PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Stenquist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bin Laden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stenquist comes into the arena with "Battle On' - War of Ages blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Bin Laden enters the cage!

Stenquist
vs
Laden

184 cm
21
169 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

179 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Muscle UP

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Stenquist!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bin Laden!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, John Kavanagh and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stenquist throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Stenquist misses with a takedown attempt - Laden sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Laden takes a kick to the side of the head.
Stenquist pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Stenquist has Laden up against the cage in a clinch.
Stenquist has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Laden avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Laden drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stenquist pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Stenquist, right into the meat.
Stenquist throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Laden.
Laden blocks a head kick by Stenquist.

Stenquist drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laden is looking to stand up but Stenquist isn't so interested in that idea.
Laden keeping moving, preventing Stenquist from controlling successfully.

Laden pushes Stenquist off and gets back to his feet.
Stenquist is trying hard to land a takedown here. Laden sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Stenquist. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Laden slips a jab and a cross from Stenquist.
Laden shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stenquist as he avoids it easily.
Laden closes the distance and clinches up with Stenquist, looking for a takedown. Laden pushes Stenquist against the cage but Stenquist circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Laden drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Laden looks gassed!

Laden avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Laden stays in close to Stenquist's body and controls the position.
Let's hope that Laden has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Laden wants to pass the guard but Stenquist is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stenquist can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Laden controls the pace.
Stenquist keeping moving, preventing Laden from controlling successfully.
Stenquist throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Stenquist keeping moving, preventing Laden from controlling successfully.
Stenquist wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stenquist misses with a kick to the body.
Stenquist misses with a takedown attempt

and Laden counters with a single leg into guard. Stenquist didn't expect that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laden wants to pass the guard but Stenquist is keeping the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Stenquist tries to strike from the bottom.

Stenquist is looking for a triangle but Laden pushes his legs off easily.
Stenquist wants to sweep but no luck.
Stenquist can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Laden controls the pace.
Stenquist is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Stenquist working for a triangle but Laden defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Matt Stenquist will probably get the nod.
That's time! Stenquist's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stenquist clinches but Laden breaks the clinch

and Laden decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Stenquist's guard.
Stenquist throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Stenquist keeping moving, preventing Laden from controlling successfully.
Stenquist keeping full guard, as Laden tries to pass.
Laden must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stenquist is adopting a defensive guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Laden pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stenquist is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stenquist looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Laden chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Stenquist can pounce on him.
Stenquist tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Laden counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Stenquist's guard now.
Stenquist is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Laden preventing the sweep.
Laden trying to control but Stenquist is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laden controls from within his opponent's guard.
Stenquist wants to stand and escape but Laden is having none of it.
Stenquist is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stenquist keeping moving, preventing Laden from controlling successfully.
Stenquist bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Laden's guard.

Laden is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Laden goes for a takedown in the clinch but Stenquist prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laden tries for a takedown but Stenquist manages to get underhooks.

Stenquist jumps into guard, dragging Laden to the mat.
Laden trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Laden trying to control the position from guard on top but Stenquist is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Laden advances position into side control!
Laden lands an elbow.
Laden advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stenquist sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Laden looks to land a strike but Stenquist avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Laden wants to control from the top but Stenquist keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Laden sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Laden tries to free his leg and advance position but Stenquist is retaining full guard.
Laden's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Stenquist wants to sweep here but Laden controlling him for the moment.
Laden postures up.
Stenquist keeping moving, preventing Laden from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bin Laden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Laden shoots and misses
enabling Stenquist to counter with a crisp jab.
Stenquist tries to clinch but Laden moves away

and Laden counters with a takedown into side control.
Stenquist tries to buck Laden off but Laden is having none of it.
Stenquist manages to work his way to half guard, despite Laden's best efforts.
Laden not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Laden moves into full mount! Stenquist won't be happy about that!
Laden avoids the attempt from Stenquist to control.
Laden looking to control but Stenquist is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Laden throws a sloppy strike and Stenquist uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Stenquist has ended up in Laden's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stenquist is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Stenquist throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Laden works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Laden keeping moving, preventing Stenquist from controlling successfully.
Stenquist showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Laden is working an open guard so Stenquist takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Stenquist misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Laden counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stenquist won't be happy with that.
Stenquist is not content to let Laden control the position.
Laden wants to take a breather but Stenquist manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Laden.
Laden trying to control but Stenquist is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stenquist manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Laden manages to get himself to full guard.
Stenquist passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Laden pushes Stenquist away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Stenquist gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Stenquist decides to stand back up. Stenquist steps back and let's Laden get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stenquist tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stenquist looks to land a combination but Laden avoids it well.
Laden with a poor takedown
and Stenquist cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stenquist misses with a takedown

and Laden counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Stenquist!
Laden wants to control the pace but Stenquist is squirming around nicely.
Stenquist is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Laden lands a nice shot to the head.
BOOM! Laden connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Laden tries to control but Stenquist wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bin Laden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Laden has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bin Laden!