PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Oleksandr Stallone (ranked 3704 p4p, 3510 weight class) and Paul Mike (ranked 381 p4p, 369 weight class). Oleksandr Stallone has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Stallone
vs
Mike

225 cm
26
280
3 - 5 - 0

186 cm
25
275
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Oleksandr Stallone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Paul Mike!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, David Hoff and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mike tries to score a body lock takedown but Stallone shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mike prevents a takedown attempt there.
Mike is looking for a takedown.
Knees to the body from Stallone.

Stallone pulls guard successfully.
Mike in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mike told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Stallone wants to stand and escape but Mike is having none of it.
Stallone is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mike is looking to work some ground and pound but Stallone has wrist control.
Stallone is trying to control the position but Mike postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mike is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mike tries to free his leg and advance position but Stallone is retaining full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mike's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mike loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mike cracks Stallone with a solid left hand.
Stallone is trying to keep Mike in close.
Stallone has momentary wrist control but Mike slips an elbow through the middle.
Stallone utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mike sitting in guard here, content to control.
Stallone wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mike cracks Stallone with a solid left hand.
Stallone really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mike sitting in guard here, content to control.
Stallone looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Stallone working a defensive guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Stallone is looking to clinch but Mike is avoiding it.
Stallone shoots and misses

and Mike decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Stallone's guard.

Stallone is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stallone is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mike distracts Stallone with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mike scoring with punches to the head and body.
Stallone doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Stallone is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mike is aware though and is defending well.
Mike controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Mike is in close to Stallone's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mike lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mike postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Mike connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mike scoring with punches to the head and body.

Stallone is rocked!
Mike sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Mike prevents Stallone from getting back to his feet.
Mike showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mike cracks Stallone with a solid left hand.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mike is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mike won't allow Stallone to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Mike dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mike feints and as Stallone raises his hands in defense, Mike changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mike content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mike is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Stallone controls Mike momentarily but Mike frees himself.
Mike looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Mike has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mike chips away with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stallone is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stallone wants to sweep here but Mike controlling him for the moment.
Mike controlling from the top position.
Mike is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mike landing with the ground and pound.

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

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.
Mike stands up over Stallone, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Oh Stallone is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mike has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stallone has momentary wrist control but Mike slips an elbow through the middle.
Mike is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mike preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mike slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Stallone seems to have got his legs back now.
Paul Mike has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mike is working Stallone over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mike makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mike controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mike lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mike is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mike working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mike pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stallone is keeping the position for now.
Stallone will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Stallone working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mike doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mike manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mike is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Mike lands a couple of elbows.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mike working some strikes from top position.
Mike postures up and lands a big shot to Stallone's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Mike showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Mike looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stallone is fending him off so far but Mike persists. Nope, Stallone circles away and we're back to standing.
Stallone looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Mike decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Mike is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Stallone is trying to stand.
Mike controlling the action here.
Ground and pound from Mike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stallone trying to hold on to Mike's head to control him but Mike postures up.
Mike controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stallone is trying to control but can't.
Mike slips a nice elbow through Stallone's hands, connecting with Stallone's forehead.
Mike looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Mike controlling the position here and throwing strikes from the top. Nice elbow lands there... and another... and another... oh, Stallone is out! Mike gets to his feet and admires his work - nice finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Paul Mike!