PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gab Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donald Stewart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Junior comes to the cage accompanied by SOLDIERS HEART. The crowd seem to be enjoying Stewart's choice of entrance music: Celly cel - Its Goin Down Tonight . Donald Stewart has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Junior
vs
Stewart

184 cm
26
201 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

183 cm
26
185 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gab Junior!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Donald Stewart!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, David Schapiro and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Junior fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Junior looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Stewart!
Junior scores with punches from side control.
Junior working the ground and pound.

Junior is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Stewart is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Junior tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Junior has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stewart is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Junior thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Junior in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Stewart is trying to control Junior's posture but Junior avoids it.

Junior wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Stewart, who protects the arm well.
Stewart is trying to get back to half guard.
Stewart wants to control but Junior postures up.

Junior is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Stewart has escaped the position, nice work there.
Junior scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Stewart to see if he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Stewart manages to get back to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stewart is looking to control Junior's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stewart avoid being mounted?
Stewart is looking for a sweep. Junior is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Junior landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Stewart keeping control of the position.
Stewart is trying to control but can't.

Junior is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Junior not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Stewart trying to control but Junior postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Junior.

Junior is trying to work for a kimura but Stewart is defending well.
Junior sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Stewart defending well though.

Junior is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Stewart is just riding it out for now. Junior eventually gives up the hold.
Stewart is trying to maintain the position but Junior is very close to passing his half guard.
Junior throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Stewart to regain full guard.
Stewart keeping full guard, as Junior tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stewart is trying to keep Junior in close.
Junior tries to free his leg and advance position but Stewart is retaining full guard.
Stewart preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Junior connects with a couple of short punches.
Junior with a nice head shot there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Junior throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stewart works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Junior loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Junior working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Junior's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Junior scoring with some ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stewart is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Stewart got a little sloppy there for a moment and Junior has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stewart has managed to get both his arms back between Junior's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Junior fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Junior walks into a straight right hand from Stewart.
Stewart misses with a looping right.
Stewart throws a lazy uppercut

and Junior counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Junior.
Stewart trying to control the position.
Junior throws a big right hand that misses.
Gab Junior overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Junior with a flurry of punches that miss.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Junior loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stewart wants to control but Junior passes easily into half guard.
Nice strikes from Junior there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior drops an elbow to the side of Stewart's head.
Junior is pressing down on Stewart's thigh, looking to free his foot. Stewart is holding on for now.

Junior is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Stewart has managed to free his arm - good work.

Junior is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Stewart has his hands clasped together around Junior's back. He's all about the action.
Stewart trying to hold on to Junior's head to control him but Junior postures up.
Junior throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stewart works his way to full guard. Good work.
Stewart trying to keep a closed guard but Junior is proving a slippery customer.
Junior lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Stewart can't keep his opponent in guard - Junior advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stewart keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Junior seems to be working for a kimura but Stewart defends the submission attempt.
Junior is nestled in close to Stewart, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Stewart keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Junior.
Stewart trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stewart is looking for a sweep. Junior is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Junior lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Junior is working for a submission of some sort.
Junior missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Stewart tries to get to full guard but Junior has control of the leg.

Junior is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stewart defends it well.
Stewart keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junior missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Stewart is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Junior's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Junior's back!
Stewart lands punches and elbows.
Junior is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Stewart controls the position.
Junior tries to escape but Stewart has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Junior is working hard here to advance position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stewart scores with punches from the back.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Junior covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Junior rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Junior gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gab Junior dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Junior shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stewart but Stewart pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Crunch! Stewart slams his shin into Junior's torso.
Stewart keeps the fight on the outside.
Stewart throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stewart throws a lazy head kick
and Junior counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Junior fails to land the takedown.
Junior shoots in for a double leg but Stewart sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gab Junior. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Junior misses with a takedown
and Stewart counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Stewart - just one landing.
Stewart avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stewart fails in his attempt to clinch.
Junior takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Junior fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stewart avoids it really well and circles away.
Junior misses with a takedown
and Stewart counters with a nice uppercut.
A slapping leg kick lands for Stewart.
Stewart connects with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stewart's waist but Stewart gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Junior off to one side.
Stewart fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Junior.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Junior takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Stewart tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Junior paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stewart stuffs the takedown attempt from Junior. Junior gets slowly back to his feet.
Junior fails to land the takedown.
Junior checks the leg kick.

Stewart moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stewart.
Junior struggles to land a body shot inside as Stewart controls his hands.
Stewart working aggressively here.
Stewart will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Junior up against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Junior.
Stewart looking to slow down the pace here.
A frustrated look appears on Junior's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Donald Stewart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Junior can't find room to land a body shot as Stewart controls the action.
Junior tries to throw a body punch but Stewart avoids it by throwing Junior back against the cage.
Stewart has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Junior after a bit of a struggle.
Stewart looking to slow down the pace here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stewart wants a takedown.
Junior takes a shot to the head.
Stewart lands a shoulder strike.
Junior misses with a hook to the ribs.
Junior throws a head punch that misses.
Stewart changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Junior fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Junior moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Horrible takedown by Junior or perhaps it was just good defense by Stewart which made him look bad.
Gab Junior is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stewart rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Junior counters with a takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donald Stewart comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Junior 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gab Junior!
After winning the bout, Gab Junior thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.