PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Elijah Stanley (ranked 5025 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sal Calhoun (ranked 4821 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Stanley
vs
Calhoun

175 cm
20
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Elijah Stanley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sal Calhoun!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Franklyn Lucas and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Calhoun shoots in and bounces Stanley off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Calhoun is pushing down on Stanley's leg trying to pass to half guard. Stanley is fighting to maintain full guard but Calhoun has managed to sneak the leg through.
Stanley is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Calhoun's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Calhoun's back!
Stanley is landing with strikes. Calhoun can't take much more of this.
Calhoun tries to escape the position.
Calhoun wants to get back to his feet.

Stanley looking for the RNC.
Stanley is landing with strikes. Calhoun can't take much more of this.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Stanley.
Stanley 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.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stanley gets his hands free as Calhoun looks to control.
Calhoun is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanley lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.

Calhoun is in a bad position with Stanley working for a choke. Calhoun manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.
Calhoun trying to control but Stanley is working from the bottom.
Stanley punching from the bottom.

Stanley is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Calhoun defends well.
Stanley looking to control.

Stanley is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stanley keeping moving, preventing Calhoun from controlling successfully.

Stanley looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Calhoun controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Calhoun landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calhoun is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Stanley had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Calhoun defends it easily.
Stanley keeping moving, preventing Calhoun from controlling successfully.

Stanley throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four 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.

Stanley had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Calhoun defends it easily.
Calhoun loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Calhoun stopping the sweep attempt from Stanley.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stanley keeping moving, preventing Calhoun from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Stanley tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Calhoun paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stanley fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elijah Stanley dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Calhoun scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Calhoun is trying to ground and pound but Stanley uses the momentary lack of control by Calhoun to regain half guard.
Stanley trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Calhoun manages to pass to mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Calhoun wants to control the pace but Stanley is squirming around nicely.
Calhoun unloads with some shots from mount but Stanley bucks and avoids them well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanley is looking to get to half guard.
Calhoun tries to control but Stanley wriggling away.
Stanley is trying to reverse the position but instead Calhoun has taken his back - oops!
Stanley breaks Calhoun's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Stanley postures up in Calhoun's guard and throws a big left but Calhoun blocks it.

Calhoun is looking for a triangle but Stanley pushes his legs off easily.
Stanley with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stanley scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stanley chips away with some ground and pound.
Stanley throwing strikes from guard but Calhoun blocks nicely.
Calhoun has Stanley pulled in close to control his posture.
Stanley is in close to Calhoun's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Stanley stands and steps away. Calhoun gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Stanley tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Calhoun shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stanley as he avoids it easily.
Calhoun is breathing heavily.
Calhoun shoots for a double leg takedown but Stanley sprawls well. He's pushed Calhoun's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Stanley is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Calhoun can do to turn this around?
Stanley looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Calhoun is fending him off so far but Stanley persists. Nope, Calhoun circles away and we're back to standing.
Calhoun feints the counter takedown.
Stanley keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stanley feinted with a counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calhoun with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Calhoun fails to land the takedown.
Elijah Stanley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sal Calhoun.
Calhoun throws a jab when Stanley was well out of range.

Stanley closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Calhoun to the mat! Calhoun manages to get full guard.
Stanley with a nice head shot there.
Stanley content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Stanley is working Calhoun over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Stanley thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Stanley works over Calhoun with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calhoun wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Stanley landing some decent shots from guard.
Stanley postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Stanley postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Stanley cracks Calhoun with a solid left hand.
Stanley scoring with punches to the head and body.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Calhoun working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stanley.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stanley works over Calhoun with some ground and pound from guard.
Calhoun really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stanley. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Calhoun preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stanley lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elijah Stanley dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Calhoun swats away the attempt to clinch by Stanley.
Calhoun circles away from the clinch attempt.

Stanley forces Calhoun back against the cage and clinches.
Stanley tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Calhoun smiles and moves away.

Stanley dives in and scores a takedown into Calhoun's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Calhoun throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Stanley postures up and lands a big shot to Calhoun's brow.
Stanley trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Elijah Stanley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stanley in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stanley has gone for a leg lock! Calhoun slips out almost immediately though and dives into Stanley's guard.

Stanley looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Calhoun showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Stanley looking for a guillotine here but Calhoun defends easily.

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.
Calhoun with a flurry of punches that miss.
Calhoun throws a strike but Stanley rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Calhoun is pulling down on Stanley's head to control his posture.

Calhoun pushes Stanley off and gets back to his feet.

Stanley gets a takedown into half guard.

Calhoun manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanley defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Calhoun.
Stanley is looking to counter the offense by Calhoun and move into the clinch.
Calhoun shoots in looking for a takedown but Stanley manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Calhoun's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stanley.

Stanley working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stanley tries for a kimura but Calhoun is defending well.
Calhoun is not content to let Stanley control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Stanley is trying to get an arm triangle but Calhoun is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Elijah Stanley.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stanley, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elijah Stanley!