PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aljo Stajerski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christos Gekas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Stajerski
vs
Gekas

201 cm
18
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Aljo Stajerski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Christos Gekas!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Sam Margolis and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stajerski fails with a takedown attempt.
Stajerski circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gekas tries to clinch up.
Stajerski keeps the fight on the outside.
Stajerski is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stajerski misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stajerski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stajerski shoots in and drives through. Gekas sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aljo Stajerski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stajerski throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Stajerski fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stajerski looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Stajerski is breathing heavily.
Gekas keeping hold of Stajerski's head, controlling as best he can.
Stajerski wants to pass the guard but Gekas is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gekas moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Stajerski won't allow Gekas to get back to his feet.
Gekas keeping moving, preventing Stajerski from controlling successfully.
Gekas wants to sweep but no luck.

Gekas is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gekas wants to sweep but no luck.

Gekas has his feet on Stajerski's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Gekas closes the distance looking to clinch

and Stajerski counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gekas!
Gekas manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Gekas is trying to maintain the position but Stajerski is very close to passing his half guard.
Gekas tries to get to full guard but Stajerski has control of the leg.
Gekas slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gekas is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stajerski trying to control the position from guard on top but Gekas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stajerski is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Stajerski trying to control the position from guard on top but Gekas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stajerski landing with the ground and pound.
Stajerski trying to control the position from guard on top but Gekas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Stajerski controls from within his opponent's guard.
Stajerski looking to pass the guard.
Stajerski wants to control from the top but Gekas keeps moving.
Stajerski is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Aljo Stajerski just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Stajerski fails with a takedown attempt.

Gekas darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
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 Aljo Stajerski will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Stajerski clinches up against the cage.
Gekas misses with a knee to the head.
Stajerski on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Gekas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Stajerski shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gekas keeping moving, preventing Stajerski from controlling successfully.
Gekas wants to sweep but no luck.

Stajerski is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Gekas is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Gekas has escaped and now he's on top!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gekas gets to his feet - Stajerski follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stajerski fails with the takedown

and Gekas counters with a takedown into side control.
Stajerski is trying to get back to half guard.
Stajerski is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Gekas off and has taken his back!
Stajerski trying to control.
Stajerski throwing wild punches that miss their target.

Gekas fending off the submission attempt from Stajerski.
Gekas controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gekas fending off the submission attempt from Stajerski.

Gekas manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.
Stajerski shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gekas as he jumps to the side.
Stajerski shoots in and drives through. Gekas sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aljo Stajerski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stajerski takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
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!

Gekas rushes Stajerski and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gekas is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Stajerski is keeping busy.
Stajerski jumps guard but Gekas stands there with Stajerski around his waist. Stajerski gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stajerski goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gekas prevents it.
Stajerski avoiding damage as Gekas throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stajerski is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Gekas can't fight it off and eventually Stajerski manages to take the fight to the floor. Gekas looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Stajerski won't allow Gekas to get back to his feet.
Stajerski trying to control the position from guard on top but Gekas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stajerski prevents Gekas from getting back to his feet.
Gekas is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Gekas kicks Stajerski off and gets to his feet.

Stajerski darts in and clinches Gekas up against the cage.
Gekas is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Gekas gets underhooks to prevent Stajerski's takedown attempt.

Stajerski pulls Gekas into guard.
Gekas wants to stand but Stajerski is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stajerski looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gekas passes into side control.

Gekas decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Stajerski gets a takedown into half guard.
Stajerski wants to take a breather but Gekas is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Stajerski is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Gekas has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gekas is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christos Gekas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Stajerski decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Stajerski is keen to just control but Gekas is a slippery customer.
Gekas is looking to improve his position.
Gekas is trying to control but can't.

Stajerski wants to work for an arm triangle but Gekas is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gekas is refusing to be controlled, as Stajerski sits in half guard.
Gekas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stajerski throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stajerski performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Gekas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stajerski.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stajerski checks the leg kick nicely there.
Stajerski circles away from the clinch attempt

and Stajerski counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Gekas manages to break the clinch.
Stajerski tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A head kick misses from Stajerski.
Gekas closes the distance but Stajerski moves to the side

and Stajerski counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Stajerski working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Stajerski closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stajerski lands in his opponent's guard.
Stajerski won't allow Gekas to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stajerski looking to sit in guard and control but Gekas gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gekas wanted to stand there but Stajerski had control of the position.
Aljo Stajerski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stajerski tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gekas works over Stajerski with some ground and pound from guard.
Stajerski manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gekas manages to get himself to full guard.
Stajerski trying to control the position from guard on top but Gekas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gekas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Stajerski wants to control from the top but Gekas keeps moving.

Stajerski avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Stajerski trying to control the position from guard on top but Gekas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gekas keeping full guard, as Stajerski tries to pass.
Stajerski working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gekas controlling Stajerski's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Stajerski drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Stajerski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gekas is keeping the position for now.
Stajerski wants to control from the top but Gekas keeps moving.
Gekas can't keep his opponent in guard - Stajerski advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Stajerski passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Gekas!
Stajerski content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aljo Stajerski showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stajerski 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Aljo Stajerski!