PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Howard Beale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kidd Stafford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Beale comes to the cage accompanied by Mad As Hell. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Beale
vs
Stafford

168 cm
18
148 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

170 cm
18
156 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Howard Beale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kidd Stafford!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Alan Glass and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Beale closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stafford circles away.
Beale will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Stafford darts in and clinches Beale up against the cage.
Stafford tries to throw a body punch but Beale avoids it by throwing Stafford back against the cage.

Stafford lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Stafford is tying to control. Beale wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Beale kicks Stafford off and gets back to his feet.

Stafford feints and as Beale raises his hands in defense, Stafford changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Beale can't keep his opponent in guard - Stafford advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Beale regains full guard. Nicely done.
Beale trying to keep a closed guard but Stafford is proving a slippery customer.
Beale is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Beale is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Stafford!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beale landing strikes from the mount.
Beale working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Beale lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Stafford hang on?
Beale tries to control but Stafford wriggling away.
Stafford wants to control but Beale is having none of it.
Stafford working to try and regain half guard.
Stafford regains half guard.
Stafford trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stafford throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Beale thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stafford punching from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Beale prevents Stafford from improving his position.
Stafford is pressing down on Beale's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stafford is on top in guard.
Beale is breathing heavily.
Beale wants to sweep but no luck.
Stafford slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Beale wants to sweep but no luck.
Stafford tries to free his leg and advance position but Beale is retaining full guard.
Stafford postures up and lands a big shot to Beale's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stafford works over Beale with some ground and pound from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stafford won't allow Beale to get back to his feet.
Stafford trying to control the position from guard on top but Beale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stafford controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Stafford pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Beale is keeping the position for now.
Beale trying to keep a closed guard but Stafford is proving a slippery customer.
Stafford keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Beale's head.
Stafford looking to sit in guard and control but Beale gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Beale has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stafford tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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.
Stafford lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Beale!
Stafford pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Stafford landing strikes from the mount and Beale is in trouble!
Stafford lands a nice shot to the head.
Stafford with a couple of short strikes.
Stafford has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Stafford trying to control but Beale is having none of it.
Stafford landing punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kidd Stafford dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Beale throws a right and a left that Stafford avoids nicely.
Beale misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Beale misses with a takedown

so Stafford counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Stafford makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Stafford wants to control from the top but Beale keeps moving.
Stafford advances to half guard.
Beale has hold of Stafford's hands but Stafford slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Beale is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stafford is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Stafford is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stafford sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Beale is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Stafford tries to control but Beale wriggling away.

Stafford looking to secure an arm triangle but Beale defends it well.
Stafford prevents Beale from getting the reversal.

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.
Stafford putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Stafford cracks Beale with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Beale squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Stafford working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Beale is looking to improve his position but Stafford isn't that keen on the idea.
Beale squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Stafford has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Beale's face.
Beale taking shots to the head.
Stafford looking to control but Beale is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Stafford cracks Beale with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Beale is trying desperately to improve position.
Stafford controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beale manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Beale is not content to let Stafford control the position.
Stafford lands with a punch from half guard.
Stafford wants to control but Beale is keeping him busy.
Beale has hold of Stafford's hands but Stafford slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Stafford is trying to work for a kimura but Beale is defending well.
Stafford is pressing down on Beale's thigh, looking to free his foot. Beale is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Beale moves into full guard.
Beale wants to stand and escape but Stafford is having none of it.
Stafford trying to control the position from guard on top but Beale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stafford throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stafford trying to control the position from guard on top but Beale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Stafford closes the distance and clinches.
Beale jumps guard but Stafford stands there with Beale around his waist. Beale gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Beale wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Stafford can't find room to land a body shot as Beale controls the action.
Stafford lands a left hand that snaps the head of Beale backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kidd Stafford showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Beale is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Stafford changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Beale looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Stafford taking a break here but Beale is having none of it and regains half guard.
Beale is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Stafford scores with a couple of nice shots.
Stafford wants to lay and pray for a moment but Beale keeps working.
Beale punching from the bottom.
Stafford is looking to stall here but Beale recovers full guard.
Stafford is stalling in the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Beale keeping moving, preventing Stafford from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stafford 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.
Stafford tries to free his leg and advance position but Beale is retaining full guard.
Beale looking for a sweep. Not yet Beale, not yet.
Stafford scoring with some ground and pound.
Beale wants to stand up but Stafford is controlling him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Stafford changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Beale looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Stafford wants to lay and pray for a moment but Beale keeps working.
Beale is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stafford creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Stafford throws a strike aimed at the side of Beale's head but Beale avoids it well.
Beale is trying to improve his position.
Beale is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Stafford has just dragged him back down to the mat.
You can see the frustration on Beale's face as Stafford controls the position.
Beale is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Beale looks like he's trying to stand up.
Stafford lands with a punch from half guard.
Stafford working over Beale with some ground and pound. Beale looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Beale looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Stafford works his foot free and advances to mount.
Stafford lands a nice shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beale is trying to escape the mount.
Stafford avoids the attempt from Beale to control.
Stafford putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Stafford landing strikes from the mount and Beale is in trouble!

Stafford is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Beale has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Beale throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Stafford landing strikes, looking to finish!
Stafford pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
BOOM! Stafford connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Beale is trying to escape the mount.
Stafford trying to control but Beale is having none of it.
Beale is looking to improve his position but Stafford isn't that keen on the idea.
Stafford trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Beale tries to reverse the position but Stafford maintains control.
Beale is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Beale is in all sorts of trouble here.
Howard Beale has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Stafford cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

And that's the end of the fight!
Kidd Stafford comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stafford has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kidd Stafford!