PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zack Everest (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Stanford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Everest comes into the arena with Victory blaring out of the sound system. 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.

Everest
vs
Stanford

185 cm
19
182 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

210 cm
19
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zack Everest!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brian Stanford!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Chad Campbell and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stanford scores with a leg kick.
Everest lands a jab to the nose.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stanford looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Everest throws a jab but it's blocked by Stanford.
Everest throws a push kick but Stanford slaps the foot to one side.
Everest closes the distance looking to clinch
and Stanford counters with a head kick. That will keep Everest thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Everest moves in looking to clinch but Stanford pushes him off.
Stanford moves out of range of the strikes.
Everest closes the distance looking to clinch
and Stanford counters with a big head kick but Everest shrugs it off.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Everest throws a body kick the misses
and Stanford counters with a nice kick to the body.
Everest is breathing heavily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Stanford pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice defenses there by Stanford.
Stanford avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stanford showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Everest.

Stanford clinches with his opponent.

Stanford pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stanford closes the distance and pushes Everest back into the cage.

Stanford has picked Everest up - he's going for a ride! Stanford dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Stanford is taking a breather. Everest says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stanford's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Stanford is trying to control the action in half guard but Everest is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stanford wants to stand up but Everest has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Everest might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Stanford is looking to take a break and control but Everest is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Stanford is taking a breather. Everest says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Despite being in the dominant position, Brian Stanford just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stanford lands a high kick!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Everest moves into the clinch successfully.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Stanford.
Stanford lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Stanford breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Everest misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanford lands with a slapping head kick.
Everest darts in trying to clinch
and Stanford counters with an outside leg kick.
Everest fails to land with a series of punches.
Stanford tries to close the distance and clinch but Everest swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stanford scores with a head kick.

Stanford rushes Everest and presses him up against the cage.
Stanford gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Stanford's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Stanford closes the distance and pushes Everest back into the cage.
A short left from Stanford.
Stanford blocks an uppercut.

Stanford's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Stanford moves into the clinch.
Stanford lands an elbow inside that Everest shrugs off.
Everest is trying to force a seperation but Stanford has the dominant position.

Stanford breaks the clinch.
Stanford throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Everest.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stanford is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Stanford lands with a kick to the temple. Everest shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Everest wants to clinch
and Stanford counters with a big head kick but Everest shrugs it off.
Everest swats away the attempt to clinch by Stanford.
Everest tries to clinch

and Stanford counters by clinching up.
Everest leaning his opponent against the cage.
Nice body punch from Everest - that landed with a thud.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Stanford's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stanford is looking to clinch.
Everest tries to clinch but Stanford moves away

and Stanford counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Stanford.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Stanford manages to break the clinch.
Stanford throws a left and a right that both miss

and Everest counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Stanford is trying to get back to full guard.
Stanford gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stanford feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Everest's calf.
Everest defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stanford.
Stanford is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stanford misses with a head kick.

Stanford closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Stanford pulls guard successfully.
Stanford is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Everest is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Stanford looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Everest passes into half guard.
Stanford is breathing heavily.
Everest missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Everest is keen to just control but Stanford is a slippery customer.
Stanford is trying to control but can't.
Stanford looks like he's trying to stand up.
Everest content to control rather than advance.
Stanford is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Stanford actively working from the bottom here.
Everest prevents Stanford from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Everest seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Everest misses with the combination.
Stanford shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Stanford connects with a looping right hand.
Everest tries to clinch up
and Stanford counters with a head kick.
Everest takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Everest has closed the distance and engaged Stanford in a clinch.
Everest trying to stall but Stanford improves his position.
Stanford blocks a body shot from Everest.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Stanford as Everest tries to tie him up.

Stanford breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stanford clinches up against the cage.

Stanford's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stanford turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Everest misses with a body shot.
Zack Everest is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stanford goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Everest wants to clinch but Stanford slips to the side

and Stanford counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Stanford.
Everest just leaning against Stanford, taking a breather.

Stanford escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Everest misses with a body shot.
Everest tries to clinch but Stanford moves out of range.
Stanford throws a leg kick which misses Everest's front leg but catches the back leg as Everest tries to avoid it.
Stanford fails in his attempt to clinch.
Everest tries to close the distance and clinch but Stanford swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stanford pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A punch lands to the side of Stanford 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Everest doesn't manage to clinch there - Stanford circles away.
Stanford ducks right into an uppercut from Everest.
Everest keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Stanford or perhaps it was just good defense by Everest which made him look bad.
Everest looks to clinch
and Stanford counters with a head kick.

Everest bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Stanford can't do much from the bottom here.
Stanford gets back to half guard.

Stanford is defending against the submission attempts here by Everest.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Everest wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stanford keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Stanford showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Everest's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Stanford shoots in for a double leg but Everest sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Everest closes the distance but Stanford moves to the side
and Stanford counters with a big head kick but Everest shrugs it off.
Everest misses with a jab, cross combination.
Everest throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Stanford lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Everest circles away quickly and effectively.
Stanford slips under a jab from Everest.
Stanford wants to clinch.
Stanford misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stanford defending well as Everest loads up on a big left hand.
Stanford drops his hands momentarily and Everest takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stanford swats away the attempt to clinch by Everest.
Everest fails with an attempt to clinch.
Everest tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stanford paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Everest looks to clinch

and Stanford counters by clinching up.
Everest tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stanford blocking some punches.
Stanford swings wildly with an uppercut but Everest uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stanford lands an elbow that stopped Everest in his tracks for a moment.
Everest is looking to control Stanford's arms but Stanford gets an underhook and turns him. Now Everest has his back to the cage.

Stanford escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stanford throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Stanford closes the distance and pushes Everest back into the cage.
Stanford lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Everest misses with a hook to the ribs.
Stanford has Everest pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Everest manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Stanford escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stanford avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Everest tries to clinch up but Stanford circles away and keeps his distance.
Stanford throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Everest tries to close the distance and clinch but Stanford swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Everest scores with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stanford throws a nice head kick!
Everest tries to clinch up
and Stanford counters with a big head kick but Everest shrugs it off.
Everest lunges at Stanford with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Stanford's hand.
Stanford keeps the fight on the outside.
Stanford tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Everest looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stanford connects with a high kick.
Everest moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Everest avoids the head kick by Stanford.
Stanford tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Everest rushes Stanford and presses him up against the cage.
Everest lands a left hand.
Stanford lands with a short shot to the head.

Stanford breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanford avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Everest takes a kick to the side of the head.
A combination from Everest does no damage.
Stanford moves in looking to clinch but Everest pushes him off.
Stanford throws a nice inside leg kick.
Everest darts in trying to clinch

and Stanford counters with a single leg into guard. Everest didn't expect that.
Stanford sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Everest not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Everest keeping moving, preventing Stanford from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanford controls from within his opponent's guard.
Stanford trying to control the position from guard on top but Everest is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stanford is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian Stanford comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stanford has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Stanford!