PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Cantwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Staunton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cantwell
vs
Staunton

187 cm
32
197 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

168 cm
32
197 lbs
7 - 13 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Cantwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Staunton!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Alan Glass and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cantwell scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
No joy there for Cantwell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A good leg kick by Cantwell.
Cantwell fails to land with a series of punches.
Cantwell throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cantwell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Staunton tries to clinch up but Cantwell circles away and keeps his distance.
Steve Cantwell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Staunton slips a jab and a cross from Cantwell.
Staunton darts in looking for a takedown but Cantwell gets double underhooks and turns Staunton into the cage.

Cantwell has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Staunton regains guard immediately.
Staunton is trying to control the position but Cantwell postures up.
Staunton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cantwell 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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cantwell throwing strikes but missing.

Staunton looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cantwell passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cantwell decides to stand back up.
Cantwell uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Staunton.
Staunton throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cantwell tries a head kick but it misses.
Staunton shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cantwell sprawls well. Cantwell wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Staunton gets slowly back to his feet.
Cantwell swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Staunton moves into the clinch.

Cantwell manages to break the clinch.
Staunton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cantwell but Cantwell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Steve Cantwell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Staunton.
Cantwell misses with a few strikes there.
Staunton has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Cantwell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Staunton moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staunton tries to clinch there but Cantwell circles away.
Cantwell scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Cantwell throws an overhand right that lands on Staunton's shoulder, as Staunton tries to avoid the shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cantwell takes a swing at Staunton's ribcage but misses.
Cantwell's jab looks to have found its range, popping Staunton under the eye.
Cantwell throws a wild body kick that Staunton sees coming a mile off.
Cantwell circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cantwell throws a nice looking combination but Staunton bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Staunton looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cantwell!
Cantwell is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Staunton is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staunton wants to stand but Cantwell has his arm trapped.

Cantwell throws Staunton to one side and escapes!
Staunton misses with a head kick.
Cantwell lands a lovely overhand right.
Cantwell leaves Staunton with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Staunton looks to score with a jab to the body but Cantwell is just out of range.
No joy there for Cantwell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cantwell looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cantwell misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cantwell throws a sloppy head kick and Staunton moves out of range easily.
Staunton slips under a jab.
Staunton tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cantwell tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Cantwell buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cantwell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cantwell leaves Staunton with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cantwell looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Staunton is looking to clinch but Cantwell is avoiding it.
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!
Cantwell swinging wildly here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cantwell throws a half hearted mid kick.
A combination from Cantwell does no damage.
Some wild striking there from Cantwell.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Cantwell 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.

Staunton takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Staunton moves in looking to clinch but Cantwell pushes him off.
A jab from Cantwell misses.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cantwell enables Staunton to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cantwell manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Staunton wants to control from the top but Cantwell keeps moving.
Staunton might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cantwell haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Staunton has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cantwell is proving hard to escape from.

Cantwell kicks Staunton off and gets to his feet.
Steve Cantwell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cantwell throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staunton shoots in looking for a takedown but Cantwell manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Staunton's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Staunton shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cantwell lands a jab to the nose.
Staunton slips under a jab.
Staunton moves forwards but Cantwell connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Cantwell feints with a jab and clips Staunton right behind the ear with a massive overhand right! Staunton is sent crashing into the canvas and Cantwell leaps in for the kill! Staunton tries to get to his feet but Cantwell is just battering him from every conceivable angle. The ref decides that Staunton is in need of a savior and steps in!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Steve Cantwell!
A victorious Steve Cantwell thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.