PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lionel Stanton (ranked 25371 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justinmon Navarrete (ranked 5038 p4p, 473 weight class). Justinmon Navarrete will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Stanton
vs
Navarrete

162 cm
23
178 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

190 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lionel Stanton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Justinmon Navarrete!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Taro Takaoka and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Stanton throws a head kick that misses.
Stanton misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Despite the aggression on Navarrete's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Navarrete is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Stanton shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Navarrete is looking for the big counter here.
Stanton throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Navarrete.

Stanton closes the distance and pushes Navarrete back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Navarrete misses with the head strike.
Stanton really is a fat lump.
Navarrete throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Stanton.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stanton breaks from the clinch.

Stanton gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Navarrete fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Navarrete fails to land.
Navarrete misses with some punches.
Navarrete swings wildly with an uppercut but Stanton uses good head movement to avoid it.
Navarrete misses with some punches.
Stanton's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Navarrete working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Stanton turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Navarrete bucks up and tries to throw Stanton off but instead Stanton has got his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Navarrete wants to get back to his feet.
Stanton gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Stanton cracks Navarrete with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Navarrete from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Navarrete is trying to stand back up.
Stanton trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Navarrete doesn't escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stanton is punishing Navarrete with strikes - can he finish him?!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanton is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

Stanton working from the back looking to end the fight with a rear naked choke. Navarrete is doing well to defend. Stanton seems to have got his hand under the chin though and he's sunk the choke in! Navarrete is forced to tap and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Lionel Stanton!