PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between IM Dabest (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Stajin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Eric Stajin was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Dabest
vs
Stajin

180 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

175 cm
20
182 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, IM Dabest!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eric Stajin!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, George Francis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stajin darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Dabest looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Stajin wants to stand up but Dabest is controlling the position.
Stajin lands strikes from half guard.
Stajin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Stajin lands with a punch from half guard.
Stajin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dabest does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Stajin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stajin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Stajin content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Dabest won't allow Stajin to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stajin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Stajin is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Stajin lands strikes from half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Stajin in particular looking to stall.
Stajin looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Stajin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Stajin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Dabest avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stajin.
Stajin wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Dabest uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Dabest wants to stand but Stajin is controlling the position.

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.
Stajin trying to control but Dabest is working from the bottom.
Stajin content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Stajin wanted to stand there but Dabest had control of the position.
Stajin sitting in guard here, content to control.

Stajin gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Stajin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Dabest is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Stajin pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Dabest breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Dabest. No joy for Stajin on that attempt.
Stajin fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stajin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dabest's waist but Dabest gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stajin off to one side.
IM Dabest has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Stajin.

Dabest gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Stajin lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stajin tries to free his leg and advance position but Dabest is retaining full guard.
Stajin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dabest. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Stajin advances position into side control!

Stajin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Dabest has escaped the position, nice work there.
Stajin remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Stajin cracks Dabest with a big elbow.
Stajin tries to advance to mount but Dabest denies him.
Dabest is letting Stajin control him for a moment.
Dabest takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Stajin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dabest keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stajin working the body and head with strikes.
Stajin taking a break here but Dabest is having none of it and regains half guard.
Stajin lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Dabest is looking to escape.
Stajin is tying to control. Dabest wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stajin winds up and cracks Dabest with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Stajin scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Stajin trying to control the pace.

Dabest pushes Stajin off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Stajin dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Dabest misses with a takedown attempt

and Stajin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Stajin wants to control from the top but Dabest keeps moving.
Stajin lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Stajin wants to pass the guard but Dabest is keeping the position.
Stajin wants to control from the top but Dabest keeps moving.
Dabest wants to sweep but no luck.
Stajin trying to control but Dabest is working from the bottom.
Dabest preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Stajin lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Stajin moves into range and clinches up with Dabest.

Stajin has hold of one of Dabest's legs. Dabest is fighting the takedown attempt but Stajin gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Dabest lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Stajin!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stajin tries to hold on but Dabest pushes him away.
Stajin is desperately trying to improve his position but Dabest has a good base and remains in mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dabest avoids the attempt from Stajin to control.
Stajin is working to get back to half guard.
Dabest is landing with some decent strikes but Stajin is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Eric Stajin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stajin can't escape the position.
Dabest lands a big shot there that rocks Stajin but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Stajin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Stajin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stajin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Stajin manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Stajin is not content to let Dabest control the position.
Dabest passes into side control, despite Stajin's attempt to control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stajin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Dabest wants to control but Stajin is keeping him busy.
Stajin is trying to get back to half guard.
Dabest grinds an elbow into Stajin's temple.
Stajin wants to control but Dabest postures up.
Stajin tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Dabest is landing with some decent strikes but Stajin is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Stajin tries to reverse the position but Dabest maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stajin wants to hold on but Dabest pushes him away.
Stajin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Stajin throwing hammer fists to the chest of Dabest. What's that going to do exactly?
Stajin is wriggling around trying to escape.
Stajin tries to hold on but Dabest pushes him away.
Stajin is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Stajin holds on to Dabest around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
Stajin tries to hold on but Dabest pushes him away.
Stajin can't escape the position.
Stajin is in a horrible position here. Dabest smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Stajin is rocked!
Stajin is trying to escape the mount.
Stajin is still in real trouble! Can Dabest finish him?
Stajin seems to have recovered his senses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stajin tries to hold on but Dabest pushes him away.
Dabest working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Dabest controlling his opponent.
Stajin is desperately trying to improve his position but Dabest has a good base and remains in mount.
Stajin is squirming around, avoiding Dabest's attempts to control the action.
Stajin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Stajin is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Eric Stajin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Stajin shoots and misses
and Dabest counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Stajin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Dabest scores with a shot to the side of Stajin's head.
Stajin leaning his opponent against the cage.
Dabest prevents the takedown attempt.
Stajin throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Stajin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Dabest has him pressed against the cage.
Dabest lands a nice uppercut.

Stajin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Stajin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stajin lands in his opponent's guard.
Stajin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Stajin prevents Dabest from getting back to his feet.
Stajin keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Dabest's head.
Stajin content to stall in guard here.
Stajin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dabest 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.
Stajin controlling from the top position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stajin wants to control from the top but Dabest keeps moving.
Dabest wants to stand and escape but Stajin is having none of it.
Dabest keeping moving, preventing Stajin from controlling successfully.
Stajin content to stall in guard here.
Dabest has Stajin pulled in close to control his posture.
Dabest bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stajin's guard.
Dabest throwing strikes from guard but Stajin blocks nicely.
Dabest prevents Stajin from getting back to his feet.

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.
Stajin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dabest is one step ahead there.

Dabest decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Stajin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dabest pinned against the cage. Dabest gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
IM Dabest has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Stajin.
Dabest jabs Stajin right on the nose. Stajin blinks but takes it well.
Stajin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Dabest shoots in but no luck this time.

Stajin scores with a takedown into Dabest's guard.
Stajin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dabest works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dabest keeping moving, preventing Stajin from controlling successfully.
Stajin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Dabest's head.

Stajin decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Dabest, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stajin.

Stajin stands up.
Dabest throws a wild body kick that Stajin sees coming a mile off.

Stajin shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Stajin showed some decent athleticism there.
Dabest is trying to stand up here but Stajin is controlling him well.
Dabest trying to control but Stajin postures up.
Stajin working over Dabest with some ground and pound. Dabest looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Stajin is pressing down on Dabest's thigh, looking to free his foot. Dabest is holding on for now.
Stajin is thwarting Dabest's attempts to control the position.

Stajin decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stajin instigates a clinch.
Dabest fails to pull guard.
Stajin lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The is referee keeping an eye on Stajin - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Dabest is pressed up against the cage. Stajin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Dabest down to the mat. Dabest avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Stajin fails with the takedown.

Stajin rushes Dabest and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Stajin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dabest with a poor takedown

and Stajin counters with a takedown into side control.
Stajin is staying tight to Dabest's torso, preventing him from escaping.
IM Dabest has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dabest regains half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dabest trying to control from the bottom.
Stajin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Stajin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Stajin winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Stajin!