PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hiranuka Stakanu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcel Clasie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stakanu comes to the cage accompanied by Oy, To Ne Vecher. Clasie has chosen Sensation White Anthem as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Stakanu
vs
Clasie

184 cm
33
280 lbs
25 - 15 - 0

200 cm
26
240 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Untouchable Fight Nutrition

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 25 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hiranuka Stakanu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcel Clasie!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Jorge Garcia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clasie lands a head kick. Stakanu smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Clasie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Clasie tries to clinch up but Stakanu circles away and keeps his distance.
Clasie keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stakanu.
Stakanu misses with an uppercut.
Clasie wants to clinch but Stakanu slips to the side
and Stakanu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Clasie forces Stakanu back against the cage and clinches.
Stakanu is working Clasie over against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Clasie tries a body shot but Stakanu blocks it.

Stakanu manages to pull guard.
Clasie wants to stand but Stakanu is controlling his posture from full guard.
Stakanu looking for a sweep. Not yet Stakanu, not yet.

Clasie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stakanu has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Clasie has managed to get both his arms back between Stakanu's legs - danger averted.
Stakanu bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Clasie's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stakanu makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Stakanu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stakanu stops Clasie from standing up.
Clasie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Clasie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stakanu.
Stakanu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Stakanu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stakanu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clasie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stakanu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stakanu throws a big right hand that misses.
Stakanu is looking to work some ground and pound but Clasie has wrist control.
Stakanu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stakanu has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Stakanu drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Clasie dives on top into guard.
Stakanu trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Stakanu wants to sweep but no luck.
Clasie must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Stakanu has a closed guard, preventing Clasie from standing up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Stakanu is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Clasie is aware though and is defending well.
Stakanu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stakanu working for a triangle but Clasie defends it easily.
Stakanu throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Clasie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Stakanu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Clasie is one step ahead there.
Stakanu trying to keep a closed guard but Clasie is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stakanu wants to sweep here but Clasie controlling him for the moment.
Clasie wants to get up but he can't break Stakanu's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Stakanu is striking but Clasie is not phased and passes to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stakanu slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Stakanu looking for a sweep. Not yet Stakanu, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiranuka Stakanu 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.

Stakanu misses with a series of wild punches.
Stakanu scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Clasie scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Clasie throws a sloppy head kick and Stakanu moves out of range easily.
Clasie scores with a head kick. Stakanu tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stakanu misses with an uppercut.
Clasie is looking to clinch but Stakanu is avoiding it.
Stakanu throws a hook but Clasie avoids it easily.
Clasie looks to score with a jab to the body but Stakanu is just out of range.
Clasie on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A slow jab from Stakanu misses its intended target.
Clasie misses with a combination
letting Stakanu counter with a right hand.

It looks like Marcel Clasie has been cut.
Clasie dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Stakanu. That did some damage!
Clasie is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Clasie misses with a hook. Stakanu ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stakanu throws a big shot that misses.
Stakanu misses the jab.
Clasie keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Clasie fails with an attempt to clinch.
Clasie tries to clinch but Stakanu is having none of it.
Clasie tries to clinch up.
Nice takedown defense from Clasie. No joy for Stakanu on that attempt.
A slow jab from Clasie misses its intended target.
Clasie closes the distance but Stakanu moves to the side
and Stakanu counters with a one-two to the body.
Clasie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stakanu blocks a head kick by Clasie.
Clasie stuffs the takedown attempt from Stakanu. Stakanu gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hiranuka Stakanu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A big right from Stakanu misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clasie misses with a straight left.
Marcel Clasie seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Clasie thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Stakanu if he has to take too many more of those.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Clasie lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Clasie lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Jab, jab by Clasie - just one landing.
Stakanu shoots in for a takedown but Clasie shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Clasie works the jab nicely.
Clasie moves in looking to clinch but Stakanu pushes him off.
Nice defenses there by Clasie.
Clasie moves into range and connects with a jab.
Stakanu avoids the body shot from Clasie.
Stakanu tries to score a power double leg takedown but Clasie sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stakanu somewhat.
Clasie has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Clasie tries to bum rush Stakanu with a series of wild strikes but Stakanu uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clasie dips to his left and cracks Stakanu with an uppercut!

Clasie moves into the clinch.
Stakanu jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Clasie walks away with a smile on his face. Stakanu gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Clasie stuffs the takedown.
Stakanu is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Clasie's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Stakanu throws a series of punches but Clasie moves out of range.
Clasie scores with a jab.
A jab from Stakanu misses.
Clasie is looking to clinch but Stakanu is avoiding it.
Clasie lands with a right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Clasie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stakanu.
Stakanu throws a right and a left that Clasie avoids nicely.

Stakanu tries to keep at a distance but Clasie has taken the fight into the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Clasie.
Clasie lands a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Clasie.
Clasie softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Clasie stalling in the clinch.
Clasie wants to break free but Stakanu has control.
Stakanu drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Clasie content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Clasie continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Stakanu tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Clasie smiles and moves away.
Clasie fails with an attempt to clinch.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Clasie. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stakanu misses with a wild body shot.
Clasie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Clasie tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcel Clasie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Marcel Clasie's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Clasie stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Clasie wants it to stay on the feet.
Stakanu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Clasie is looking to clinch but Stakanu is avoiding it.
Good standup being displayed there by Clasie as he connects with a hook.
Stakanu misses with a double jab.
Clasie moves in looking to clinch but Stakanu pushes him off.
Stakanu misses with a few strikes there.
Clasie misses with a looping left.
Clasie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stakanu fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Clasie looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Stakanu shoots in for a takedown but Clasie shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Clasie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stakanu tries to score a power double leg takedown but Clasie sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stakanu somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hiranuka Stakanu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sloppy strikes from Clasie. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clasie scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Stakanu scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Clasie regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Stakanu.
Stakanu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stakanu throws an elbow that misses. Clasie uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Stakanu's guard. Nice move by Clasie!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stakanu looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Clasie passes into side control.

Clasie decides to stand back up. Clasie steps back and let's Stakanu get back to his feet.
Hiranuka Stakanu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clasie displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stakanu.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Clasie tries to clinch but Stakanu moves out of range.
Marcel Clasie is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stakanu throws a series of punches but Clasie avoids them all with ease.
Stakanu connects with a body shot that sends Clasie's belly button to the back.
Clasie is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Stakanu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Clasie was well out of range. Poor timing from Stakanu.
Good leg kick by Clasie there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Clasie closes the distance and clinches.
Clasie lands a right hand.
Clasie struggles to land a body shot inside as Stakanu controls his hands.
Clasie lands a shoulder strike.
Clasie stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Clasie lands with a light punch inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clasie fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Clasie looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Clasie throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Clasie scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Stakanu tries for a takedown but Clasie manages to get underhooks.
Clasie throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Stakanu working aggressively here.
Clasie lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Clasie lands with a short shot to the head.
Clasie missing with knees to the body.
Clasie trying to stall but Stakanu improves his position.
Stakanu tries to break free but Clasie pushes him back against the cage.
Clasie pushes Stakanu back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Clasie scores with a nice short uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Clasie.

Stakanu wants the takedown. Clasie is fighting it off but Stakanu persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Clasie's guard against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stakanu with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Clasie wants to get back to his feet but Stakanu is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hiranuka Stakanu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stakanu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Clasie really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stakanu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Stakanu is looking to work some ground and pound but Clasie has wrist control.
Clasie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stakanu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stakanu looking to pass the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcel Clasie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Clasie has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcel Clasie!
Our winner, Marcel Clasie, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.