PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcelo Stanly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niko Reynolds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reynolds has chosen Lights Out - Bobby Light as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Stanly
vs
Reynolds

197 cm
28
214 lbs
15 - 12 - 0

197 cm
30
224 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcelo Stanly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Niko Reynolds!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Franklyn Lucas and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stanly gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Stanly shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Reynolds pinned against the cage. Reynolds gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Stanly swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Reynolds moves out of range of the body kick from Stanly.
Reynolds takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Reynolds throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Stanly on the side of the head.
Stanly thows a body shot but no joy.

Stanly shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Reynolds is working to get back to half guard.
Stanly scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Reynolds 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.
Stanly throws a strike but Reynolds avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanly postures up in Reynolds's guard and throws a big left but Reynolds blocks it.
Reynolds not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Stanly trying to control but Reynolds is working from the bottom.

Stanly drops back, looking for a kneebar! Reynolds looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Reynolds looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Reynolds!
Stanly is not content to let Reynolds control the position.
Stanly has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Stanly takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Stanly tries to control but Reynolds manages to take his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stanly staying busy and making it hard for Reynolds to control.
Stanly is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Reynolds is punishing Stanly with strikes - can he finish him?!
Reynolds is not going to allow Stanly to sit and survive in this position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
You can see the frustration on Stanly's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stanly manages to reverse the position and now he's in Reynolds's guard. Nice work there by Stanly.

Reynolds working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stanly doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stanly manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Stanly is looking to work some ground and pound but Reynolds has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds keeping moving, preventing Stanly from controlling successfully.
Stanly is really struggling to control Reynolds but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Stanly controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Stanly with a flurry of punches that miss.
Reynolds keeping full guard, as Stanly tries to pass.
Reynolds looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Stanly tries for a takedown but Reynolds sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Reynolds wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcelo Stanly. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reynolds motions for Stanly to come forward. Reynolds throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Stanly shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Reynolds as he jumps to the side.
Stanly misses with a series of wild punches.
Stanly getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Reynolds tests Stanly's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Reynolds slaps away a takedown attempt from Stanly, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Stanly throws a right hand that misses
and Reynolds counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reynolds tries to clinch there but Stanly circles away.
Reynolds fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Marcelo Stanly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Reynolds throws a right and a left that both miss.
Reynolds stalks Stanly and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Stanly's face. Stanly staggers backwards, shaken.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Niko Reynolds will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Reynolds tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Reynolds looks to score with a jab to the body but Stanly is just out of range.
Stanly scores with a body shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for Stanly.
Stanly clobbers Reynolds with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A swing and a miss from Stanly.
Stanly avoids the head kick by Reynolds.
Niko Reynolds is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Reynolds keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Stanly rushes Reynolds and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stanly tries for a takedown but Reynolds manages to get underhooks.

Stanly drags the fight down to the ground.

Stanly is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Reynolds defends well.
Reynolds scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanly is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Reynolds trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stanly is pulling down on Reynolds's head to control his posture.
Reynolds stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stanly swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stanly keeping moving, preventing Reynolds from controlling successfully.
Reynolds throws a big right hand that misses.

Stanly looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Reynolds passes into half guard.
Stanly is looking to control Reynolds's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stanly avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stanly is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Reynolds pulls his head out easily.
Stanly is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Stanly won't allow Reynolds to pass to mount.
Stanly avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Reynolds.
Reynolds is trying to control the action in half guard but Stanly is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Stanly looking for submissions off his back.

Stanly looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Reynolds scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds working the head and body with strikes.
The fighters are battling for position here. Stanly manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Reynolds is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Stanly wants to improve his position but instead Reynolds has moved into half guard.
Stanly trying to hold on to Reynolds's head to control him but Reynolds postures up.

Stanly looking for submissions off his back.
Reynolds seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stanly does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Reynolds lands strikes from half guard.
Reynolds trying to mount his opponent but Stanly defends it.
Reynolds missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Reynolds thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stanly's head.

Stanly looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Stanly tries to roll over but Reynolds keeps him under control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Reynolds lands strikes from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stanly is looking to control Reynolds's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stanly avoid being mounted?
Stanly is refusing to be controlled, as Reynolds sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Marcelo Stanly will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Reynolds doesn't manage to clinch there - Stanly circles away.
Stanly throws a right and a left that both miss.
Reynolds misses with a low kick.
A punch combination from Stanly misses.
Stanly throws a body punch but Reynolds moves out of range.
Stanly misses with a series of wild punches.
Stanly scores with a punch to the head.
Stanly throws a right and a left that Reynolds avoids nicely.
Reynolds keeps the fight on the outside.
Reynolds fails in his attempt to clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Reynolds.
Stanly is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Stanly's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Reynolds looks up at the clock and then as Stanly takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Reynolds smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Reynolds lands a few punches from side control.
Stanly is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Stanly slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Reynolds trying to control but Stanly is working from the bottom.
Reynolds is pushing down on Stanly's leg trying to pass to half guard. Stanly is fighting to maintain full guard but Reynolds has managed to sneak the leg through.
Niko Reynolds has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stanly has his hands clasped together around Reynolds's back. He's all about the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stanly looking for subs from the bottom but Reynolds mounts him!
Reynolds with a couple of short strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stanly is trying desperately to improve position.
Reynolds content just to control the position here.
Stanly regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stanly looking for submissions off his back.
Reynolds trying to control the action but Stanly is working from the bottom.
Stanly wants to get back to full guard.
Reynolds working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Reynolds seems to be looking for submissions.

Stanly is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Reynolds pulls his head out easily.
Stanly has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Reynolds is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanly is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Reynolds scores with a couple of nice shots.
Reynolds trying to control the pace.

Stanly is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Reynolds pulls his head out easily.
Reynolds looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Stanly with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Reynolds thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stanly's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Stanly looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Stanly actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Niko Reynolds comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Reynolds 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Niko Reynolds!