PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thaddeus Bender (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bogdan Stoica (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bogdan Stoica has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bender
vs
Stoica

165 cm
18
215 lbs
1 - 7 - 0

193 cm
23
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Thaddeus Bender!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bogdan Stoica!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Saam Ante and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bender misses with a head kick.
A head kick from Stoica lands but Bender takes it in his stride.

It looks like Thaddeus Bender has been cut.
Stoica displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bender.
Stoica shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bender as he avoids it easily.
Some wild striking there from Stoica.
Bender could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Stoica fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Bender closes the distance and pushes Stoica back into the cage.
Bender has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Stoica avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Bender drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stoica pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thaddeus Bender. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stoica pushes Bender away with a front kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stoica darts in and clinches Bender up against the cage.
Stoica tries to throw a body punch but Bender avoids it by throwing Stoica back against the cage.

Stoica breaks the clinch.
Bender looks for a takedown but Stoica sprawls well.

Oooooh!!! Stoica has knocked Bender down with a huge combo! Stoica steps away and waves a wobbly Bender back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stoica fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bender stuffs the takedown attempt from Stoica. Stoica gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Bender. No joy for Stoica on that attempt.
Stoica pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Stoica closes the distance and pushes Bender back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bender tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bender can't get the takedown.

Stoica escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stoica shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bender pinned against the cage. Bender gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bender tries a head kick but it misses.
Bender tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stoica swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bender shoots for a takedown but Stoica saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Stoica connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Bender shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stoica as he jumps to the side.
A head kick misses from Bender.
Bender is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stoica fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Stoica shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bender counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Bender.
Stoica changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bender fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Bender misses with the combination.
Stoica looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bender is fending him off so far but Stoica persists. Nope, Bender circles away and we're back to standing.
Bender keeps the fight on the outside.

Bender closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stoica tries for a takedown but Bender manages to get underhooks.

Stoica pulls guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Bender decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Stoica, up you get!
Bender shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stoica but Stoica pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bender fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bender is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stoica sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bender walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Stoica checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bender shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stoica sprawls well. Stoica wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bender gets slowly back to his feet.
No luck for Bender with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bogdan Stoica dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thaddeus Bender's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bender dives in for a single leg takedown but Stoica sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Bender lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Stoica stalling.
Stoica is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bender gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Stoica breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stoica darts in looking for a takedown but Bender gets double underhooks and turns Stoica into the cage.
Bender misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Stoica stalling.
Bender tries to pull guard but Stoica forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stoica tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bender smiles and moves away.
Thaddeus Bender has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bogdan Stoica.
Stoica is looking to clinch but Bender is avoiding it.
Bender tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stoica swivels and escapes.
Bender fails with the takedown.
Bender looks for a takedown but Stoica sprawls well.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Bender. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Bender fails with the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bender misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stoica lands a high kick!
Stoica throws a head kick that Bender semi-blocks.
Stoica circles away from the clinch attempt
and Stoica counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
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!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Stoica.
Bender fails with a takedown attempt.
Stoica is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bender sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stoica shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bender pinned against the cage. Bender gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Stoica keeps the fight on the outside.
Bender tries a head kick but it misses.
Stoica fails with a takedown attempt.

Stoica fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bender, pushing him back against the cage.

Stoica's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No luck for Stoica with that takedown attempt.
Stoica slaps away a takedown attempt from Bender, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stoica misses with a takedown attempt - Bender sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stoica darts in looking for a takedown but Bender gets double underhooks and turns Stoica into the cage.
Stoica is trying to pull guard but Bender has him pressed against the cage.
Bender goes for a takedown attempt but Stoica pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Bender shoots in for a takedown but Stoica shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bender displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stoica.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bogdan Stoica showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thaddeus Bender's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bender lands a glancing blow to the side of Stoica's head.
No joy there for Bender, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stoica tries to close the distance and clinch but Bender swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A jab from Bender finds it's way through Stoica's defenses.
Stoica throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bender's waist but Bender gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stoica off to one side.
Bender is looking to clinch.
Stoica tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bender swivels and escapes.
Stoica slaps away a takedown attempt from Bender, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bender is defended easily by Stoica.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bender stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bender wants it to stay on the feet.
Thaddeus Bender has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bogdan Stoica.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stoica misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stoica throws a leg kick but Bender checks it.

Stoica gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Bender to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Bender sitting in guard here, content to control.
Stoica is trying to keep Bender in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bender tries to free his leg and advance position but Stoica is retaining full guard.
Bender looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stoica keeping moving, preventing Bender from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Thaddeus Bender wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Stoica avoids the head kick by Bender.
Stoica leaves Bender with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bogdan Stoica seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stoica.
Bender stuffs the takedown attempt from Stoica. Stoica gets slowly back to his feet.
Bender cracks Stoica with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Bender stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bender wants it to stay on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bender looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stoica is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bender stuffs the takedown attempt from Stoica. Stoica gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bender dives in for a single leg takedown but Stoica sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Bender is trying to break free.
Bender tries to pull guard but Stoica won't allow it.
Bender fails to pull guard.
Bender tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bender tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Stoica breaks the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stoica lands with a good body shot.
Thaddeus Bender has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bogdan Stoica is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bender looks for a takedown but Stoica sprawls well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thaddeus Bender showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stoica 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bogdan Stoica!
After winning the bout, Bogdan Stoica thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.