PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bogdan Stupko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Iram (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alex Iram has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Stupko
vs
Iram

167 cm
26
130 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

160 cm
22
140 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bogdan Stupko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alex Iram!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Donatello Bradman and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Iram throws a combination. Stupko tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Iram rushes Stupko and presses him up against the cage.

Iram breaks from the clinch.

Stupko closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Iram struggling a bit here.
Stupko passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Iram!
Iram is squirming around, avoiding Stupko's attempts to control the action.
Iram can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stupko takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Stupko avoids the attempt from Iram to control.
Stupko is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Iram is in real trouble.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Iram manages to reverse the position and now he's in Stupko's guard. Nice work there by Iram.
Stupko trying to control the position here.
Stupko is trying to control the position but Iram postures up.
Iram trying to control but Stupko is working from the bottom.
Iram throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stupko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Iram accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Stupko keeping moving, preventing Iram from controlling successfully.
Stupko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Iram postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A combination from Iram does no damage.
Iram throws a combination that misses

and Stupko counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Stupko.

Iram working for submissions but it's allowed Stupko to get to half guard.
Stupko is taking a breather. Iram says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Iram wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bogdan Stupko 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.

Iram misses with a combination

and Stupko counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Iram is trying to control but can't.
Iram regains full guard. Nicely done.
Iram is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Stupko engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Bogdan Stupko wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Iram fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stupko misses with an uppercut
and Iram counters with a nice low kick that buckles Stupko's knee momentarily.
Iram throws a nice outside leg kick.
Bogdan Stupko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stupko drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Iram is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Stupko shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Iram controls Stupko momentarily but Stupko frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iram striking off his back but it's not causing Stupko any problems.
Iram is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Alex Iram has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Stupko shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Iram as he jumps to the side.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stupko shoots and misses

and Iram counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Iram trying to control the position from guard on top but Stupko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iram is looking to work some ground and pound but Stupko has wrist control.
Iram looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Iram tries to free his leg and advance position but Stupko is retaining full guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Alex Iram wasn't active enough on the ground.
Stupko shoots in for a takedown but Iram shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bogdan Stupko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Iram tries to land a leg kick but Stupko saw it coming and moves away.

That's four 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.
Iram tries a low kick but Stupko avoids it.
Iram throws a right hand that Stupko ducks under and follows up with a left that Stupko also avoids with ease.
No joy there for Iram, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Iram throws a right hand that Stupko ducks under and follows up with a left that Stupko also avoids with ease.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Stupko checks a leg kick.
Stupko fails with the takedown

so Iram counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Iram with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Iram not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Stupko keeping moving, preventing Iram from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Iram 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Iram swinging wildly here.
Iram misses with a two punch combination.
A big left from Iram misses.
Iram throws a left and a right that both miss

and Stupko counters with a takedown into side control.
Iram regains half guard.
Iram makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Iram.
Iram is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stupko controlling from the top position.
Stupko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Iram working a defensive guard but Stupko manages to pass into side control anyway.

Stupko looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iram manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Iram throws a strike but Stupko avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Iram lands a couple of elbows.
Iram trying to control the position from guard on top but Stupko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Stupko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stupko keeping full guard, as Iram tries to pass.
Iram throws a big right hand that misses.
Iram lands a couple of elbows.
Iram makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Stupko working for submissions but it's allowed Iram to get to half guard.
Iram landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bogdan Stupko showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stupko 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bogdan Stupko!