PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Niko Boukas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Greg Stabbard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Greg Stabbard is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Boukas
vs
Stabbard

167 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

163 cm
26
135 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Red Square Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Niko Boukas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Greg Stabbard!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Trevor Gratis and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stabbard has Boukas up against the cage in a clinch.
Stabbard tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Boukas smiles and moves away.
Stabbard misses with a lunging right hand

and Boukas counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Boukas throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Boukas is trying to control the action in half guard but Stabbard is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Boukas prevents Stabbard from improving his position.
Boukas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stabbard's head.
Stabbard is trying to stand back up but Boukas is controlling him
Boukas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Stabbard defending well though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Boukas throwing shots but Stabbard is blocking nicely.
Stabbard blocking the ground and pound attempt from Boukas.
Stabbard slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boukas with a nice head shot there.
Boukas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Boukas trying to control but Stabbard is working from the bottom.
Stabbard keeping full guard, as Boukas tries to pass.
Boukas working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Stabbard wants to stand up but Boukas is controlling him.
Stabbard is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stabbard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Boukas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Boukas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Boukas is in close to Stabbard's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Stabbard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Boukas with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Boukas stops Stabbard from standing up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stabbard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boukas is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Boukas stops Stabbard from standing up.
Boukas is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Stabbard trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stabbard misses with a wild body shot.
Stabbard looks to clinch
and Boukas counters with a one-two to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stabbard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stabbard misses with a hook
and Boukas counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Stabbard is rocked!
Stabbard throws a head kick that misses.
Stabbard is still on wobbly legs! Can Boukas finish him?
Stabbard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Boukas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stabbard seems to have recovered his senses.
The fighters circle momentarily. Boukas darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Boukas drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boukas throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Stabbard is pushing Boukas's head away, looking to escape. Boukas manages to hold on to the position though.
Stabbard tries to improve position but can't.
Boukas tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Stabbard on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stabbard defending against the ground and pound.
Stabbard dodges the ground and pound from Boukas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Boukas dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Stabbard looks to clinch

and Boukas counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Boukas is looking to work some ground and pound but Stabbard has wrist control.
Boukas trying to control but Stabbard is working from the bottom.
Stabbard is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Boukas working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Stabbard is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Boukas is controlling him.
Boukas throwing strikes but missing.
Boukas lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boukas works over Stabbard with some ground and pound from guard.
Stabbard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Boukas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Boukas postures up and lands a big shot to Stabbard's brow.
Stabbard is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Boukas trying to control the position from guard on top but Stabbard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boukas cracks Stabbard with a solid left hand.
Boukas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Boukas is working Stabbard over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Boukas lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boukas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stabbard is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Boukas preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Boukas is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stabbard with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Greg Stabbard hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Stabbard shoots for a double leg takedown but Boukas sprawls well. He's pushed Stabbard's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Greg Stabbard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stabbard walks into a left hand.
Stabbard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stabbard tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Boukas counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Boukas scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Boukas drops an elbow to the side of Stabbard's head.
Boukas wants to control but Stabbard is keeping him busy.
Boukas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stabbard can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boukas is really struggling to control Stabbard but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Stabbard keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Stabbard is trying to control but can't.
Boukas working Stabbard over with strikes.
Boukas lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Boukas misses with a head shot. Stabbard uses the momentum to regain guard.
Boukas with a nice head shot there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stabbard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Boukas displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Boukas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stabbard dives in and grabs Boukas's left leg, looking for a takedown. Boukas pushes down on Stabbard's head and hops out.
Boukas slips a jab and a cross from Stabbard.

Boukas gets caught flat footed, as Stabbard shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Boukas wants to sweep here but Stabbard controlling him for the moment.
Boukas pulls Stabbard in close to his closed guard and prevents Stabbard from doing any damage or advancing position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Niko Boukas just wasn't active enough.
Boukas blocks a head kick by Stabbard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stabbard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Boukas.
Stabbard moves in looking to clinch but Boukas pushes him off.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stabbard.
Stabbard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stabbard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stabbard tries to clinch but Boukas is having none of it.
Stabbard needs to keep his hands up - Boukas had a free shot at his head there.
Stabbard shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Boukas but Boukas pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Niko Boukas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Greg Stabbard.
Stabbard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Boukas motions for Stabbard to come forward. Boukas throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stabbard.

Boukas drops Stabbard with a right and a left! Boukas comes rushing in but Stabbard regains his composure and manages to keep Boukas in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Boukas is working Stabbard over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boukas slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Boukas landing some decent shots from guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Boukas's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Boukas throwing strikes but missing.
Boukas is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Boukas wants to control from the top but Stabbard keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boukas with a nice head shot there.
Boukas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Boukas with a flurry of punches that miss.
Boukas throws a big elbow that misses.
Boukas is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Stabbard is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Boukas is controlling him.
Greg Stabbard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Niko Boukas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boukas's corner is telling him to maintain position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Niko Boukas.

Boukas drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Boukas controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stabbard tries to bench press Boukas off him but Boukas keeps the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Niko Boukas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Boukas, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Niko Boukas!
A relieved looking Niko Boukas thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.