PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ernesto Stafford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yam Seng (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Stafford
vs
Seng

180 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

174 cm
21
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ernesto Stafford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yam Seng!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksandr Martynov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stafford shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Stafford is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Seng is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Seng is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Stafford is thwarting Seng's attempts to control the position.
Stafford performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Seng stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Seng wants it to stay on the feet.
Seng misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Yam Seng seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Seng tries a head kick but it misses.

Stafford gets caught napping as Seng dives in and scores a takedown. Stafford manages to retain guard.
Seng is looking to work some ground and pound but Stafford has wrist control.
Stafford wants to get back to his feet but Seng is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Stafford has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Seng has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Seng wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Seng lands a good knee to the midsection. Stafford won't want to take too many of those.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Seng manages to break the clinch.
Seng misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Seng throws a head kick but Stafford moves out of range.
Stafford shoots and misses

and Seng counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Seng.
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!

Seng has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Stafford regains guard immediately.
Stafford really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Stafford wants to stand up but Seng is controlling him.
Stafford keeping full guard, as Seng tries to pass.
Stafford wants to get back to his feet but Seng is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stafford kicks Seng off and gets to his feet.
Stafford is breathing heavily.

Seng closes the distance and pushes Stafford back into the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Seng can't get the takedown.
Seng looking for a takedown.
Ernesto Stafford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yam Seng.
Seng has Stafford pushed against the cage.
Seng is looking for a takedown.

Seng breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Seng shoots and misses
and Stafford counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Seng thinking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stafford looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Seng tries for a takedown but Stafford circles away easily
and Stafford counters with a head kick.
Seng stuffs the takedown.
Seng gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Stafford counters with a nice double leg into side control. Seng won't be happy with that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Seng takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Stafford connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Seng some visible discomfort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Seng is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Yam Seng will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Stafford forces Seng back against the cage and clinches.
Seng gets underhooks to prevent Stafford's takedown attempt.

Seng pulls Stafford into guard.
Stafford wants to control from the top but Seng keeps moving.
Seng is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Stafford working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Seng's head.
Stafford has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stafford controlling from the top position.
Stafford content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ernesto Stafford overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stafford looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Seng working a defensive guard but Stafford passes into half guard.
Seng is looking to escape.
Stafford sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Stafford connects with a nice short shot to Seng's temple.
Seng gets back to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stafford accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stafford stops Seng from standing up.
Seng being controlled here, momentarily.
Seng wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ernesto Stafford has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Stafford fails with the takedown

and Seng counters by clinching up.

Seng breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck for Stafford with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ernesto Stafford. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Seng misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ernesto Stafford is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Seng dives in and grabs Stafford's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stafford pushes down on Seng's head and hops out.
Seng is breathing heavily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stafford.
Seng tries to bench press Stafford off him but Stafford keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stafford remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Seng is trying to improve his position.
Stafford wants to control but Seng is keeping him busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stafford has control of an arm but Seng manages to advance to Stafford's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernesto Stafford dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Stafford shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Stafford thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Seng's head.
Stafford thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Seng's head.
Seng pushes Stafford off looking to stand but Stafford dives back in and keeps control.
Stafford is thwarting Seng's attempts to control the position.
Seng is trying to get back to full guard.
Stafford not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seng avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stafford.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stafford seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Stafford prevents Seng from improving his position.
Seng is trying to escape back to his feet but Stafford uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Seng takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Seng can't do much from the bottom here.
Stafford just content to control the position.
Seng is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stafford misses with the ground and pound.
Seng defending against the ground and pound.
Stafford taking a breather here.
Stafford has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Seng manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Seng wants to get back to full guard.
Stafford looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ernesto Stafford.
Stafford shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Seng goes for a double leg but Stafford avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Stafford continues to drive forward.
Stafford has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Seng is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Seng is trying to break free.

Seng decides to pull guard.
Stafford prevents Seng from getting back to his feet.
Stafford postures up.
Seng trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Stafford lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stafford throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Seng works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stafford accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
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 loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stafford is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Stafford seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Seng for as long as he can get away with.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ernesto Stafford just wasn't active enough.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Ernesto Stafford showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stafford 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28

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