PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Blair Bell (ranked 23101 p4p, 0 weight class) and Angel Stoyanov (ranked 4967 p4p, 0 weight class). Blair Bell has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Bell
vs
Stoyanov

198 cm
20
140 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

174 cm
18
133 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Blair Bell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Angel Stoyanov!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stoyanov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Bell is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Stoyanov looking to control but instead Bell has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Bell keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Stoyanov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bell wants to get back to his feet.
Stoyanov is trying to control. Bell wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bell has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Stoyanov is on him like a limpet, forcing Bell back against the cage.

Bell works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Stoyanov manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Bell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Bell breaks the clinch.

Stoyanov moves into the clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Stoyanov tries to pull guard but Bell holds him up against the cage and eventually Stoyanov drops back down to his feet.
Stoyanov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Bell after a bit of a struggle.
Stoyanov has Bell pushed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bell gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Stoyanov.
Blair Bell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Angel Stoyanov.

Bell pulls Stoyanov into guard.
Bell wants to stand but Stoyanov is controlling the position.
Stoyanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Bell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stoyanov wants to get up but he can't break Bell's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Stoyanov decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Angel Stoyanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bell fails with the takedown.
Stoyanov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stoyanov wants it to stay on the feet.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Stoyanov - that will leave a mark!
Bell fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Stoyanov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Bell manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Stoyanov keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Bell is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stoyanov being controlled against the cage.
Bell tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stoyanov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Bell decides to pull guard.
Bell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stoyanov throwing strikes from guard but Bell blocks nicely.
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 Blair Bell will probably get the nod.
That's time! Bell's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stoyanov gets a double leg takedown into Bell's guard.
Bell keeping moving, preventing Stoyanov from controlling successfully.
Bell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Stoyanov might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Bell haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bell is adopting a defensive guard.
Stoyanov wants to control from the top but Bell keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stoyanov looking to sit in guard and control but Bell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Bell avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Stoyanov is breathing heavily.
Bell landing with the ground and pound.
Stoyanov working a defensive guard here.

Stoyanov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bell postures up and lands a big shot to Stoyanov's brow.
Bell is working Stoyanov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bell is working Stoyanov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bell is working Stoyanov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bell postures up and lands a big shot to Stoyanov's brow.
Bell lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bell keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stoyanov's head.
Stoyanov looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bell with a nice head shot there.
Bell lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bell working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stoyanov's head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bell's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bell's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bell connects with a couple of short punches.
Bell is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bell working some strikes from top position.
Stoyanov has momentary wrist control but Bell slips an elbow through the middle.
Bell stands up over Stoyanov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Bell scoring with punches to the head and body.
Bell landing some decent shots from guard.
Bell with a nice head shot there.
Bell chips away with some ground and pound.

Bell gets to his feet - Stoyanov follows without any prompting.
Bell stuffs the takedown.
Bell tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Stoyanov defends well and Bell ends up having to push Stoyanov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bell fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Stoyanov sprawls well initially but Bell persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Bell seems to be looking for submissions.
Stoyanov is trying to control but can't.
Stoyanov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stoyanov trying to control but Bell postures up.
Bell is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bell is working for a kimura but Stoyanov is defending it quite comfortably.

Bell is working for a kimura but Stoyanov is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blair Bell dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Stoyanov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bell manages to avoid it.

Stoyanov looking to score a takedown here. Bell is defending well but Stoyanov drives through and ends up in Bell's guard.
Stoyanov is standing up over Bell. Bell looks to escape but Stoyanov dives into side control.

Bell is looking for a sweep.
Blair Bell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stoyanov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Bell is looking to reverse the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stoyanov has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Stoyanov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Bell's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stoyanov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bell is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Stoyanov is controlling him.
Stoyanov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stoyanov throwing strikes but missing.
Stoyanov wants to control from the top but Bell keeps moving.

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.

Bell kicks Stoyanov off and gets to his feet.

Stoyanov moves into the clinch.

Bell pulls guard effortlessly.
Bell wants to stand and escape but Stoyanov is having none of it.
Stoyanov wants to control from the top but Bell keeps moving.
Stoyanov is looking to stand up but Bell won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bell lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
Stoyanov stopping the sweep attempt from Bell.
Stoyanov wanted to stand there but Bell had control of the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stoyanov as he avoids it easily.
Bell fails with the takedown.
Blair Bell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Stoyanov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stoyanov is trying to control the action in half guard but Bell is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Stoyanov is just content to waste time from the top position. Bell takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Bell pulls Stoyanov in close to prevent any damage.
Angel Stoyanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Blair Bell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Stoyanov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bell looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bell looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bell!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Angel Stoyanov.
I think Bell 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blair Bell!