PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Curt Hennig (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocco Stupka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stupka is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Red Army March. 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.

Hennig
vs
Stupka

191 cm
26
260 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

184 cm
28
250 lbs
15 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Curt Hennig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Rocco Stupka!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Paul Tew and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hennig throws a body punch but Stupka moves out of range.
A jab from Hennig misses.
Stupka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hennig swinging wildly here.
Hennig stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hennig wants it to stay on the feet.
Hennig misses with an attempted mid kick.
Hennig closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

It looks like Curt Hennig has been cut.
Hennig moves away from the strike by Stupka.
Hennig keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

It looks like Rocco Stupka has been cut.
Stupka scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
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!
Stupka swings for the body but Hennig moves out of range.
Hennig takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Hennig throws a hook to the side of Stupka's head but Stupka sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hennig misses with the combination.
Stupka fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hennig defending well as Stupka loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stupka throws a low kick but Hennig avoids it.
Hennig throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Hennig misses the shot to the body.
Hennig is looking to land body kicks.
Stupka shoots in but Hennig avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Curt Hennig has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocco Stupka.
Hennig walks into a jab.
Sloppy strikes from Stupka. Those never looked like landing.
Hennig shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stupka as he avoids it easily.
Hennig scores with a jab to the body.
Stupka lands a jab to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
No joy there for Stupka, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stupka tries to bum rush Hennig with a series of wild strikes but Hennig uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hennig fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hennig stuffs the takedown.
Stupka fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stupka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A punch combination from Stupka misses.
Hennig takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hennig swings for the body but Stupka moves out of range.

Hennig fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Stupka sprawls well initially but Hennig persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hennig missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hennig thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stupka's head.
Stupka is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hennig trying to control the action but Stupka is working from the bottom.
Hennig scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hennig controlling the action here.
Stupka has his hands clasped together around Hennig's back. He's all about the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stupka is pressing down on Hennig's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Stupka is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hennig accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stupka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hennig throws a strike but Stupka rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hennig is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stupka is fighting to break Hennig's control of his arms but Hennig is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hennig looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stupka is one step ahead there.
Stupka trying to control the position from guard on top but Hennig is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hennig tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hennig avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hennig holds on and takes a little breather.
Hennig keeping moving, preventing Stupka from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rocco Stupka will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stupka fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stupka throws a poor cross that misses
and Hennig counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hennig is looking to wear down Stupka with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Hennig looks for the body kick but Stupka saw that one coming.
Stupka fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hennig looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hennig will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Stupka gets caught flat footed, as Hennig shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Stupka looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hennig is one step ahead there.
Stupka is trying to keep Hennig in close.
Stupka wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hennig throwing strikes but missing.
Hennig wants to pass the guard but Stupka is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hennig trying to control the position from guard on top but Stupka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hennig postures up in Stupka's guard and throws a big left but Stupka blocks it.
Stupka wants to sweep here but Hennig controlling him for the moment.
Hennig scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Stupka has Hennig pulled in close to control his posture.
Hennig won't allow Stupka to sweep him here.
Stupka bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hennig's guard.
Stupka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hennig looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hennig is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hennig keeping moving, preventing Stupka from controlling successfully.
Stupka postures up in Hennig's guard and throws a big left but Hennig blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stupka throws a big right hand that misses.
Hennig keeping moving, preventing Stupka from controlling successfully.
Stupka throwing strikes but missing.
Stupka loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hennig looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stupka is one step ahead there.
Stupka trying to control but Hennig is working from the bottom.
Stupka with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stupka has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Stupka controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Stupka wants to pass the guard but Hennig is keeping the position.
Hennig 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.
Stupka wants to control from the top but Hennig keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rocco Stupka.
Stupka looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Stupka throws a hook but Hennig blocks it.
Stupka misses with a straight left.
Stupka scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hennig doesn't seem bothered though.
Hennig pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Stupka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stupka missing with a left hand there. Hennig was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hennig uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stupka.
Hennig slips a jab from Stupka.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hennig throws the left hand but Stupka avoids the punch easily.
Stupka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
An inside leg kick from Stupka misses.
Stupka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocco Stupka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hennig tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stupka was well out of range. Poor timing from Hennig.
Stupka connects with the punch.
Stupka misses with a few strikes there.
Hennig misses with a right hand
and Stupka counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hennig fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hennig swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hennig fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stupka manages to avoid it.
Stupka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hennig misses the shot to the body.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Stupka crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Hennig - the referee stops the clock and Stupka gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Hennig. Stupka manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hennig.
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We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hennig creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Stupka sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stupka is looking to reverse the position.
Stupka is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hennig tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Stupka keeping his opponent close.
Sloppy strikes there by Hennig.
Stupka parries the strikes from Hennig easily there. Hennig is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Stupka to escape.
Curt Hennig overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hennig trying to control the position but Stupka is working away.
Stupka parries the strikes from Hennig easily there. Hennig is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Stupka to escape.
You can see the frustration on Stupka's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stupka gets back to half guard.
Stupka avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hennig.
Stupka blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hennig.
Hennig working Stupka over with strikes.
Stupka makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Stupka.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stupka keeping moving, preventing Hennig from controlling successfully.
Hennig is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hennig wants to pass the guard but Stupka is keeping the position.
Hennig is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stupka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hennig lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hennig has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hennig engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hennig working some strikes from top position.
Stupka keeping moving, preventing Hennig from controlling successfully.
Stupka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hennig working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hennig lands a couple of elbows.
Hennig makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rocco Stupka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hennig throwing strikes but missing.
Stupka seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Hennig scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hennig lands a couple of elbows.
Hennig is fighting to break Stupka's control of his arms but Stupka is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Hennig trying to control the position from guard on top but Stupka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hennig working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hennig throws a big right hand that misses.
Curt Hennig has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hennig throws a strike but Stupka rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Curt Hennig showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stupka 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 James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocco Stupka!
Rocco Stupka thanked the fans post fight for their support.