PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Craig David (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elliot Stabler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). David comes to the cage accompanied by Craig David - Rise and Fall. Stabler has chosen Grown Men Don't Cry as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

David
vs
Stabler

179 cm
30
222 lbs
15 - 16 - 0

184 cm
31
217 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Craig David!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Elliot Stabler!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stabler fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging David to the ground. Stabler is now in David's guard.
Stabler trying to stand up but can't free himself from David's guard.
David utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stabler trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
David trying to keep a closed guard but Stabler is proving a slippery customer.
David tries to land a sweep but no joy.

David is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stabler defends well.
Stabler postures up in David's guard and throws a big left but David blocks it.
Stabler is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Stabler stands and steps away. David gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
David leaves Stabler with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Stabler gets the takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stabler throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Stabler working the head with strikes.
The ground and pound from Stabler seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Stabler stands up and we're back to a striking position.
David throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stabler.
Nice sprawl there from David as Stabler shoots in.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Stabler breaks from the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Stabler forces David back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stabler gets control of David's arms and successfully pulls guard. Stabler will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
David with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Stabler wants to get back to his feet but David is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Stabler controlling the position.

David gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Stabler stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stabler wants it to stay on the feet.
David fails with a takedown attempt.
Stabler misses with a takedown attempt

and David counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Craig David has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elliot Stabler.
Stabler looks like he's trying to stand up.
David works his foot free and advances to mount.
Stabler is desperately trying to improve his position but David has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stabler bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

David is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stabler is aware though and is defending well.
Stabler working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of David's head.

David throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Stabler trying to control the position from guard on top but David is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Stabler is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Stabler gets to his feet - David follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stabler misses with a body shot

and David counters with a single leg into guard. Stabler didn't expect that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
David throws a strike but Stabler rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Stabler is looking to work some ground and pound but David has wrist control.
David keeping full guard, as Stabler tries to pass.
Stabler cracks David with a solid left hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stabler postures up in David's guard and throws a big left but David blocks it.
David avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stabler lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elliot Stabler 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.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Stabler.

Stabler manages to get an easy takedown there - catching David on his heels. He'll look to pass David's guard now, I'm sure.
Stabler trying to control but David is working from the bottom.

David has his foot on Stabler's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stabler works his way back into a safe position though.
Stabler throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as David works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stabler trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stabler keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of David's head.

Stabler gets to his feet. David looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Stabler looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? David is fending him off so far but Stabler persists. Nope, David circles away and we're back to standing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
David fails with the takedown.
Craig David is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sloppy strikes from Stabler. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stabler looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? David is fending him off so far but Stabler persists. Nope, David circles away and we're back to standing.
Craig David has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elliot Stabler.
Stabler shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with David but David pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Stabler is breathing heavily.
David tries to clinch but Stabler moves out of range.
Stabler misses with a takedown attempt - David sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
David fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
David shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stabler sprawls well. Stabler wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. David gets slowly back to his feet.
Stabler defends well against a solid takedown attempt from David.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from David. Those never looked like landing.
David is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Stabler.

It looks like Craig David has been cut.
David shoots for a takedown but Stabler saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Stabler tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but David swivels and escapes.
David has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Stabler.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Stabler closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming David to the mat! David manages to get full guard.
David keeping moving, preventing Stabler from controlling successfully.
Stabler stands up over David, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Stabler with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stabler passes David's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Stabler lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stabler lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Stabler wants to lay and pray for a moment but David keeps working.
Stabler working David over with strikes.
Ground and pound from Stabler.
Stabler looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Stabler drops an elbow to the side of David's head.
David has hold of Stabler's hands but Stabler slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
David punching from the bottom.
Stabler thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stabler seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but David does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Stabler thows a huge punch but David dodges it nicely.

Stabler decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Stabler throws a right hand that David ducks under and follows up with a left that David also avoids with ease.
Stabler scores with a jab to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stabler fails to land with a series of punches.

David closes the distance and clinches.
David is looking to take this one to the mat.
Stabler is pressed up against the cage. David has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Stabler down to the mat. Stabler avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elliot Stabler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Craig David's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Stabler darts in and clinches David up against the cage.
David drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stabler pulls his leg out and moves away.

Stabler has taken the fight to the clinch.

David lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Stabler is trying to control but can't.

David is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stabler defends it well.
David throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Stabler to regain full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
David stops Stabler from standing up.
David loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Stabler is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Stabler has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but David regains guard immediately.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stabler trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stabler throwing strikes but missing.
Stabler has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
David keeping full guard, as Stabler tries to pass.
Stabler keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of David's head.
Stabler throwing strikes but missing.
Stabler working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of David's head.
Stabler cracks David with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stabler lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
David doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Stabler is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Stabler distracts David with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stabler trying to control the position from guard on top but David is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stabler looking to sit in guard and control but David gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Stabler pushes David off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Stabler connects with a good right hand that stumbles David. David circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Stabler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stabler instigates a clinch.

Stabler manages to break the clinch.
Stabler shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts David as he jumps to the side.
Stabler stuffs the takedown attempt from David. David gets slowly back to his feet.
Elliot Stabler seems to be getting the better of the standup.
David fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig David. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stabler looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
David working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stabler.
David avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stabler is looking to work some ground and pound but David has wrist control.
Stabler slips nicely into half guard.
Stabler thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed David's head.
Stabler missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stabler lands strikes from half guard.
Stabler not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Stabler is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and David defends it well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

David actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elliot Stabler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stabler has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elliot Stabler!
Elliot Stabler was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.