PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roosevelt Stafford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wesley Jennings (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Wesley Jennings enters the cage!

Stafford
vs
Jennings

216 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roosevelt Stafford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wesley Jennings!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Matheus Silva and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stafford manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Jennings on his heels. He'll look to pass Jennings's guard now, I'm sure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Stafford wants to stand but Jennings has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Jennings not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Stafford pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jennings is keeping the position for now.
Stafford wants to control from the top but Jennings keeps moving.
Jennings pulls Stafford in close to his closed guard and prevents Stafford from doing any damage or advancing position.

Wesley Jennings has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Jennings scores with a nice strike.

It looks like Roosevelt Stafford has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stafford keeps the fight on the outside.

Stafford drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Stafford is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Stafford seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jennings wants to get back to his feet but Stafford passes into half guard.
Stafford throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stafford is keen to just control but Jennings is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stafford thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stafford keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Stafford wants to get back to his feet.
Stafford working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Stafford 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.
Stafford is trying to control the action in half guard but Jennings is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Roosevelt Stafford wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Stafford closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Jennings quickly recovers to half guard.
Jennings keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Stafford is looking for a kimura here.
Stafford will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Jennings is looking to control Stafford's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Jennings avoid being mounted?
Nice strikes from Stafford there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jennings wants to control but Stafford is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stafford stalling.
Jennings trying to hold on to Stafford's head to control him but Stafford postures up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Wesley Jennings was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Jennings avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roosevelt Stafford dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Roosevelt Stafford's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stafford closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Jennings letting Stafford take a breather here.
Stafford has Jennings pressed against the cage, preventing Jennings from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Stafford pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stafford slips a jab and a cross from Jennings.

Stafford forces Jennings back against the cage and clinches.
Jennings fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Jennings pulls guard.
Stafford 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.
Stafford works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stafford is looking for a kimura here.
Stafford works his foot free and advances to mount.
Jennings tries to hold on but Stafford pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stafford sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Jennings is squirming around, avoiding Stafford's attempts to control the action.
Jennings tries to hold on but Stafford pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stafford lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Stafford landing punches.
Stafford tries to control but Jennings wriggling away.
Stafford controlling the pace for now.
Jennings wants to control but Stafford is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stafford lands a couple of good shots and Jennings has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
I would not like to be Jennings right now.
Roosevelt Stafford overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stafford gets his hands free as Jennings looks to control.
Jennings controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Jennings is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stafford is not going to allow Jennings to sit and survive in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roosevelt Stafford dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Roosevelt Stafford's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Stafford shoots in and gets a takedown into Jennings's guard.
Stafford pushing down on Jennings's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Stafford controlling the action here.
Stafford is thwarting Jennings's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stafford is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Stafford takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Jennings wants to hold on but Stafford pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stafford trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Stafford looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Stafford with the ground and pound from mount.
Stafford avoids the attempt from Jennings to control.
Stafford in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Jennings takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stafford wants to control the pace but Jennings is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stafford lands a big shot there that rocks Jennings but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Stafford looking to control but Jennings is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Stafford avoids the attempt from Jennings to control.
Stafford controlling from the full mount.
Stafford has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wesley Jennings has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Roosevelt Stafford has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Jennings is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Roosevelt Stafford is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jennings fails to land with a series of punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roosevelt Stafford showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stafford, 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roosevelt Stafford!