PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dan Love (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kendrick Stagliano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Love
vs
Stagliano

177 cm
29
137 lbs
6 - 11 - 0

173 cm
27
135 lbs
2 - 10 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

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 6 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dan Love!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Kendrick Stagliano!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Jeff Smith and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab by Stagliano.
Love fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Dan Love seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Stagliano moves into the clinch successfully.
Love wants to break free but Stagliano has control.
A frustrated look appears on Love's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Love wants to break the clinch but can't.
Love is trying to break the clinch but Stagliano is controlling him.
Stagliano prevents Love from breaking the clinch.
Love wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Stagliano breaks the clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Love fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stagliano avoids it really well and circles away.
Stagliano lands an overhand right.
Love moves out of range of the body kick.
Stagliano stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Love. That's going to take a lot out of him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Love is trying to break the clinch but Stagliano is controlling him.
Stagliano keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Love's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Love wants to break free but Stagliano has control.
Stagliano fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Love tries to break free but Stagliano pushes him back against the cage.
Love tries to break the clinch but Stagliano is controlling the position.
Stagliano has Love pressed against the cage, preventing Love from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Stagliano keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Love's efforts to push away.
A frustrated look appears on Love's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Love is trying to break the clinch but Stagliano is controlling him.

Stagliano pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stagliano sizes up Love with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Love shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stagliano sprawls well. Stagliano wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Love gets slowly back to his feet.
Love shoots in but no luck this time.
Love is breathing heavily.

Stagliano clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Love is trying to push Stagliano away but Stagliano has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A frustrated look appears on Love's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Love's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Love tries to break free but Stagliano pushes him back against the cage.

Stagliano breaks from the clinch.
Stagliano fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Love.
Love has a takedown stuffed.

Stagliano gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Love tries to break free but Stagliano pushes him back against the cage.
Love is pressed up against the cage. Stagliano has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Love down to the mat. Love avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Stagliano cracks a nice hook into Love's ribs.
Stagliano shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Love sprawls well. Love wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stagliano gets slowly back to his feet.
Stagliano stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stagliano wants it to stay on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stagliano gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Stagliano's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Love blocks a head kick by Stagliano.
Love displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stagliano.
Love shoots in for a takedown but Stagliano shows good takedown defense.
Love blocks a head kick by Stagliano.
Horrible takedown by Stagliano or perhaps it was just good defense by Love which made him look bad.
Stagliano looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Stagliano throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Stagliano moves into the clinch successfully.
Love working hard to break the clinch.

Stagliano breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Love takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Love looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Love is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Stagliano scores with a hook.
Stagliano tries for a takedown but Love sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Stagliano scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stagliano throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Love's waist but Love gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stagliano off to one side.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Love is defended easily by Stagliano.

Stagliano shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Love manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Stagliano loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Love is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Stagliano stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kendrick Stagliano dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Stagliano scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Love throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Stagliano tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Love is in Stagliano's guard.
Stagliano wants to sweep but no luck.
Stagliano trying to keep a closed guard but Love is proving a slippery customer.
Stagliano looking to hit a scissor sweep but Love is one step ahead there.
Stagliano preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stagliano keeping moving, preventing Love from controlling successfully.
Stagliano wants to sweep but no luck.
Stagliano is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Love works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stagliano avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Love.
Love sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Stagliano defending well though.
Stagliano is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Love scores with a couple of nice shots.
Love not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stagliano is staying active underneath Love, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Love perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Love wants to take a breather but Stagliano is having none of it.
Stagliano is looking to escape.
Stagliano is breathing heavily.
Stagliano is not content to let Love control the position.
Love has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dan Love wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Love changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stagliano tries to avoid it but Love manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stagliano to the ground. Stagliano escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Stagliano displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Love.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Love fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Love. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stagliano closes the distance and clinches.
Stagliano lands with a short shot to the head.
Love really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Stagliano lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Love wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Stagliano unloads a knee to the mid-section.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Love has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Stagliano breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stagliano fails with the takedown.
Love shoots in but no luck this time.
Love looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stagliano is fending him off so far but Love persists. Nope, Stagliano circles away and we're back to standing.
Stagliano scores with a hook to the body. Love takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Stagliano changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Love looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stagliano throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The ground and pound from Stagliano seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Stagliano misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Dan Love overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Love dodges the ground and pound from Stagliano.
Stagliano in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Stagliano tries to advance to mount but Love denies him.
Stagliano working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Stagliano tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Stagliano has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Stagliano misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stagliano misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Stagliano is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Love will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Love managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Stagliano.
Stagliano postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Love wants to get back to his feet.
Stagliano working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Love wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stagliano postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Love is not content to let Stagliano control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kendrick Stagliano 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!

Love closes the distance and clinches up with Stagliano, looking for a takedown. Love pushes Stagliano against the cage but Stagliano circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nice uppercut lands for Stagliano. That snapped Love's head back.
Love takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Stagliano misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stagliano swinging wildly here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Love.
Love shoots in looking for a takedown. Stagliano tries to sprawl out of it but Love keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stagliano manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Love. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Love with that takedown attempt.
Stagliano has a takedown stuffed.
Love with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Stagliano to score with a decent uppercut.
Dan Love is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Love tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stagliano swivels and escapes.
Love takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Love misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stagliano punishes Love's body with a nice straight punch.
Stagliano fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Stagliano forces Love back against the cage and clinches.

Stagliano breaks from the clinch.
Stagliano lands a jab-cross combination.
Stagliano stuffs the takedown attempt from Love. Love gets slowly back to his feet.
Love blocks a low kick nicely.
Stagliano scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Stagliano rushes Love and presses him up against the cage.
Love is looking to break free of the clinch but Stagliano has double underhooks.

Stagliano breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stagliano shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Love but Love pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Love shoots in for a takedown but Stagliano shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Love stuffs the takedown attempt from Stagliano. Stagliano gets slowly back to his feet.
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!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stagliano.
Nice sprawl there from Stagliano as Love shoots in.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Stagliano.
Love walks into a left hand.
Love stuffs the takedown attempt from Stagliano. Stagliano gets slowly back to his feet.
Stagliano throws a right and a left that both miss.
Stagliano keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Stagliano lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stagliano clinches.

Stagliano breaks the clinch.
A decent looking cross lands there for Stagliano.
Stagliano closes this distance looking for a takedown but Love circles away.
Love misses with a takedown attempt - Stagliano sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stagliano throws a leg kick which misses Love's front leg but catches the back leg as Love tries to avoid it.
Love slaps away a takedown attempt from Stagliano, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Dan Love has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kendrick Stagliano is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Love misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stagliano lands a two punch combo.
Stagliano fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Love fails to land the takedown.

Stagliano forces Love back against the cage and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stagliano breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Stagliano forces Love back against the cage and clinches.
Stagliano prevents Love from breaking the clinch.
Stagliano prevents Love from breaking the clinch.

Stagliano breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stagliano lands a nice shot to the body.
Love shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stagliano as he avoids it easily.
Love takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Love has his takedown stuffed
and Love takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stagliano 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.
Love shoots in for a double leg but Stagliano sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stagliano lands a slapping body shot.

Stagliano has Love up against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kendrick Stagliano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stagliano 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kendrick Stagliano!