PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jiri Sayonara (ranked 246 p4p, 11 weight class) and Mini Stipe (ranked 641 p4p, 32 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Sayonara might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Edge Of The Blade. Jiri Sayonara had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Sayonara
vs
Stipe

178 cm
30
138 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

150 cm
28
139 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing

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 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jiri Sayonara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mini Stipe!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stipe 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.
Sayonara pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sayonara checks a leg kick.

Sayonara gets caught flat footed, as Stipe shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sayonara looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stipe is one step ahead there.
Stipe's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Stipe scoring with some ground and pound.
Sayonara keeping moving, preventing Stipe from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sayonara is looking for a triangle but Stipe pushes his legs off easily.
Stipe showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stipe lands a couple of elbows.
Stipe showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Stipe trying to control the position from guard on top but Sayonara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sayonara will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Stipe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Sayonara looking for subs off his back but Stipe has passed one foot through into half guard.
Stipe throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Sayonara to regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Sayonara is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sayonara can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Stipe controls the pace.

Sayonara has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stipe can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sayonara looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stipe is one step ahead there.
Sayonara is trying to keep Stipe in close.
Stipe stays in close to Sayonara's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sayonara is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Sayonara has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Stipe is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Sayonara.
Stipe works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Stipe in side control lands a decent elbow.
Stipe working the ground and pound.
Stipe landing strikes.
Stipe is chipping away with strikes.
Stipe working the ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on Sayonara's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sayonara on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Sayonara tries to buck Stipe off but Stipe is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sayonara takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Stipe is chipping away with strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stipe working away.
Stipe wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sayonara keeps working.
Stipe grinds an elbow into Sayonara's temple.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stipe lands some shots froms side control.
A lull in the action here.
Sayonara tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mini Stipe dominated that 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.

Stipe misses with a takedown attempt
and Stipe takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stipe checks the leg kick.
Stipe explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Stipe jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Stipe wants to slow Sayonara down by chopping away at his legs.
Stipe throws a looping overhand right but Sayonara ducks down to avoid it.
Stipe slips a jab from Sayonara.
Stipe misses with an uppercut
and Sayonara counters with a nice body shot.
Stipe slips a straight right by Sayonara.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sayonara lands with a straight right. Stipe didn't see that one coming.
Stipe swings for the body but Sayonara moves out of range.
Jab from Sayonara.
Stipe tries to clinch but Sayonara is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sayonara throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Stipe on the side of the head.
Sayonara keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stipe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stipe throws a sloppy head kick
and Stipe takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sayonara fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Stipe misses with a left hand
and Sayonara counters with a low kick, right behind Stipe 's knee.
Stipe thuds his right hand into Sayonara's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sayonara tries to land a front kick but Stipe steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Stipe just misses with a punch to the body.
Sayonara really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A good leg kick by Sayonara.
Stipe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sayonara manages to avoid it.
Sayonara lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Sayonara throws a body punch but Stipe moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stipe scores with a kick to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stipe fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sayonara avoids it really well and circles away.
Sayonara throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stipe moves out of range of the strikes.
Sayonara throws a body punch but Stipe moves out of range.
Stipe throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sayonara.
Sayonara bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sayonara misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sayonara is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Stipe misses the shot to the body.
Sayonara connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sayonara. Stipe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sayonara swings for the body but Stipe moves out of range.
Stipe tries a quick counter leg kick but Sayonara is wise to it.
Sayonara slips under a jab from Stipe.
Sayonara throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Stipe to counter with a crisp jab.
Sayonara waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stipe.
Stipe shoots in but Sayonara avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jiri Sayonara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mini Stipe.
Stipe swings for the body but Sayonara moves out of range.
Stipe staying out of range there.
Stipe is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Sayonara takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sayonara avoids a kick to the body.
Stipe fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stipe closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sayonara did well to prevent Stipe getting side control.
Sayonara won't allow Stipe to pass to mount.
Stipe is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Sayonara looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Stipe takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Stipe is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sayonara doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Stipe.
Stipe is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jiri Sayonara will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Sayonara lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Sayonara loads up on a big right hand but Stipe slips the punch.
Sayonara throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stipe sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sayonara sets himself, and Stipe steps forward looking for the clinch! Sayonara avoids it this time.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Stipe lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Sayonara has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sayonara and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Stipe pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And Sayonara counters with a quick kick to the body but Stipe blocks it.
Sayonara fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Stipe has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Sayonara misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stipe misses with an uppercut
and Sayonara counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Stipe swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Sayonara counters with a low kick, right behind Stipe 's knee.
Sayonara throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stipe throws a front kick aimed at Sayonara's knee but Sayonara avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sayonara misses with a body shot.
Sayonara tests Stipe's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Stipe ducks under a wild hook from Sayonara.
Stipe avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sayonara. Stipe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sayonara circles away from the clinch attempt
and Sayonara counters with a nice uppercut.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Sayonara crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Stipe - the referee stops the clock and Sayonara gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Stipe. Sayonara manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Sayonara throws a looping overhand right but Stipe ducks down to avoid it.
Stipe throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sayonara stuffs the takedown.
Stipe throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A little feinted left hand from Sayonara on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Nice shot by Sayonara.
Stipe lands a leg kick that knocks Sayonara off balance momentarily.
Nice uppercut lands for Sayonara. That snapped Stipe's head back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Stipe gets a double leg takedown into Sayonara's guard.

Sayonara is looking for a triangle here but Stipe uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Mini Stipe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stipe in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Stipe cracks Sayonara with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Sayonara is trying to control Stipe's posture but Stipe avoids it.
Stipe taking a break here but Sayonara is having none of it and regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stipe not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sayonara taking some punishment here, with Stipe in his half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Sayonara's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Sayonara is controlling Stipe's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Sayonara is trying to get back to full guard.
Sayonara regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Stipe trying to control the position from guard on top but Sayonara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stipe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Sayonara working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stipe doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stipe manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Stipe is in close to Sayonara's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Stipe cracks Sayonara with a solid left hand.
Stipe is stalling in the full guard.

Sayonara looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jiri Sayonara showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sayonara 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jiri Sayonara!
An out of breath Jiri Sayonara thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.