PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Danny Ciprianni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edward Stoker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Ciprianni
vs
Stoker

191 cm
25
213 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

199 cm
26
212 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Invictus

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Danny Ciprianni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Edward Stoker!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paul Aken and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stoker misses with a body kick.
Ciprianni is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Ciprianni seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Stoker fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ciprianni, pushing him back against the cage.
Ciprianni misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ciprianni scores with a shot to the side of Stoker's head.
Ciprianni throws a knee to the head but misses.
A short right from Ciprianni on the inside.
Stoker misses with a body punch.
Stoker lands with a left to the head.
Ciprianni tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Stoker's elbow.
A left hand lands to the body for Stoker.
Ciprianni goes for a takedown attempt but Stoker pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Stoker scores with a nice head shot.
Stoker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Edward Stoker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stoker looks to land a combination but Ciprianni avoids it well.
Ciprianni takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stoker throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ciprianni on the side of the head.
Stoker works the jab nicely.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Stoker.
Stoker's coach down at K.O.N.Y. was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Stoker's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Ciprianni misses the jab.
Some bone on bone action there as Stoker checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Stoker steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Ciprianni.
Ciprianni missing with a left hand there. Stoker was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stoker looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Stoker pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ciprianni misses the shot to the body.
Ciprianni moves out of range as Stoker strikes.

Ciprianni tries to keep at a distance but Stoker has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ciprianni lands a body punch in the clinch.
Stoker misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ciprianni struggles to land a body shot inside as Stoker controls his hands.
Stoker misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ciprianni makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Stoker misses with some punches.
Ciprianni is trying to stall.
Stoker makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ciprianni pushes Stoker back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ciprianni lands a body shot in the clinch.
Ciprianni misses with a body punch.
Stoker prevents a body shot from Ciprianni.
Stoker struggles to land a body shot inside as Ciprianni controls his hands.
Ciprianni misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ciprianni doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ciprianni fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ciprianni doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Stoker misses with a hook to the ribs.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ciprianni creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Ciprianni escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ciprianni loads up on a big right hand but Stoker slips the punch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Stoker.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ciprianni works the jab nicely.
Ciprianni ducks under a wild hook from Stoker.
Ciprianni on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ciprianni lands a nice shot that snaps Stoker's head back.
Ciprianni checks a leg kick.
Ciprianni drops down looking for a counter takedown but Stoker sprawls and moves away.
Ciprianni swings for the body but Stoker moves out of range.
Stoker misses with an uppercut
and Ciprianni counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Stoker throws a predictable looking body shot
and Ciprianni counters with a low kick, right behind Stoker 's knee.
A jab from Ciprianni misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Ciprianni.
Good shot there by Stoker.
Stoker missing with a left hand there. Ciprianni was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ciprianni takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Edward Stoker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
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!
Stoker does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Stoker lands with an overhand left.
A left lands for Ciprianni.
Ciprianni takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Stoker is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ciprianni appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stoker tries to work over Ciprianni's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ciprianni tries to stall but Stoker uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Stoker takes a shot to the head.
Stoker tries a body shot but Ciprianni blocks it.
Stoker tries to work over Ciprianni's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Edward Stoker will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ciprianni fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Stoker to the ground. Ciprianni is now in Stoker's guard.
Ciprianni wants to control from the top but Stoker keeps moving.
Stoker keeping full guard, as Ciprianni tries to pass.
Ciprianni passes Stoker's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Stoker is defending against the submission attempts here by Ciprianni.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ciprianni is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Stoker has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ciprianni is pressing down on Stoker's thigh, looking to free his foot. Stoker is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ciprianni looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Stoker is trying to stand.
Ciprianni is trying to control the action in half guard but Stoker is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ciprianni trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Ciprianni is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Stoker is just riding it out for now. Ciprianni eventually gives up the hold.
Ciprianni stalling away here and it's allowed Stoker to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Stoker looking to control.

Ciprianni drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Stoker manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ciprianni has Stoker in his guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ciprianni is trying to keep Stoker in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ciprianni keeping moving, preventing Stoker from controlling successfully.

Stoker avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Stoker controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ciprianni is on top in guard.

That's four 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.
Ciprianni preventing the sweep.

Ciprianni drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Stoker dives on top into guard.

Ciprianni is trying to control the position but Stoker postures up.

Ciprianni working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stoker doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stoker manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Ciprianni is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stoker defends well.

Ciprianni has his foot on Stoker's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stoker works his way back into a safe position though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stoker wants to pass the guard but Ciprianni is keeping the position.
Ciprianni manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stoker manages to get himself to full guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Ciprianni dominated that second round.
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!

Stoker moves out of range of the strikes.
Stoker steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Stoker throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ciprianni sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The fighters circling - Ciprianni throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Stoker misses with a wild body shot.
Ciprianni is looking to counter punch.
Jab from Ciprianni.
Stoker misses with a right hand
and Ciprianni counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Stoker gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ciprianni.
Stoker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ciprianni moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stoker throws a leg kick but Ciprianni moved away.
Ciprianni was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ciprianni takes one on the button.
Stoker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stoker with a nice cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stoker checks the leg kick nicely there.
Stoker throws out a counter right but Ciprianni avoids it with no problem.
Stoker falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ciprianni counters with a series of strikes. Stoker will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ciprianni tests Stoker's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Stoker throws a head kick that Ciprianni semi-blocks.
Some wild striking there from Stoker.
Ciprianni looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Stoker keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Stoker misses with a head kick.
Stoker lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stoker takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Edward Stoker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
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!
Stoker throws a leg kick that misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Stoker.
Ciprianni tests Stoker's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Stoker slips a jab from Ciprianni.
Ciprianni tries to bum rush Stoker with a series of wild strikes but Stoker uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stoker has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Ciprianni with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A slow jab from Ciprianni misses its intended target.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ciprianni, right into the meat.
Stoker swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Jab, jab by Stoker - just one landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stoker lets loose with a powerful body kick. Ciprianni will feel that in the morning.
No joy there for Stoker, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
It looked like Ciprianni wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ciprianni misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stoker misses with a low kick as Ciprianni jumps back.
Ciprianni throws a quick counter kick to the body but Stoker avoids it.
Ciprianni on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Ciprianni swings for the body but Stoker moves out of range.
Stoker misses with a series of wild punches.
Ciprianni misses with a wild combination.
Ciprianni moves out of range as Stoker throws a body kick.
Ciprianni moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stoker looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A jab lands there for Stoker.
Good shot there by Ciprianni.
Ciprianni misses with a low kick as Stoker jumps back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Stoker gets tackled into the cage by Ciprianni. Ciprianni maintains the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Stoker scores with a nice short uppercut.
Stoker blocking some punches.
Stoker wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ciprianni misses with some punches.
Ciprianni swings wildly with an uppercut but Stoker uses good head movement to avoid it.
A shot in the inside from Ciprianni.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Danny Ciprianni.
I think Ciprianni 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danny Ciprianni!
A relieved looking Danny Ciprianni thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.