PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ernesto Stafford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitaliq Shunkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vitaliq Shunkov will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Stafford
vs
Shunkov

180 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

168 cm
18
137 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ernesto Stafford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vitaliq Shunkov!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Viktor Lagutenko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shunkov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Shunkov jumps guard but Stafford stands there with Shunkov around his waist. Shunkov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Shunkov prevents the takedown attempt.
Shunkov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shunkov can't get the takedown.
Ernesto Stafford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vitaliq Shunkov.
Shunkov is looking to take this one to the mat.

Stafford pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shunkov misses with a takedown attempt - Stafford sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shunkov swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shunkov closes the distance and pushes Stafford back into the cage.
Stafford stops a takedown attempt from Shunkov.

Stafford has clasped his hands together around Shunkov's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Stafford controls the position.
Stafford landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Shunkov trying to remain calm as Stafford controls from the top position.
Stafford will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Stafford has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Stafford throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stafford working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Shunkov takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Shunkov trying to remain calm as Stafford controls from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stafford throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Stafford decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Shunkov drives through and clinches with Stafford against the cage.
Shunkov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

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

Stafford clinches with his opponent.
Stafford is pressed up against the cage. Shunkov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Stafford down to the mat. Stafford avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Stafford moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shunkov is trying to pull guard but Stafford turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Stafford drops down looking for an ankle pick but Shunkov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Shunkov tries for a takedown but Stafford sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Stafford really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Shunkov looks winded!
Shunkov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stafford circles away quickly and effectively.
Shunkov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stafford defends it nicely.
Stafford dives in and grabs Shunkov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Shunkov pushes down on Stafford's head and hops out.
Stafford is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stafford shoots in and gets a takedown into Shunkov's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stafford throws a big right hand that misses.
Stafford controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Stafford with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Stafford connects with a couple of short punches.
Stafford sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Stafford postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stafford sitting in guard here, content to control.
Stafford is looking to work some ground and pound but Shunkov has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernesto Stafford dominated that round.
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.

Stafford clinches.
Stafford blocking some punches.

Shunkov gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Stafford regains guard.
Stafford wants to stand up but Shunkov is controlling him.

Stafford pushes Shunkov off and scrambles back to his feet.
Vitaliq Shunkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shunkov throws a series of punches but Stafford moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Shunkov. Those never looked like landing.

Stafford has Shunkov up against the cage in a clinch.
Shunkov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stafford smiles and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shunkov misses with a left hand
and Stafford counters with a left to the body.

Stafford shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Shunkov's guard.
Shunkov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stafford. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shunkov is breathing heavily.
Stafford is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Shunkov trying to keep a closed guard but Stafford is proving a slippery customer.
Stafford sitting in guard here, content to control.
Stafford lands a couple of digs.
Stafford showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Stafford 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.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ernesto Stafford wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Stafford shoots in for a double leg but Shunkov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shunkov keeps the fight on the outside.

Stafford closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Shunkov's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Stafford got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shunkov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stafford has managed to get both his arms back between Shunkov's legs - danger averted.
Stafford not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Stafford postures up and lands a big shot to Shunkov's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stafford is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Stafford scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Stafford gets to his feet - Shunkov follows without any prompting.
Stafford keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Stafford shoots in and drives through. Shunkov sprawls well.
Stafford tries to clinch up but Shunkov circles away and keeps his distance.
Stafford shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shunkov pinned against the cage. Shunkov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ernesto Stafford. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stafford shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shunkov pinned against the cage. Shunkov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shunkov darts in looking for a takedown but Stafford gets double underhooks and turns Shunkov into the cage.
Stafford has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Shunkov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Stafford gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Shunkov.
Shunkov is pressed up against the cage. Stafford has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shunkov down to the mat. Shunkov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernesto Stafford dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Stafford feints and as Shunkov raises his hands in defense, Stafford changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Stafford throws a big elbow that misses.
Shunkov wants to sweep but no luck.

Shunkov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stafford defends it easily.
Stafford is working Shunkov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stafford accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shunkov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stafford in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stafford showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shunkov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stafford defends it easily.
Stafford working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shunkov is trying to keep Stafford in close.
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 stopping the sweep attempt from Shunkov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shunkov trying to keep a closed guard but Stafford is proving a slippery customer.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

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

Stafford has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Stafford tries for a takedown but Shunkov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Shunkov rushes Stafford and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shunkov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Shunkov is trying to drag Stafford to the mat but Stafford just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Shunkov tries to pull guard but Stafford won't allow it.
Ernesto Stafford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vitaliq Shunkov.

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

Stafford looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Shunkov!
Stafford controls the position from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stafford trying to control the action but Shunkov is working from the bottom.
Stafford lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Stafford cracks Shunkov with a big right hand but Shunkov just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Stafford cracks Shunkov with a big elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shunkov is trying to escape the position but Stafford is controlling the position.
Stafford working away.
Vitaliq Shunkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ernesto Stafford is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stafford taking a breather here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ernesto Stafford showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stafford, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27

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