PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Orjan Ank (ranked 6273 p4p, 265 weight class) and Hale Stenburg (ranked 3568 p4p, 180 weight class). Orjan Ank is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Ank
vs
Stenburg

176 cm
18
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

150 cm
25
130 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Notorious

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Orjan Ank!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hale Stenburg!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, John Roberts and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stenburg fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ank, pushing him back against the cage.
Stenburg scores with a hook to the body.
Ank tries to circle away but Stenburg has him pinned against the cage.
Ank tries to pull guard but Stenburg forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Stenburg.
Ank tries to pull guard but Stenburg holds him up against the cage and eventually Ank drops back down to his feet.

Stenburg successfully pulls guard.

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

Stenburg distracts Ank with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stenburg gets to his feet - Ank follows without any prompting.

Stenburg shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Stenburg was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stenburg scores with punches from side control.

Stenburg has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Hale Stenburg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Stenburg takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ank jumps guard and drags Stenburg to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Stenburg makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Stenburg decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ank, up you get!

Stenburg rushes Ank and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stenburg prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Orjan Ank. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stenburg taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
I was talking to Ank's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Stenburg manages to break the clinch.

Stenburg forces Ank back against the cage and clinches.
Ank tries for a takedown. No joy.
Stenburg content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Stenburg lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Ank is breathing heavily.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stenburg clinches with his opponent.
Stenburg stalling the fight.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Ank jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stenburg walks away with a smile on his face. Ank gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Stenburg takes the fight into the clinch.
Ank drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stenburg gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stenburg cracks Ank with a nice body shot.
Ank tries to pull guard but Stenburg forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ank blocks an elbow strike.
Ank jumps guard but Stenburg turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stenburg pushes Ank back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Ank tries to pull guard but Stenburg forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Stenburg is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Ank is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Stenburg successfully pulls guard.

Stenburg has his feet on Ank's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Ank gets tackled into the cage by Stenburg. Stenburg maintains the clinch.
Ank is trying to pull guard but Stenburg turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Stenburg tries to break the clinch but Ank is controlling the position.
Stenburg lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ank.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Stenburg gets control of Ank's arms and successfully pulls guard. Stenburg will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ank throws an elbow that misses. Stenburg uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ank's guard. Nice move by Stenburg!

Stenburg gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
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!

Stenburg moves into the clinch.
A short uppercut from Stenburg.
Stenburg gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ank.
Stenburg working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A hook to the body from Stenburg.
Stenburg stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Stenburg manages to break the clinch.
Ank really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Stenburg takes the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hale Stenburg dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Stenburg moves into the clinch.

Stenburg ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Stenburg no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Stenburg has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Ank is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Stenburg stops a takedown attempt from Ank.
Stenburg avoiding damage.
Stenburg is pushing Ank up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Stenburg lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ank backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ank tries to pull guard but Stenburg won't allow it.
Stenburg lands a body punch in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Stenburg's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Stenburg is trying to break the clinch but Ank is controlling him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stenburg lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stenburg lands with a right to the head.

Stenburg pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Stenburg closes the distance and clinches.
Stenburg effectively controlling the action here.

Stenburg breaks from the clinch.

Stenburg closes the distance and clinches.
Stenburg content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Stenburg has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stenburg stalls.
Ank tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stenburg smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Orjan Ank. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stenburg clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stenburg looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Stenburg stalling.
Ank is trying to pull guard but Stenburg has him pressed against the cage.
Stenburg is stalling here.
Ank tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Stenburg ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Stenburg no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Stenburg is controlling Ank's posture.
Stenburg bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ank's guard.

Ank looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Stenburg has picked Ank up and slammed him! Ank can't keep hold of the triangle and Stenburg manages to pass to side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Stenburg tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Stenburg has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Stenburg decides to stand back up. Stenburg steps back and let's Ank get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stenburg takes the fight into the clinch.
Stenburg lands a hook to the side of the head.

Stenburg breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stenburg lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ank circles away quickly and effectively.

Stenburg clinches with his opponent.
Stenburg holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Stenburg lands a right hand.
Stenburg lands a body shot.

Stenburg jumps guard and drags Ank to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Stenburg pushes Ank off and scrambles back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ank tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stenburg swivels and escapes.
Stenburg is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stenburg has Ank up against the cage in a clinch.
Ank is working for takedown but Stenburg is calmly controlling the position for now.
Stenburg lands a hook that snaps the head of Ank backwards.

Stenburg pulls guard successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stenburg is on top in guard.

Stenburg decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ank, up you get!

Stenburg moves into the clinch.
Ank jumps guard but Stenburg stands there with Ank around his waist. Ank gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ank is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Stenburg is defending well.
Hale Stenburg seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A shot in the inside from Stenburg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hale Stenburg showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ank has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Stenburg moves into range and clinches up with Ank.
Stenburg works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ank tries to score a body lock takedown but Stenburg shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Stenburg.

Stenburg manages to pull guard.
Ank throws a big right hand that misses.
Ank is looking to pass into half guard but Stenburg pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Stenburg is in guard.

Stenburg gets to his feet - Ank follows without any prompting.

Stenburg has managed to clinch.
Ank tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stenburg smiles and moves away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Stenburg shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ank's guard.
Ank is looking to stand back up but Stenburg counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Ank.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nice strikes from Stenburg there.
Stenburg lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Stenburg decides to stand up.

Stenburg instigates a clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Stenburg.
Nice body punch from Stenburg.
Stenburg lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ank or not.
Stenburg looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Stenburg softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Stenburg presses Ank against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Stenburg scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ank wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Orjan Ank. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stenburg lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stenburg lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ank backwards.
Stenburg works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Stenburg lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Stenburg stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Stenburg slowing the pace effectively.
Stenburg has Ank pushed against the cage.
Stenburg continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Stenburg.
Stenburg lands a body punch.

Stenburg pulls guard effortlessly.
Stenburg seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ank throws an elbow that misses. Stenburg uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ank's guard. Nice move by Stenburg!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Stenburg's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ank knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Stenburg on the ground.
Stenburg working some strikes from top position.
Stenburg postures up and lands a big shot to Ank's brow.

Ank is rocked!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Stenburg's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Oh Ank is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Stenburg decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ank, up you get!
Stenburg batters Ank with a massive right followed by a huge left! Ank is out on his feet looking like a zombie as Stenburg lands a final crushing right hand to drop Ank to the mat with a gruesome thud! Stenburg is running around like a mad man after that fight and for good reason!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Hale Stenburg!
Hale Stenburg managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Notorious, into his post fight interview.