely.
Stageberg throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Stageberg is trying to control the position but tie postures up.
tie postures up in Stageberg's guard and throws a big left but Stageberg blocks it.
Stageberg utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
tie tries to stand but Stageberg is controlling from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
tie with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Trickster tie will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Stageberg pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces tie back to the ropes. Stageberg follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Trickster tie has been cut.
tie moves forwards but Stageberg connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Stageberg swinging wildly here.
tie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stageberg as he avoids it easily.
Stageberg looks to land a right hand but tie moved out of range.
tie gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Stageberg closes the distance and pushes tie back into the ropes.

Stageberg pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stageberg throws a looping overhand right but tie ducks down to avoid it.
A punch combination from Stageberg misses.
Stageberg throws a right and a left that tie avoids nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from tie.
Stageberg tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but tie was well out of range. Poor timing from Stageberg.
Stageberg misses with an uppercut. tie saw that one coming.
tie shoots in looking for a takedown but Stageberg manages to keep the fight standing, pushing tie's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Trickster tie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
tie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Stageberg pinned against the cage. Stageberg gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

tie darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Stageberg trying to hold on to tie's head to control him but tie postures up.
tie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
tie stops Stageberg from getting back to his feet.
tie thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stageberg is looking for a sweep. tie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stageberg makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Stageberg.
Stageberg trying to control the position.
Stageberg wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and tie is now in half guard.
tie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stageberg's head.
tie lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stageberg gets full guard.
tie has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stageberg keeping moving, preventing tie from controlling successfully.
Stageberg has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Stageberg utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
tie throwing strikes but missing.
Stageberg controls tie momentarily but tie frees himself.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Stageberg preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
tie is looking to work some ground and pound but Stageberg has wrist control.

Stageberg has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes tie off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Stageberg throws a nice looking combination but tie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Stageberg swinging wildly here.
tie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Stageberg pinned against the cage. Stageberg gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Stageberg misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from tie.
Stageberg fails to land with a series of punches.
tie fails to land the takedown.
tie shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stageberg but Stageberg pushes him off and we're back to square one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joey Stageberg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think tie has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight for Joey Stageberg!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Joey Stageberg!
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight for Joey Stageberg!

Joey Stageberg wins by unanimous decision!