PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Stanton Downs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Teddy Minstella (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.

Downs
vs
Minstella

160 cm
19
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Stanton Downs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Teddy Minstella!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Steve Erwin and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Minstella drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Downs is looking to regain half guard here but Minstella keeps moving and retains side control.
Minstella moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Minstella decides to stand up, so the ref orders Downs to his feet.
Downs connects with a solid leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Minstella fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Downs to the ground. Minstella is now in Downs's guard.
Downs avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Downs looking for a guillotine here but Minstella defends easily.
Downs lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downs stopping the sweep attempt from Minstella.
Downs throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Minstella works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Minstella is trying to keep Downs in close.
Minstella has a closed guard, preventing Downs from standing up.

Minstella is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Downs trying to stand up but can't free himself from Minstella's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Minstella manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Downs struggles to land a body shot inside as Minstella controls his hands.

Minstella breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Minstella is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Minstella gets the takedown into side control.

Minstella is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Downs is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Downs is looking to regain half guard here but Minstella keeps moving and retains side control.
Downs is trying to control Minstella's posture but Minstella avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Minstella creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Downs sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Minstella trying to control the action but Downs is working from the bottom.
Downs tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Minstella presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Downs is trying to escape the mount.
Minstella punching from mount but Downs doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Minstella throwing strikes here but Downs is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downs holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Minstella tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Downs keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Downs in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Downs is trying desperately to improve position.
Minstella in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Downs is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Minstella sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Minstella throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Downs tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Minstella is in Downs's guard.
Teddy Minstella has got the better of the ground game so far.
Downs thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Minstella working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Minstella throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Downs works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Minstella engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Minstella is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Minstella stands and throws Downs's legs to the side, diving into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Minstella working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Downs is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Minstella has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downs flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Downs tries to roll over but Minstella keeps him under control.
Minstella has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Minstella is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Downs wants to improve his position but Minstella is controlling well.
Minstella thows a huge punch but Downs dodges it nicely.

Minstella escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Downs wants to clinch up but Minstella keeps it at a distance.

Minstella shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Minstella frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Minstella trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Minstella tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Minstella lands a big elbow.
Downs tries to improve his position but instead Minstella has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downs tries to escape but Minstella has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Minstella keeps control of the position easily here as Downs tries to buck him off.
Downs covering up well under a series of strikes from Minstella.
Downs prevents Minstella from getting a body triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Minstella slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Minstella's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Minstella working for a choke but Downs is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teddy Minstella showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Minstella instigates a clinch.

Minstella pulls guard.
Minstella has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Downs with a flurry of punches that miss.
Downs might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Downs content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Downs is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Minstella controls Downs momentarily but Downs frees himself.
Downs lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minstella has a closed guard, preventing Downs from standing up.
Downs working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Minstella looking to control.

Minstella has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Downs has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Minstella managing to block the knees to the body from Downs.

Minstella has Downs pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Minstella pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Downs tumbling to the mat - Minstella dives into Downs's guard.
Downs looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Minstella puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Minstella gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Minstella gets the takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Downs is looking for a sweep.
Minstella trying to control the action but Downs is working from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Minstella advances nicely into full mount.
Minstella takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Minstella prevents Downs from getting the reversal.
Downs could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Minstella looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Minstella unloads with some shots from mount but Downs bucks and avoids them well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Minstella looking for a guillotine from mount but Downs is having none of it.
Downs is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downs tries to lock up and control but Minstella gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Downs is trying desperately to improve position.
Minstella trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Downs wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Minstella has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Downs has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Downs tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minstella trying to control momentarily.
Minstella controls the action.
Downs wants to escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Downs staying busy and making it hard for Minstella to control.

Downs defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Minstella's arms.
Stanton Downs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Teddy Minstella is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

And that's the end of the fight!
Teddy Minstella comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Minstella winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 26:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Teddy Minstella!