PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Canton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JanOle Stafjard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnny Canton could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to JanOle Stafjard's chin.

Canton
vs
Stafjard

176 cm
22
141 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

166 cm
22
140 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Canton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, JanOle Stafjard!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stafjard closes the distance and clinches up with Canton, looking for a takedown. Stafjard pushes Canton against the cage but Canton circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Stafjard shoots in for a takedown but Canton shows good takedown defense.
Stafjard fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Johnny Canton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of JanOle Stafjard.
Canton slaps away a takedown attempt from Stafjard, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Canton gets a takedown into half guard.
Stafjard trying to control here.
Canton looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Canton slows the pace down in half guard.
Canton is looking to take a break and control but Stafjard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Stafjard wants to improve his position but Canton is controlling well.
Canton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stafjard keeps working.
Canton thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

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.
Canton is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Stafjard manages to get to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stafjard gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Canton counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Canton unloads a knee to the mid-section. Stafjard lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Canton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stafjard with a poor takedown

and Canton counters with a shoot takedown. Stafjard fights it but they end up in guard.
Canton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stafjard is keeping the position for now.
Stafjard working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Canton wants to control from the top but Stafjard keeps moving.
Canton wants to stand but Stafjard is controlling his posture from full guard.

Canton drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Stafjard dives on top into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Stafjard drops back, looking for a kneebar! Canton looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Canton looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Canton!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Canton decides to stand back up. Canton steps back and let's Stafjard get back to his feet.
Stafjard has his takedown stuffed
and Canton counters with a low kick, right behind Stafjard 's knee.
Stafjard looks gassed!
Stafjard tries for a takedown but Canton circles away easily
and Canton counters with a slapping leg kick.
Canton throws a nice inside leg kick.
Canton cracks the inside of Stafjard's front leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Canton dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Stafjard takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Canton scores with a leg kick.
Stafjard misses with a takedown

and Canton counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stafjard won't be happy with that.
Canton advances to full mount.
Canton unloading with bombs!

Canton looking for a guillotine from mount but Stafjard is having none of it.
Stafjard is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Canton stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Canton moves into the clinch.

Canton gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Canton trying to control the action but Stafjard is working from the bottom.

Canton seems to be working for a kimura but Stafjard defends the submission attempt.
Stafjard blocking the ground and pound attempt from Canton.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Canton wants to control but Stafjard is keeping him busy.
Canton wants to advance to full mount but Stafjard doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Canton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Canton wants to control from the top but Stafjard keeps moving.

Canton got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stafjard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Canton has managed to get both his arms back between Stafjard's legs - danger averted.
Stafjard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Canton is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stafjard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stafjard with a lazy takedown attempt
and Canton counters with a low kick, right behind Stafjard 's knee.
Canton is looking to slow Stafjard down with leg kicks.
Stafjard shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Canton counters with a takedown into side control.
Johnny Canton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of JanOle Stafjard.
A lull in the action here as Canton stalls from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Canton wants to control but Stafjard is keeping him busy.
Canton is trying to move to mount but Stafjard reverses beautifully and ends up in Canton's guard.
Canton controls Stafjard momentarily but Stafjard frees himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Canton is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Canton dominated that second round.
That's time! Canton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Stafjard tries for a takedown but Canton circles away easily

and Canton counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Stafjard!

Canton goes for an armbar but Stafjard turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Stafjard.

Stafjard drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Canton dives on top into guard.
Johnny Canton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Canton trying to control but Stafjard is working from the bottom.

Canton decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Canton throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
JanOle Stafjard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stafjard misses with a takedown

and Canton counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Canton wanted to stand there but Stafjard had control of the position.
Stafjard trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Canton thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Stafjard is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Canton drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Stafjard manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Canton has Stafjard in his guard.
Stafjard trying to control the position from guard on top but Canton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stafjard looking to sit in guard and control but Canton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Stafjard keeping moving, preventing Canton from controlling successfully.
Canton wants to get up but he can't break Stafjard's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Canton trying to control but Stafjard is working from the bottom.
Johnny Canton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.

Stafjard looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Canton has picked Stafjard up and slammed him! Stafjard can't keep hold of the triangle and Canton manages to pass to side control!
Canton cracks Stafjard with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Stafjard tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sloppy strikes there by Canton.
Canton trying to control the position but Stafjard is working away.

Canton decides to stand back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Canton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Canton 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Canton!