PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Stechino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julian Donnell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Julian Donnell is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Stechino
vs
Donnell

185 cm
28
265 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

189 cm
30
280 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Frankie Stechino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Julian Donnell!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stechino shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Donnell is trying to defend but Stechino finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stechino thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Donnell's head.
Stechino is trying to control. Donnell wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stechino tries to pass to full mount but Donnell defends it.
Stechino working Donnell over with strikes.
Stechino throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Stechino lands a nice short elbow.
Stechino throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stechino is pressing down on Donnell's thigh, looking to free his foot. Donnell is holding on for now.
Stechino thows a huge punch but Donnell dodges it 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!
Stechino takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donnell is trying to stand back up but Stechino is controlling him
Stechino with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Donnell is not content to let Stechino control the position.
Stechino looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Donnell keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Stechino.
Donnell is looking to escape.
Stechino wants to pass the guard but Donnell is defending well.
Stechino slips a nice elbow through Donnell's hands, connecting with Donnell's forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stechino slips a nice elbow through Donnell's hands, connecting with Donnell's forehead.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stechino sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Donnell defending well though.
Stechino controlling the pace.
Stechino thows a huge punch but Donnell dodges it nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Donnell looks like he's trying to stand up.
Stechino wants to free his trapped foot but Donnell is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Stechino thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Donnell avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stechino.
Stechino slips a nice elbow through Donnell's hands, connecting with Donnell's forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Stechino thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Donnell's head.
Stechino not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Stechino not doing much here.
Stechino working Donnell over with strikes.
Stechino looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Stechino throwing shots but Donnell is blocking nicely.
Stechino not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Stechino throws a strike but Donnell avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Donnell has momentary wrist control but Stechino slips an elbow through the middle.
Donnell wants to stand and escape but Stechino is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stechino wants to pass the guard but Donnell is keeping the position.
Stechino won't allow Donnell to get back to his feet.
Stechino with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stechino trying to control but Donnell is working from the bottom.
Donnell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stechino trying to control the position from guard on top but Donnell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stechino in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stechino postures up in Donnell's guard and throws a big left but Donnell blocks it.
Stechino throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Donnell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Stechino dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Stechino swats away the attempt to clinch by Donnell.
Julian Donnell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stechino misses with a wild body shot.
Stechino looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Stechino misses with a takedown
and Donnell counters with a one-two to the body.
Donnell tries to clinch up but Stechino circles away and keeps his distance.
Good shot there by Stechino.
Donnell leaves Stechino with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frankie Stechino. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Donnell gets caught flat footed, as Stechino shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Donnell wants to stand and escape but Stechino is having none of it.
Stechino chips away with some ground and pound.
Stechino is looking to work some ground and pound but Donnell has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stechino is looking to work some ground and pound but Donnell has wrist control.
Stechino throws an elbow that misses. Donnell uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Stechino's guard. Nice move by Donnell!
Stechino keeping moving, preventing Donnell from controlling successfully.
Stechino looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stechino looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Donnell puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Nice strikes from Donnell there.
Stechino has his hands clasped together around Donnell's back. He's all about the action.
Stechino is pressing down on Donnell's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Donnell postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donnell wants to control from the top but Stechino keeps moving.
Stechino seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Stechino trying to keep a closed guard but Donnell is proving a slippery customer.
Donnell slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Frankie Stechino wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Donnell looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stechino trying to control here.
Donnell throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donnell working Stechino over with strikes.
Stechino works his way to full guard. Good work.
Stechino pulls Donnell in close to prevent any damage.
Stechino trying to keep a closed guard but Donnell is proving a slippery customer.
Stechino trying to control the position here.
Stechino wants to sweep here but Donnell controlling him for the moment.
Stechino is trying to control the position but Donnell postures up.
Donnell wants to control from the top but Stechino keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Frankie Stechino.
Donnell tries to clinch there but Stechino circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donnell takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Stechino cracks Donnell with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Donnell takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stechino shoots in looking for a takedown. Donnell tries to sprawl out of it but Stechino keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Donnell manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Donnell tries for a takedown but Stechino sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Donnell gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Frankie Stechino overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stechino postures up and lands a big shot to Donnell's brow.
Stechino is looking to work some ground and pound but Donnell has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Stechino dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Donnell misses with the combination.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Stechino, as that shot connected.
Donnell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stechino paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Donnell shoots in for a takedown but Stechino shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Julian Donnell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Donnell tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stechino manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Donnell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Donnell shoots in for a takedown but Stechino shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stechino misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Frankie Stechino is winning the standup battle so far.
Donnell stuffs the takedown.
Donnell is looking to clinch but Stechino is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stechino with a poor takedown
and Donnell counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frankie Stechino. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stechino misses with an uppercut.

Donnell moves into the clinch.
Donnell stalling in the clinch but Stechino improves position.
Stechino is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Donnell can do to turn this around?
A frustrated look appears on Donnell's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Stechino manages to break the clinch.
Stechino is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Stechino looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Stechino gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Donnell to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stechino looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stechino looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Donnell looking to sit in guard and control but Stechino gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Donnell has momentary wrist control but Stechino slips an elbow through the middle.
Stechino has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Donnell keeping moving, preventing Stechino from controlling successfully.
Donnell wants to get back to his feet but Stechino is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Stechino postures up in Donnell's guard and throws a big left but Donnell blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stechino looking to sit in guard and control but Donnell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Stechino is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stechino wants to sweep but no luck.
Stechino is working hard here to advance position.
Donnell is in close to Stechino's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Stechino tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stechino trying to strike off his back.
Donnell wants to control from the top but Stechino keeps moving.

Donnell stands up from Stechino's guard - Donnell perhaps looking for a knockout.
Frankie Stechino is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stechino fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Donnell tries to clinch but Stechino is having none of it.
Donnell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stechino paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stechino lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Donnell tries to clinch but Stechino is having none of it.
Donnell wants to clinch.
Julian Donnell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stechino fails with the takedown

and Donnell counters by moving into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Donnell misses with an elbow strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Julian Donnell.
I think Stechino has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frankie Stechino!