PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Henrik Stahl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stahl comes to the cage accompanied by Rebel Warrior by Asian Dub Foundation. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stahl
vs
Kelly

179 cm
21
141 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
138 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Henrik Stahl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joe Kelly!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kelly throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kelly has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kelly closes the distance and clinches up with Stahl, looking for a takedown. Kelly pushes Stahl against the cage but Stahl circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kelly takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Stahl swinging wilding here.
Kelly fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kelly fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kelly tries to clinch but Stahl is having none of it.
Joe Kelly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kelly wants to clinch.
Kelly shoots in for a takedown but Stahl shows good takedown defense.
Henrik Stahl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Kelly.

Stahl looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Kelly!
Stahl scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kelly?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stahl wants to take his opponent's back but Kelly doesn't allow it.

Stahl swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Kelly is now in Stahl's guard. A big mistake from Stahl there, giving up the dominant position!
Kelly won't allow Stahl to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stahl working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kelly doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kelly manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Stahl looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kelly is one step ahead there.
Kelly trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Stahl had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Kelly is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Stahl Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Kelly's back instead.

Stahl working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Even with his hooks in, Stahl manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Stahl keeps control of the position as Kelly tries to break free.
Stahl tries to keep control of the position but Kelly is staying busy.
Stahl is hanging on to Kelly's back as he tries to escape.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kelly is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Stahl gets his way!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stahl looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Good control from Stahl.

Stahl is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Kelly is defending well though. Stahl let's go of the attempt for now.
Kelly wants to get back to his feet.

Stahl is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Kelly trying to control the hands but Stahl won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Will Stahl go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Kelly preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Stahl.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kelly manages to reverse the position and now he's in Stahl's guard. Nice work there by Kelly.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kelly is fighting to break Stahl's control of his arms but Stahl is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henrik Stahl dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kelly pushes Stahl up against the cage in a clinch.

Kelly breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A big left from Stahl misses.
Kelly fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kelly stalks Stahl and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Stahl's face. Stahl staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Henrik Stahl has been cut.

Stahl looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Stahl will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Stahl pushes down on Kelly's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Stahl really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Stahl is looking to take a break and control but Kelly is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kelly is looking for a sweep. Stahl is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Stahl is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Kelly is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Henrik Stahl!