PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jojo Cunnings (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Stewart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Cunnings
vs
Stewart

167 cm
21
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jojo Cunnings!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Paul Stewart!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stewart 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.
Cunnings manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stewart manages to get himself to full guard.

Stewart working for a triangle but Cunnings defends it easily.
Cunnings trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cunnings trying to control but Stewart is working from the bottom.
Stewart trying to keep a closed guard but Cunnings is proving a slippery customer.

Cunnings has gone for a leg lock! Stewart slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cunnings's guard.

Cunnings is looking for a triangle here but Stewart uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunnings is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Stewart's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Cunnings wants to get back to full guard.
Cunnings is refusing to be controlled, as Stewart sits in half guard.
Cunnings moves into full guard.

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.
Cunnings keeping moving, preventing Stewart from controlling successfully.

Cunnings throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Stewart working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stewart stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cunnings swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Cunnings working for a triangle but Stewart defends it easily.
Stewart stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cunnings swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cunnings tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Stewart wanted to stand there but Cunnings had control of the position.
Cunnings might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cunnings is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Stewart tries to free his leg and advance position but Cunnings is retaining full guard.
Cunnings not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cunnings avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stewart looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Paul Stewart will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Stewart is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cunnings's half guard.
Stewart seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cunnings does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Stewart stalling away here and it's allowed Cunnings to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Cunnings had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stewart defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stewart decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cunnings, up you get!
Stewart is breathing heavily.

Stewart scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Stewart goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Cunnings rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Stewart's guard! Nice work there by Cunnings!

Cunnings has gone for a leg lock! Stewart slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cunnings's guard.

Cunnings pushes Stewart off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stewart rushes Cunnings and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Cunnings tries for a takedown. No joy.
Cunnings working hard to break the clinch.
Cunnings jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stewart walks away with a smile on his face. Cunnings gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Stewart throws a leg kick

and Cunnings holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Stewart wants a takedown but no success here.
Stewart has Cunnings pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Cunnings manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Stewart jumps guard and drags Cunnings to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Cunnings avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cunnings trying to control the position from guard on top but Stewart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cunnings 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.

Cunnings is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Stewart is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Stewart has escaped and now he's on top!
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.
Stewart advances to half guard.
Stewart is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Cunnings manages to get to full guard.
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.
Cunnings lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Stewart!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Stewart showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Cunnings shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Stewart counters with a left and a right that stings Cunnings.
Cunnings doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Stewart counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Stewart slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Stewart is looking to take a break and control but Cunnings is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cunnings tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunnings is not content to let Stewart control the position.

Stewart stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Stewart tries for a takedown but Cunnings circles away easily

and Cunnings counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cunnings wants to work for an arm triangle but Stewart is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Stewart actively working from the bottom here.
Stewart trying to control but Cunnings postures up.

Cunnings wants to work for an arm triangle but Stewart is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Cunnings looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stewart moves into full guard.

Cunnings 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.

Stewart throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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.

Cunnings drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cunnings jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Stewart looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Cunnings drops back looking for a submission - "I'm sorry sir, but I'm gunna break your leg" says Cunnings as he cranks on the unfortunate limb! Stewart screams and taps out before any major damage is done! Don't mess with Cunnings! Nice submission victory there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Jojo Cunnings!