PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Musial Stanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aatish Sunuwar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sunuwar has chosen Peace Sells as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Stanson
vs
Sunuwar

190 cm
21
204 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

199 cm
22
223 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Musial Stanson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Aatish Sunuwar!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stanson ducks under a wild hook from Sunuwar.
Stanson avoids the body shot from Sunuwar.

Stanson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Sunuwar has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Reign in Blood. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Stanson controlling the action here.
Stanson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Stanson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sunuwar doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Stanson.
Sunuwar wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sunuwar tries to roll over but Stanson keeps him under control.

Sunuwar looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Stanson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sunuwar is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Stanson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Stanson's back!

Stanson is trying to shake Sunuwar off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Sunuwar won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
Stanson gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Stanson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Sunuwar on his heels. He'll look to pass Sunuwar's guard now, I'm sure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sunuwar working a defensive guard here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sunuwar looking to control but Stanson passes into half guard.
Sunuwar wants to control but Stanson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stanson wants to control but Sunuwar is keeping him busy.
Stanson controlling the action here.
Stanson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sunuwar is wriggling around trying to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sunuwar wants to control but Stanson is having none of it.
Stanson controlling the pace for now.
Sunuwar gets back to half guard.
Stanson wants to pass to mount but Sunuwar is defending the position.
Sunuwar moves into full guard.

Stanson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sunuwar has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stanson has managed to get both his arms back between Sunuwar's legs - danger averted.
Sunuwar keeping moving, preventing Stanson from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanson is looking to work some ground and pound but Sunuwar has wrist control.
Stanson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Stanson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sunuwar has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stanson has managed to get both his arms back between Sunuwar's legs - danger averted.
Stanson tries to free his leg and advance position but Sunuwar is retaining full guard.
Sunuwar keeping moving, preventing Stanson from controlling successfully.

Sunuwar throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stanson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Musial Stanson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sunuwar gets caught flat footed, as Stanson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stanson trying to control but Sunuwar is working from the bottom.
Sunuwar is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sunuwar 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.
Sunuwar controls Stanson momentarily but Stanson frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Stanson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stanson trying to control but Sunuwar is working from the bottom.
Stanson won't allow Sunuwar to sweep him here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Stanson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Sunuwar on his heels. He'll look to pass Sunuwar's guard now, I'm sure.
Stanson preventing the sweep.
Stanson wants to control from the top but Sunuwar keeps moving.
Sunuwar wants to sweep here but Stanson controlling him for the moment.
Stanson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sunuwar works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stanson trying to control the position from guard on top but Sunuwar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stanson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sunuwar swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stanson trying to control but Sunuwar is working from the bottom.
Sunuwar being controlled here, momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Musial Stanson just wasn't active enough.
Sunuwar scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Stanson doesn't seem bothered though.
Stanson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Stanson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanson is trying to control. Sunuwar wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sunuwar regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Stanson.
Sunuwar keeping moving, preventing Stanson from controlling successfully.
Sunuwar wants to sweep here but Stanson controlling him for the moment.

Sunuwar working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stanson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stanson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanson forces his way into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Sunuwar is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Stanson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Stanson's back!
Sunuwar looking to hold on to the position here but Stanson rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Sunuwar tries to free his leg and advance position but Stanson is retaining full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stanson controls Sunuwar momentarily but Sunuwar frees himself.
Sunuwar passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Musial Stanson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Stanson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stanson lands in his opponent's guard.
Stanson content to stall in guard here.
Stanson trying to control but Sunuwar is working from the bottom.
Stanson is really struggling to control Sunuwar but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Sunuwar is trying to control the position but Stanson postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Stanson trying to control but Sunuwar is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Musial Stanson wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Stanson moves out of range of the strikes.

Stanson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Sunuwar pushes Stanson off looking to stand but Stanson dives back in and keeps control.
Stanson is trying to control the action in half guard but Sunuwar is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Stanson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Sunuwar actively working from the bottom here.
Sunuwar is looking for a sweep. Stanson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sunuwar is not content to let Stanson control the position.
Stanson is looking to stall here but Sunuwar recovers full guard.
Sunuwar looking for a sweep. Not yet Sunuwar, not yet.
Stanson wants to control from the top but Sunuwar keeps moving.

Stanson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sunuwar tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanson is looking to work some ground and pound but Sunuwar has wrist control.
Stanson wants to control from the top but Sunuwar keeps moving.
Aatish Sunuwar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stanson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sunuwar is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Sunuwar wants to sweep but no luck.
Sunuwar keeping moving, preventing Stanson from controlling successfully.
Musial Stanson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Musial Stanson wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sunuwar lands with a straight right. Stanson didn't see that one coming.

Stanson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stanson is working for a kimura but Sunuwar is defending it quite comfortably.
Stanson not doing much here.

Sunuwar looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Stanson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sunuwar sees it coming and defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Musial Stanson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stanson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27

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