PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ilya Murometz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christoph Stenner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stenner has chosen Escapado - Freiraum as his entrance music. Christoph Stenner has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Murometz
vs
Stenner

195 cm
18
280 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

195 cm
19
263 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ilya Murometz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Christoph Stenner!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Jonathan Paton and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stenner shoots in looking for a takedown but Murometz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Stenner's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Murometz could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Stenner scores with a takedown into Murometz's guard.
Murometz managing to control the position.

Murometz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stenner defends it easily.
Stenner wanted to stand there but Murometz had control of the position.
Stenner is fighting to break Murometz's control of his arms but Murometz is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Stenner postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Murometz tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murometz working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ilya Murometz wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Murometz throws a head kick that misses.
Stenner shoots in for a takedown but Murometz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stenner tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Murometz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Christoph Stenner has been cut.

Stenner scores with a takedown into Murometz's guard.
Stenner wants to control from the top but Murometz keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murometz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Murometz wants to stand up but Stenner is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stenner takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Stenner looks gassed!

Murometz throws a head kick that lands with a deafening thwack! The crowd roars as Stenner stumbles backwards and falls to the mat. Murometz follows into mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Murometz putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Murometz trying to control but Stenner is having none of it.
Stenner holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Murometz tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stenner can do anything to dispel that myth.

Murometz goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Stenner turns into him and now he's in Murometz's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stenner stops Murometz from standing up.
Murometz working a defensive guard here.

Stenner has gone for a leg lock! Murometz slips out almost immediately though and dives into Stenner's guard.
Murometz is looking to work some ground and pound but Stenner has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Murometz has gone for a leg lock! Stenner slips out almost immediately though and dives into Murometz's guard.
Murometz wants to get back to his feet but Stenner is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Stenner really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Murometz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Murometz looking for a sweep. Not yet Murometz, not yet.
Murometz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stenner manages to get himself to full guard.
Murometz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Murometz lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Stenner wants to get back to his feet but Murometz passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilya Murometz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Christoph Stenner's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Murometz scores with a one two! Stenner had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Stenner is looking to clinch but Murometz is avoiding it.
Stenner moves in looking to clinch but Murometz pushes him off.
Stenner takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Murometz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stenner sprawls well. Stenner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Murometz gets slowly back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stenner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ilya Murometz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Murometz throws a sloppy head kick and Stenner moves out of range easily.
Murometz tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Stenner counters with a takedown into side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Murometz tries to escape but Stenner is in control.
Murometz is not content to let Stenner control the position.
Murometz holding on.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murometz manages to work his way to half guard, despite Stenner's best efforts.
The fighters are battling for position here. Murometz manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Stenner has gone for a leg lock! Murometz slips out almost immediately though and dives into Stenner's guard.
Murometz advances to half guard.
Stenner pushes Murometz off looking to stand but Murometz dives back in and keeps control.
Stenner is refusing to be controlled, as Murometz sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Murometz is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Stenner sees it coming and defends easily.
Murometz trying to control from half guard but Stenner is working away.
Murometz looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Stenner with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Murometz is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stenner defends it well.
Stenner is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murometz has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Murometz lands a heavy elbow.
Murometz with the ground and pound from mount.
Murometz is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Stenner can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stenner is bucking up trying to escape but Murometz cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Murometz looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Murometz working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Stenner is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilya Murometz dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Christoph Stenner's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Murometz throws a nice looking combination but Stenner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Murometz takes a swing at Stenner's ribcage but misses.
Murometz throws a sloppy head kick and Stenner moves out of range easily.
Stenner fails with an attempt to clinch.
No joy there for Stenner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stenner avoids a kick to the body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Murometz leaves Stenner with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Stenner fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Murometz swings for the body but Stenner moves out of range.
Murometz throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Stenner.
An inside leg kick lands from Murometz.
Murometz lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Murometz wants to clinch.

Murometz closes the distance and pushes Stenner back into the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Murometz.
Stenner keeps control of Murometz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murometz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Murometz fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Stenner has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Murometz uses from the top position.

Murometz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Murometz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Murometz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ilya Murometz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Murometz pushing down on Stenner's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Murometz is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Stenner tries to kick Murometz off but Murometz keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stenner is not content to let Murometz control the position.
Ilya Murometz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Murometz controlling the action here.
Stenner pushes Murometz off looking to stand but Murometz dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murometz stalling.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Murometz seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Stenner for as long as he can get away with.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ilya Murometz just wasn't active enough.
Murometz scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Murometz plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Stenner is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Murometz feints a jab promting Stenner to slip. Murometz then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Stenner slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Murometz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stenner lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stenner ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Stenner no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Murometz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Murometz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Murometz trying to control but Stenner is working from the bottom.
Murometz sitting in guard here, content to control.
Christoph Stenner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Murometz works a leg free and moves into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ilya Murometz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Murometz 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ilya Murometz!