PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brett James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Stefaniak (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.

James
vs
Stefaniak

175 cm
23
147 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

175 cm
21
145 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Brett James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony Stefaniak!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, William Gold and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stefaniak sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

James fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stefaniak, pushing him back against the cage.

Stefaniak breaks from the clinch.
James throws a left and a right that both miss
and Stefaniak counters with a two punch combo.
James fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Stefaniak looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Stefaniak moves into range and clinches up with James.
Stefaniak doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
James has had enough of the clinch but Stefaniak keeps him there for the moment.
James tries to work over Stefaniak's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Stefaniak wants to get back to striking at distance but James won't allow it.
James wants a takedown.

James pulls guard effortlessly.
Stefaniak trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James 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.
James is working hard here to advance position.
James wants to stand up but Stefaniak is controlling him.
Stefaniak is stalling in the full guard.
Stefaniak looking to sit in guard and control but James gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
James passes Stefaniak's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Stefaniak to get to his feet.

James has managed to clinch.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Stefaniak has double underhooks.

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stefaniak fails with an attempt to clinch.
James throws a nice looking combination but Stefaniak bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Stefaniak is looking to clinch but James is avoiding it.
James lands a nice hook to Stefaniak's body. Stefaniak takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Stefaniak is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fighters circling - James throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stefaniak uses good head movement to avoid the hook from James.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stefaniak looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stefaniak doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.
James throws an overhand right that lands on Stefaniak's shoulder, as Stefaniak tries to avoid the shot.
James rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stefaniak moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
James misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
James lands a really nice looking cross but Stefaniak seems unphased.
James bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
James waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stefaniak.
James keeps the fight on the outside.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Stefaniak.
Brett James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Stefaniak.
Stefaniak takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
James misses with a looping left.
Stefaniak tries to clinch
and James counters with a left and a right that stings Stefaniak.
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!
Stefaniak slips under a jab.
Jab by James.

Stefaniak is rocked!
Some wild striking there from James.
Stefaniak is still on wobbly legs! Can James finish him?
Stefaniak avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

James tries to keep at a distance but Stefaniak has taken the fight into the clinch.
Stefaniak seems to have recovered his senses.
James wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brett James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stefaniak slowing the pace effectively.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Stefaniak just misses with a elbow thrown towards James's brow.
A frustrated look appears on Stefaniak's face as he tries to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brett James dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

James looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Stefaniak takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Stefaniak gets a clinch.
James wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
James is trying to break free.
Stefaniak throws an elbow that misses.
Stefaniak has James pressed against the cage, preventing James from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stefaniak escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
James misses with a body shot.
Stefaniak tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stefaniak 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.
James misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
James throws a right and a left that both miss.

James moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James jumps guard but Stefaniak stands there with James around his waist. James gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stefaniak working some nice short punches in the clinch.
James swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Stefaniak works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Stefaniak wants to pass the guard but James is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James can't keep his opponent in guard - Stefaniak advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Stefaniak passes into side control, despite James's attempt to control the position.
Stefaniak creates some space and throws a big elbow, but James sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Stefaniak wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stefaniak looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Stefaniak is trying to get an arm triangle but James is defending well.
The strikes coming from Stefaniak are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Stefaniak is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James tries to buck Stefaniak off but Stefaniak is having none of it.
Stefaniak wants to lay and pray for a moment but James keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stefaniak is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. James knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Stefaniak goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, James rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Stefaniak's guard! Nice work there by James!
James content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Anthony Stefaniak hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stefaniak tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.
Stefaniak lands a jab to the nose.
Stefaniak wants to clinch.
James slips under a jab from Stefaniak.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

James has closed the distance and engaged Stefaniak in a clinch.
Stefaniak lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Stefaniak showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
James avoids the elbow strike from Stefaniak, against the cage.
Stefaniak prevents a takedown attempt there.
Come on James - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
James blocks an elbow strike from Stefaniak.
James is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A short left from Stefaniak.
Stefaniak working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Stefaniak.
James blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stefaniak goes for a takedown attempt but James pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Brett James is winning the standup battle so far.
A looping hook to the body misses from James. Stefaniak does a little dance to reset his feet.
James swings away with a body shot that misses
and Stefaniak counters with an outside leg kick.
Brett James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

James instigates a clinch.
Stefaniak goes for a takedown attempt but James pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

James rushes Stefaniak and presses him up against the cage.
Stefaniak misses with an elbow strike.
Stefaniak misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stefaniak makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Stefaniak stalling the fight.
James throws an elbow but it misses.
Stefaniak looking to stall.
Stefaniak lands a shoulder strike.
Anthony Stefaniak seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Stefaniak pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
James shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stefaniak defends it nicely.
Stefaniak fails to land with a series of punches.
James smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Stefaniak fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. James sprawls well initially but Stefaniak persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stefaniak working over James with some ground and pound. James looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Stefaniak blocks the strikes from James.

Stefaniak is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Stefaniak thows a huge punch but James dodges it nicely.
Stefaniak wants to take a breather but James is having none of it.
James wants to control but Stefaniak is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stefaniak trying to control the action but James is working from the bottom.

Stefaniak is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James gets full guard.
Stefaniak pushing down on James's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Stefaniak is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Stefaniak wants to take a breather but James is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James wants to improve his position but Stefaniak is controlling well.
Anthony Stefaniak has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stefaniak trying to control the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Stefaniak comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Stefaniak 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Stefaniak!