PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ace Rob (ranked 2540 p4p, 2809 weight class) and Mini Stipe (ranked 133 p4p, 144 weight class). Stipe has chosen Godsmack - I Stand Alone as his entrance music. Mini Stipe has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rob
vs
Stipe

170 cm
35
143
18 - 21 - 0

150 cm
40
146
23 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 18 - 21 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ace Rob!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mini Stipe!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rob has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Stipe.
Rob connects with a crisp jab.
A leg kick checked by Rob.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rob.
We've been hearing reports that Rob has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Stipe drives through with a takedown into guard.
Stipe's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stipe trying to control the position from guard on top but Rob is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stipe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stipe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rob tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rob trying to control the position.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Stipe working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Rob wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stipe trying to control the position from guard on top but Rob is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stipe stopping the sweep attempt from Rob.
Stipe postures up and lands a big shot to Rob's brow.
Stipe with a nice head shot there.
Rob looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stipe must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Stipe looking to sit in guard and control but Rob gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Stipe looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rob passes into side control.
Rob working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stipe is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rob's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Stipe trying to hold on to Rob's head to control him but Rob postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rob is looking for a kimura here.
Stipe controlling the position well.
Stipe is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rob is trying to control the action in half guard but Stipe is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Stipe looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Rob is trying to work for a kimura but Stipe is defending well.
Rob is keen to just control but Stipe is a slippery customer.
The fighters are battling for position here. Stipe manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Stipe throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Stipe keeping moving, preventing Rob from controlling successfully.

Rob got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stipe has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rob has managed to get both his arms back between Stipe's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rob wants to pass the guard but Stipe is keeping the position.
Stipe wants to control the position but Rob says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Rob trying to control the action but Stipe is working from the bottom.

Rob is trying to work for a kimura but Stipe is defending well.

Rob is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Stipe has managed to free his arm - good work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rob is working for a submission of some sort.

Rob wants to work for an arm triangle but Stipe is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
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 Ace Rob will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rob on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Stipe throws a head kick that misses.

Rob shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Stipe napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Stipe manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rob's best efforts.

Rob is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Stipe doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rob.

Rob is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rob wants to control but Stipe is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rob missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Stipe trying to hold on to Rob's head to control him but Rob postures up.

Rob looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Rob wants to work for an arm triangle but Stipe is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rob throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Stipe regains full guard. Nicely done.
Stipe controls Rob momentarily but Rob frees himself.
Rob throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

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.
Rob is looking to work some ground and pound but Stipe has wrist control.

Rob avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rob preventing the sweep.
Rob wants to pass the guard but Stipe is keeping the position.
Stipe keeping moving, preventing Rob from controlling successfully.
Rob is really struggling to control Stipe but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Rob won't allow Stipe to sweep him here.
Rob working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rob trying to control the position from guard on top but Stipe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rob drops back looking for a leg! Stipe is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Stipe manages to kick Rob off! Rob jumps back into Stipe's guard.
Rob working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rob is pushing down on Stipe's leg trying to pass to half guard. Stipe is fighting to maintain full guard but Rob has managed to sneak the leg through.
The fighters are battling for position here. Stipe manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rob stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stipe swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Stipe throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Stipe throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rob drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rob jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rob trying to control the position from guard on top but Stipe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stipe is trying to control the position but Rob postures up.
Rob content to stall in guard here.

Stipe has his foot on Rob's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rob works his way back into a safe position though.
Stipe wants to sweep here but Rob controlling him for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rob trying to control the position from guard on top but Stipe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stipe wants to sweep here but Rob controlling him for the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ace Rob dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rob misses the shot to the body.
Stipe fails to land with a series of punches.
Stipe motions for Rob to come forward. Stipe throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rob throws a hook but Stipe avoids it easily.
Stipe dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rob. That did some damage!
Rob avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stipe ducks right into an uppercut from Rob.

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

Stipe manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Mini Stipe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A cross from Stipe lands.
Stipe connects with a solid leg kick.
Rob throws out a powerful jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rob tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
No joy there for Stipe, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rob lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Rob takes a swing at Stipe's ribcage but misses.
Rob uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stipe.
An attempted straight right counter from Rob misses the target.
Stipe throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rob.
It looked like Rob wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Stipe throws a nice looking combination but Rob bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Rob looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Stipe is defending against the submission attempts here by Rob.

Rob looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stipe makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Stipe.
Stipe is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stipe keeping moving, preventing Rob from controlling successfully.
Rob advances to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stipe is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Rob passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stipe is squirming around, avoiding Rob's attempts to control the action.
Rob throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Stipe because Rob loaded up on that one.
Rob lands a big shot there that rocks Stipe but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Mini Stipe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ace Rob is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stipe tries to hold on but Rob pushes him away.
Stipe bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Stipe with a nice head shot there.
Stipe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stipe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rob is controlling Stipe's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stipe sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rob's guard.
Rob has hold of Stipe's hands but Stipe slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rob moves into full guard.

Rob had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stipe defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rob keeping full guard, as Stipe tries to pass.
Stipe content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Stipe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mini Stipe.
I think Rob 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ace Rob!
An out of breath Ace Rob thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
The defeated Mini Stipe had this to say: 'Thanks for the fight. I will come back stronger next time.'.