PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gunnar Stahl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brand Pound (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stahl
vs
Pound

186 cm
18
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
130 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gunnar Stahl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Brand Pound!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pound looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Stahl has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pound is working away from the top position though.

Stahl is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pound pulls his head out easily.
Stahl is positioning himself well to prevent Pound advancing to mount.
Stahl wants to control but Pound is keeping busy.
Stahl is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pound's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pound's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stahl patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Stahl working for a choke but Pound is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stahl wants to control but Pound is keeping busy.

Stahl is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Pound knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Pound for a finish.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stahl controlling the position well here. Pound rolled but Stahl kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

Stahl is persistently looking for the submission but Pound is defending it well.
Stahl is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pound defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Pound really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stahl. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pound fending off the submission attempt from Stahl.
Pound wants to control his opponent's hands but Stahl gets his hands free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Pound's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Pound is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
A lull in the action here.
Pound wants to control his opponent's hands but Stahl gets his hands free.

Stahl has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Pound trying to control the action but Stahl just sinks the hooks in.

That's four 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.
Pound tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Stahl avoids the attempt from Pound to control.
Pound is in all sorts of trouble here.
Pound is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Stahl wants to control the pace but Pound is squirming around nicely.

Stahl is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Pound has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gunnar Stahl dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stahl is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pound's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pound's back!
Stahl really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Stahl is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Pound defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Stahl is persistently looking for the submission but Pound is defending it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stahl has the hooks in. Pound is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stahl is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Pound has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Stahl not allowing Pound to control his hands.

Stahl is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Pound has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Stahl is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Pound is defending well though. Stahl let's go of the attempt for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stahl has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Pound manages to reverse the position and now he's in Stahl's guard. Nice work there by Pound.

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

Stahl has an active guard here but Pound has managed to pass into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Stahl has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Pound escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Pound!
Stahl struggling a bit here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pound scores with a couple of short elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gunnar Stahl dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Stahl fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pound manages to avoid it.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Stahl misses with a takedown

and Pound counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Stahl!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stahl really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Pound avoids the attempt from Stahl to control.
Gunnar Stahl overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stahl is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Stahl is squirming around, avoiding Pound's attempts to control the action.
Pound lands a nice shot to the head.
Stahl tries to hold on but Pound pushes him away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pound trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Pound lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Pound cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Pound avoids the attempt from Stahl to control.
Stahl is trying to escape the mount.
Pound lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Gunnar Stahl is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four 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.
Stahl is looking to get to half guard.
Stahl tries to lock up and control but Pound gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Pound lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Stahl tries to lock up and control but Pound gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Pound lands with some strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stahl wants to control but Pound is having none of it.
Brand Pound has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stahl takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brand Pound comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stahl has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gunnar Stahl!