PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Stampe Eklund (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Graeme Symons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Eklund kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Troll - Trollberg. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Graeme Symons was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Eklund
vs
Symons

168 cm
24
167 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
171 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Milwaukee's Best 160

Namunamu Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stampe Eklund!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Graeme Symons!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Igor Prikhodko and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Symons tries for a takedown but Eklund circles away easily
and Eklund counters with a straight right hand.
Stampe Eklund seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Eklund throws a right and a left that Symons avoids nicely.
An inside leg kick from Eklund misses.
Symons shoots in looking for a takedown. Eklund tries to sprawl out of it but Symons keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Eklund manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Eklund throws a head kick but Symons moves out of range.
Eklund throws the left hand but Symons avoids the punch easily.

Symons changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Eklund looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Symons throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Eklund works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Eklund has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Symons is looking to take a break and control but Eklund is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Symons thows a huge punch but Eklund dodges it nicely.
Symons is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Symons thows a huge punch but Eklund dodges it nicely.
Symons is looking to pass Eklund's guard but actually Eklund recovers to full guard.
Eklund not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Eklund looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Symons lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Symons slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Eklund is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Symons won't allow Eklund to sweep him here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Symons accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Symons is working Eklund over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Symons stopping the sweep attempt from Eklund.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Eklund not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Symons postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Eklund striking off his back but it's not causing Symons any problems.
Eklund preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Eklund working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eklund manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Symons wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Eklund.
Eklund unloads with some shots from mount but Symons bucks and avoids them well.
Symons wants to hold on but Eklund pushes him away.
Symons holds on for dear life, controlling Eklund's posture momentarily.
Symons keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Eklund scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Symons sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Eklund thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Symons tries to get to full guard but Eklund has control of the leg.
Eklund trying to control the pace.
Eklund not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Symons avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Eklund.
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!
Symons wants to control but Eklund is keeping busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Eklund is looking to take a break and control but Symons is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Graeme Symons will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Symons gets a double leg takedown into Eklund's guard.
Symons lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Symons is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Eklund is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Eklund tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Symons with a flurry of punches that miss.
Symons wants to control from the top but Eklund keeps moving.
Symons preventing the sweep.
Symons throws a strike but Eklund rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Symons 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.
Symons bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Eklund's guard.
Eklund working a defensive guard here.
Symons cracks Eklund with a solid left hand.
Symons throwing strikes from guard but Eklund blocks nicely.
Symons has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Eklund 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.
Symons stays in close to Eklund's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Symons passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Symons grinds an elbow into Eklund's temple.
Symons working the head with strikes.
Symons is looking to take a break and control but Eklund is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Eklund is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Eklund struggling a bit here.
Symons is chipping away with strikes.
Eklund manages to work his way to half guard, despite Symons's best efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Symons thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Eklund's head.
Symons wants to lay and pray for a moment but Eklund keeps working.
Eklund makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Eklund.
Symons working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Symons is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Symons wants to control from the top but Eklund keeps moving.
Symons landing some decent shots from guard.
Eklund looking to control.
Symons scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Symons controls from within his opponent's guard.
Eklund wants to sweep here but Symons controlling him for the moment.
Eklund is working hard here to advance position.
Symons makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Symons stands up over Eklund, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Symons wants to control from the top but Eklund keeps moving.
Symons throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Graeme Symons showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Eklund. Symons does a little dance to reset his feet.
Symons gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Eklund to counter with a crisp jab.
Eklund lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Eklund swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Eklund scores with a crisp jab that stopped Symons in his tracks.
Eklund throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Symons sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Eklund misses the shot to the body.
Symons fails with a takedown attempt.
Eklund ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Symons moves away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Symons.
Stampe Eklund has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Graeme Symons.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Symons moves out of range as Eklund strikes.
A swing and a miss from Eklund.
Symons fails with a takedown attempt.
Eklund pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Eklund misses with an uppercut. Symons saw that one coming.
Nice sprawl there from Eklund as Symons shoots in.
Symons avoids the body shot from Eklund.
Eklund fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Symons manages to avoid it.
Eklund throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Symons fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Stampe Eklund has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Symons with a lazy takedown attempt
and Eklund counters with a one-two to the body.
Symons fails with the takedown
and Eklund counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Eklund jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Eklund misses the shot to the body.
Eklund fails with an attempt to clinch.
Eklund throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Eklund throws a body punch but Symons moves out of range.
Eklund throws a good cross that connects.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Symons misses with a takedown
and Eklund counters with a stiff right hand.
Symons looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Eklund misses.
A bone on bone clash there as Symons blocks the leg kick.
Eklund throws a leg kick but Symons moved away.
Symons changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Eklund tries to avoid it but Symons manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Eklund to the ground. Eklund escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Eklund gets caught flat footed, as Symons shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Symons preventing the sweep.
My spies in gym closing inform me that Symons has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Symons connects with a couple of short punches.
Symons postures up.
Symons sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eklund wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Symons throwing strikes from guard but Eklund blocks nicely.
Symons works over Eklund with some ground and pound from guard.
Eklund avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Graeme Symons is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Symons trying to control but Eklund is working from the bottom.
Symons postures up and lands a big shot to Eklund's brow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Symons trying to control the position from guard on top but Eklund is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Symons is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stampe Eklund showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Symons 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Graeme Symons!
Our winner, Graeme Symons, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
Stampe Eklund spoke after the fight, saying 'Read my lips: I will return stronger and better!'.