PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pierre Flora (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kendrick Stagliano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Flora
vs
Stagliano

174 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

173 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Pierre Flora!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kendrick Stagliano!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stagliano lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Some wild striking there from Stagliano.

Stagliano moves into range and clinches up with Flora.
Stagliano can't break the clinch.
Stagliano tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Flora just stands there and leans against the cage.
Flora has had enough of the clinch but Stagliano keeps him there for the moment.
Stagliano tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Flora's elbow.
Stagliano swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Stagliano can't get the takedown.
Stagliano is trying to push Flora away but Flora has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Flora is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Stagliano gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Stagliano breaks from the clinch.
Stagliano throws a body punch but Flora moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stagliano throws a sloppy head kick
and Stagliano takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Kendrick Stagliano has been cut.
Flora lands with a good body shot.
Flora avoids the body shot from Stagliano.
Flora misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stagliano tries to clinch up but Flora circles away and keeps his distance.
Flora pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Stagliano back to the cage. Flora follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Stagliano is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stagliano. Flora does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stagliano is still on wobbly legs! Can Flora finish him?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stagliano tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Flora swivels and escapes.
Pierre Flora has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kendrick Stagliano.
Stagliano has a takedown stuffed.
Stagliano seems to have recovered his senses.
Stagliano avoids the head kick by Flora.
Stagliano fails with a takedown attempt.
Pierre Flora is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Flora lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stagliano circles away quickly and effectively.
Flora throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Flora throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Flora throws a sloppy head kick

and Stagliano counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Stagliano.
Flora has Stagliano pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stagliano manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Stagliano breaks from the clinch.
Flora throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Flora misses with a two punch combination.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stagliano is defended easily by Flora.
Stagliano blocks a head kick by Flora.
Stagliano throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flora falls off balance throwing a combination

and Stagliano counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Stagliano wants to stand but Flora has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Flora has his feet on Stagliano's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Flora gets tackled into the cage by Stagliano. Stagliano maintains the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Stagliano as Flora tries to tie him up.
Stagliano tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Flora is looking to break free of the clinch but Stagliano has double underhooks.
Flora has a couple of punches blocked by Stagliano.
Flora jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stagliano walks away with a smile on his face. Flora gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Stagliano gets a clinch.
Stagliano has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stagliano has Flora pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Stagliano pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Flora tumbling to the mat - Stagliano dives into Flora's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stagliano accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Flora can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Stagliano controls the pace.
Flora wants to stand up but Stagliano is controlling him.
Stagliano missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stagliano postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stagliano trying to control but Flora is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stagliano is looking to work some ground and pound but Flora has wrist control.
Stagliano throws and elbow that misses. Flora uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Stagliano's guard. Nice move by Flora!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flora wants to get up but he can't break Stagliano's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Stagliano pulls Flora in close to his closed guard and prevents Flora from doing any damage or advancing position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stagliano is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Flora tries to stand but Stagliano is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Pierre Flora will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kendrick Stagliano's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stagliano slips a jab from Flora.

Stagliano moves into the clinch.
Flora tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Flora is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Stagliano pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Flora scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Flora is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Stagliano.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Stagliano rushes Flora and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Flora jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stagliano walks away with a smile on his face. Flora gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Flora ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Flora throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stagliano tries to close the distance and clinch up but Flora swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Flora throws a head kick that misses.
Stagliano shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Flora lands a jab-cross combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stagliano walks into a straight right hand from Flora.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flora throws a head kick but Stagliano moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Flora.

Stagliano clinches with his opponent.

Stagliano breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Flora tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stagliano tries to close the distance and clinch up but Flora swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stagliano rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Flora moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Stagliano has a takedown stuffed.
Pierre Flora is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stagliano misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice takedown defense from Flora. No joy for Stagliano on that attempt.
Stagliano is breathing heavily.
Stagliano swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stagliano misses the shot to the body.
Flora tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Flora tries a head kick but it misses.
Stagliano looks to land a left hand but Flora moved out of range nicely.
Flora pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Flora throws a head kick but Stagliano moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Flora.
Stagliano tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Flora was well out of range. Poor timing from Stagliano.
The fighters circling - Stagliano throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Stagliano tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Flora manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Flora throws a right and a left that both miss.
Flora moves out of range as Stagliano throws a body kick.
Flora misses with a wild combination.
Flora scores with a one two! Stagliano had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Stagliano closes the distance and clinches.

Stagliano manages to break the clinch.
Flora lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Stagliano ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Flora pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stagliano misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stagliano cracks Flora with a good jab.
Stagliano avoids the head kick by Flora.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stagliano shoots in and bounces Flora off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Stagliano won't allow Flora to get back to his feet.
Stagliano tries to free his leg and advance position but Flora is retaining full guard.
Stagliano throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Flora is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Flora drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stagliano pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pierre Flora. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stagliano clinches up with Flora and pushes him back against the cage.
Flora jumps guard but Stagliano stands there with Flora around his waist. Flora gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stagliano throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stagliano tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Stagliano manages to break the clinch.
Stagliano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stagliano scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Flora doesn't seem bothered though.
Stagliano feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Floras jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Stagliano lands a nice shot to the body.
Stagliano avoids a punch combination nicely.
Flora gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Stagliano misses with a takedown attempt - Flora sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stagliano slips a jab and a cross from Flora.
Stagliano moves in looking to clinch but Flora pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pierre Flora dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kendrick Stagliano's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Flora throws a combination that misses

and Stagliano counters by moving into the clinch.

Stagliano escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Flora throws a right hand that Stagliano ducks under and follows up with a left that Stagliano also avoids with ease.
Stagliano tries to clinch there but Flora circles away.

Stagliano shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Stagliano really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Flora. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Stagliano trying to stand up but can't free himself from Flora's guard.
Stagliano won't allow Flora to get back to his feet.
Stagliano missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stagliano in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Flora utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Flora keeping moving, preventing Stagliano from controlling successfully.
Stagliano throws a strike but Flora rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Flora being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stagliano has a closed guard, preventing Flora from standing up.
Flora stopping the sweep attempt from Stagliano.

Flora decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Flora throws a head kick that misses.
Flora misses with a few strikes there.
Flora lands a glancing blow to the side of Stagliano's head.
Stagliano lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Flora backs up against the cage.
Flora throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Flora throws a head kick that misses.
Stagliano misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Stagliano.

Stagliano rushes Flora and presses him up against the cage.

Stagliano breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stagliano fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Flora throws a nice looking combination but Stagliano bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flora misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Stagliano, as that shot connected.
Stagliano blocks a head kick by Flora.
Stagliano misses with a hook.
Some wild striking there from Flora.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Stagliano scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Flora bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Kendrick Stagliano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Flora throws a sloppy head kick and Stagliano moves out of range easily.

Stagliano gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Stagliano jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Flora walks away with a smile on his face. Stagliano gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Flora checks a leg kick.

Stagliano darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Stagliano sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Flora defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flora tries to kick Stagliano off but Stagliano keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Stagliano sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Flora defending well though.
Stagliano missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ground and pound from Stagliano.
Stagliano missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Stagliano is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Stagliano is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Stagliano thows a huge punch but Flora dodges it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kendrick Stagliano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Flora 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!