PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Franz Stefaniak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Syete Gabilog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franz Stefaniak had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Stefaniak
vs
Gabilog

185 cm
22
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
178 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Granite 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Franz Stefaniak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Syete Gabilog!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stefaniak shoots in and bounces Gabilog off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gabilog can do anything to dispel that myth.
Stefaniak is looking to work some ground and pound but Gabilog has wrist control.
Stefaniak looking to sit in guard and control but Gabilog gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gabilog has gone for a leg lock! Stefaniak slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gabilog's guard.
Gabilog working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stefaniak.
Stefaniak won't allow Gabilog to sweep him here.
Gabilog being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stefaniak keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gabilog's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stefaniak pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gabilog is keeping the position for now.
Stefaniak trying to control but Gabilog is working from the bottom.
Stefaniak pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gabilog is keeping the position for now.
Stefaniak throwing strikes from guard but Gabilog blocks nicely.
Stefaniak is standing up over Gabilog. Gabilog looks to escape but Stefaniak dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Stefaniak tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Stefaniak wants to control for a moment but Gabilog uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Stefaniak tries to stand and escape but Gabilog is controlling the position.
Well, if Stefaniak is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gabilog blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stefaniak.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stefaniak looks to land a strike but Gabilog avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Gabilog keeping moving, preventing Stefaniak from controlling successfully.
Stefaniak with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stefaniak accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Gabilog manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Stefaniak swings widly with a right hand
and Gabilog counters with a nice uppercut.
Gabilog fails with the takedown
and Stefaniak counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gabilog shoots and misses
and Stefaniak counters with a left and a right that stings Gabilog.
Stefaniak lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

It looks like Syete Gabilog has been cut.
No luck for Gabilog with that takedown attempt.
Franz Stefaniak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Syete Gabilog.
Gabilog looks gassed!

Stefaniak scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stefaniak working the ground and pound.
Stefaniak misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Stefaniak controls the position from side control.
Stefaniak throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Gabilog works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franz Stefaniak dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Syete Gabilog's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gabilog misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Stefaniak counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Stefaniak.
Stefaniak throws a big right hand that misses.
Stefaniak looking to sit in guard and control but Gabilog gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gabilog scoring with some ground and pound.
Stefaniak knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gabilog on the ground.
Gabilog trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gabilog postures up.
Gabilog throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stefaniak works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gabilog loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gabilog loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stefaniak wants to sweep but no luck.
Stefaniak working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gabilog.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stefaniak pulls Gabilog in to control the position.
Gabilog trying to control but Stefaniak is working from the bottom.
Gabilog pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stefaniak is keeping the position for now.
Gabilog is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gabilog throws a poor cross that misses

and Stefaniak counters with a single leg into guard. Gabilog didn't expect that.
Stefaniak seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Stefaniakis looking to pass into half guard but Gabilog pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Gabilog is in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gabilog pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stefaniak is keeping the position for now.
Gabilog is looking to work some ground and pound but Stefaniak has wrist control.
Stefaniak keeping full guard, as Gabilog tries to pass.
Gabilog passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Stefaniak is looking to reverse the position.

Gabilog stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Gabilog misses with a takedown

and Stefaniak counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Gabilog is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stefaniak is just content to waste time from the top position. Gabilog takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Gabilog lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Stefaniak!
Gabilog with the ground and pound from mount.
Franz Stefaniak overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stefaniak is wriggling around trying to escape.
Stefaniak is working hard here to advance position.

Gabilog is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Stefaniak to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Stefaniak shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Gabilog connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Gabilog with good strikes from the mount here!
Gabilog unloads with some shots from mount but Stefaniak bucks and avoids them well.
Stefaniak working to try and regain half guard.
Gabilog punishing his opponent with strikes.
Gabilog lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Gabilog lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Stefaniak hang on?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gabilog thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Gabilog punishing his opponent with strikes.
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!
Gabilog working the ground and pound effectively.
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 Franz Stefaniak will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Syete Gabilog's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Stefaniak fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gabilog sprawls well initially but Stefaniak persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Gabilog is looking to control Stefaniak's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gabilog avoid being mounted?
Stefaniak sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Gabilog is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Stefaniak scores with a couple of nice shots.
Gabilog gets back to full guard.
Stefaniak throwing strikes from guard but Gabilog blocks nicely.
Gabilog has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stefaniak looking to pass the guard.
Gabilog wants to get back to his feet but Stefaniak is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gabilog preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stefaniak controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Stefaniak wants to control from the top but Gabilog keeps moving.

That's two 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.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Stefaniak missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gabilog working a defensive guard here.
Stefaniak is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Franz Stefaniak.
Stefaniak misses with a hook to the body

and Gabilog decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Stefaniak's guard.
Gabilog trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stefaniak is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gabilog tries to free his leg and advance position but Stefaniak is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stefaniak pulls Gabilog in to control the position.
Gabilog stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stefaniak swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Stefaniak holds on and takes a little breather.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Franz Stefaniak wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A big right from Gabilog misses.
Stefaniak throws a predictable looking body shot

and Gabilog counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Stefaniak looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gabilog lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gabilog advances position into side control!
Stefaniak struggling a bit here.
Syete Gabilog has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Franz Stefaniak is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gabilog working the head with strikes.

Gabilog tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gabilog has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Gabilog connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Stefaniak some visible discomfort.

And that's the end of the fight!
Syete Gabilog comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stefaniak has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Syete Gabilog!