PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Deva Stating (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey ONeill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). ONeill has chosen "This Is England" by The Clash as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Stating
vs
ONeill

175 cm
18
180 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

188 cm
20
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Deva Stating!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mickey ONeill!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Valeri Chadov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
ONeill tries to bum rush Stating with a series of wild strikes but Stating uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stating avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stating fails with the takedown.
Stating closes the distance and clinches up with ONeill, looking for a takedown. Stating pushes ONeill against the cage but ONeill circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stating is defended easily by ONeill.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Deva Stating. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Stating with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stating shoots in and bounces ONeill off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Stating avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ONeill is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

ONeill is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Stating has managed to free his arm - good work.
Stating is looking to control ONeill's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stating avoid being mounted?
ONeill is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

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.
ONeill seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stating does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
ONeill is figuring out what he wants to do next.
ONeill is just content to waste time from the top position. Stating takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
ONeill wants to pass the guard but Stating is keeping the position.
ONeill passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ONeill missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

ONeill is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Stating wants to get back to his feet.
ONeill is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Stating!
Stating has given up his back here. Will ONeill look for the submission or keep pounding away?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

ONeill is looking for a choke. Stating gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Stating manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
ONeill wants to sweep but no luck.
ONeill utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stating tries to stand but ONeill is controlling from the bottom.
ONeill is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stating wants to stand but ONeill has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
ONeill is pulling down on Stating's head to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey ONeill 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.

Stating will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stating fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

ONeill bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
ONeill working the head and body with strikes.
ONeill is looking to take a break and control but Stating is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

ONeill working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
ONeill has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

ONeill is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Stating has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Stating!
Stating postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
ONeill looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stating is looking to stand up but ONeill won't let him.

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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

ONeill throws his legs up looking for a submission but Stating uses it to pass to side control.
ONeill tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Stating wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Stating swings around for an armbar but ONeill sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Stating's guard.
Stating wants to stand but ONeill is controlling the position.
ONeill wants to pass the guard but Stating is keeping the position.
Stating looking for a sweep. Not yet Stating, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ONeill trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
ONeill stands up over Stating, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
ONeill showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
ONeill stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stating swivels though and keeps the full guard.
ONeill trying to control but Stating is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stating with a lazy takedown attempt

and ONeill counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by ONeill.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Deva Stating. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Stating can't get the takedown.
ONeill lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Stating.

ONeill lands a takedown into guard.
ONeill wants to control from the top but Stating keeps moving.
ONeill is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
ONeill passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Stating can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey ONeill showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Stating gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
ONeill pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stating is keeping the position for now.
ONeill throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stating works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
ONeill is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

ONeill is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Stating is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Stating has escaped and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stating postures up.
ONeill takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stating sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed ONeill's guard.

Stating is looking for a kimura but ONeill is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Stating to get the leverage.
Stating throws a strike but ONeill avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

ONeill has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stating can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Stating got a little sloppy there for a moment and ONeill has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stating has managed to get both his arms back between ONeill's legs - danger averted.
ONeill trying to control the position.

Stating decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stating shoots and misses
and ONeill counters with a straight right hand.

Stating tries to keep at a distance but ONeill has taken the fight into the clinch.
Stating wants a takedown but no success here.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as ONeill takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A right handed body shot lands from ONeill.
Stating has ONeill pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. ONeill manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Deva Stating. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
ONeill works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

ONeill drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
ONeill wants to control but Stating is keeping him busy.
Stating wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
ONeill working the body and head with strikes.

ONeill tries for a kimura but Stating is defending well.
ONeill tries to move to mount but Stating blocks the move with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stating dodges the ground and pound from ONeill.
ONeill wants to control but Stating is keeping him busy.
Stating is letting ONeill control him for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mickey ONeill comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well ONeill has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Mickey ONeill!
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Mickey ONeill!
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight for Mickey ONeill!

Mickey ONeill wins by unanimous decision!