PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tony Bova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Stefaniak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bova comes to the cage accompanied by I came to bring the pain!. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bova
vs
Stefaniak

175 cm
27
155 lbs
13 - 16 - 0

175 cm
21
145 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Good elbows
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Tony Bova!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony Stefaniak!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Chris Edwards and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bova keeps the fight on the outside.
Stefaniak throws a nice inside leg kick.
Stefaniak tries to close the distance and clinch but Bova swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Stefaniak has taken the fight to the clinch.
Stefaniak lands an uppercut.
Bova can't get the takedown.
Stefaniak lands an elbow just above Bova 's eye.

It looks like Tony Bova has been cut.
Bova wants to take the fight to the mat but Stefaniak manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Stefaniak gets underhooks to prevent Bova's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Bova. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stefaniak breaks from the clinch.
Stefaniak tries to clinch up but Bova circles away and keeps his distance.
Anthony Stefaniak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stefaniak is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stefaniak tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bova swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stefaniak fails with an attempt to clinch.

Stefaniak has Bova up against the cage in a clinch.
Stefaniak gets underhooks to prevent Bova's takedown attempt.

Stefaniak manages to break the clinch.
Stefaniak tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bova paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Stefaniak moves into the clinch successfully.
Bova tries for a takedown. No joy.

Stefaniak escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bova has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Stefaniak tries to clinch up but Bova circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stefaniak feints and then cracks Bova's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bova down.

Stefaniak gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stefaniak slowing the pace effectively.

Stefaniak breaks from the clinch.
Bova circles away from the clinch attempt

and Bova counters with a takedown into side control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bova working the strikes but Stefaniak uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Stefaniak keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bova missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stefaniak keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Stefaniak regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Bova.
Bova throwing strikes from guard but Stefaniak blocks nicely.
Bova is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bova cracks Stefaniak with a solid left hand.
Bova throws and elbow that misses. Stefaniak uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bova's guard. Nice move by Stefaniak!
Bova keeping moving, preventing Stefaniak from controlling successfully.
Stefaniak wants to pass the guard but Bova is keeping the position.
Bova knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Stefaniak on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stefaniak trying to control but Bova is working from the bottom.
Stefaniak passes Bova's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Stefaniak is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bova defends it well.

Stefaniak is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bova is just riding it out for now. Stefaniak eventually gives up the hold.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bova is staying active underneath Stefaniak, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Stefaniak dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tony Bova's cut.
That's time! Bova's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stefaniak misses with a two punch combination.
Stefaniak throws a nice outside leg kick.
Stefaniak tries to clinch up but Bova circles away and keeps his distance.
Stefaniak tries to clinch up but Bova circles away and keeps his distance.
Bova circles away from the clinch attempt.

Stefaniak has Bova up against the cage in a clinch.
Stefaniak is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Bova drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stefaniak gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Stefaniak breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stefaniak closes the distance and clinches.

Stefaniak escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bova swats away the attempt to clinch by Stefaniak.
Bova uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stefaniak.
Stefaniak tries to clinch

and Bova holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Stefaniak's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stefaniak thows a leg kick but Bova checks it

and Bova counters with a takedown into side control.
Bova working the ground and pound but Stefaniak is defending the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bova working the ground and pound but Stefaniak is defending the strikes.
Bova misses with the ground and pound.
Bova tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Stefaniak manages to work his way to half guard, despite Bova's best efforts.
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!
Bova thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Stefaniak to regain full guard.
Tony Bova overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bova throws and elbow that misses. Stefaniak uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bova's guard. Nice move by Stefaniak!
Stefaniak passes Bova's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Bova is looking for a sweep. Stefaniak is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stefaniak throwing shots but Bova is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stefaniak frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Bova is in a horrible position here. Stefaniak smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Stefaniak tries to control but Bova wriggling away.
Stefaniak raining down hammerfists from mount.
Stefaniak trying to control but Bova is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stefaniak with good strikes from the mount here!

Stefaniak jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Bova is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Bova and Stefaniak has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bova is not content to let Stefaniak control the position.
Stefaniak is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Bova's shoulder. That is not cool.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Stefaniak goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Bova has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Stefaniak but great work by Bova.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Stefaniak showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tony Bova's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Stefaniak swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Bova.
Anthony Stefaniak is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stefaniak will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Stefaniak moves into the clinch.
Stefaniak lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Bova is looking for a takedown.
Bova goes for a takedown in the clinch but Stefaniak prevents it.
Bova is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Stefaniak is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Bova. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stefaniak's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bova showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stefaniak.
Stefaniak tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good work by Bova as he checks the leg kick.
Bova chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Stefaniak can pounce on him.
Stefaniak connects with an inside leg kick.
Stefaniak catches Bova with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Stefaniak falls off balance throwing a combination

and Bova counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Stefaniak keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bova thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Stefaniak to regain full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bova accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bova throws and elbow that misses. Stefaniak uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bova's guard. Nice move by Stefaniak!
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!
Bova avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stefaniak passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Stefaniak trying to control the position but Bova is working away.
Bova is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Stefaniak off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bova is trying to stick to Stefaniak's back but Stefaniak is turning into Bova. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Bova's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Stefaniak.
Stefaniak passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Bova throws a few strikes from the bottom but Stefaniak takes advantage and mounts!
Bova is in all sorts of trouble here.

Stefaniak with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Stefaniak looking to finish with strikes here!
Stefaniak can't control as he wanted to and Bova manages to get the fight back to his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stefaniak moves into full mount! Bova won't be happy about that!

Stefaniak is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Bova has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Bova!
Bova throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stefaniak works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Anthony Stefaniak is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bova throwing strikes from guard but Stefaniak blocks nicely.
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!
Bova throwing strikes but missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Stefaniak comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Stefaniak 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Stefaniak!