PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stefan Stoyanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bill Gates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Stoyanov
vs
Gates

171 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
24
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Stefan Stoyanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bill Gates!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Albert Achterberg and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gates leaves Stoyanov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Stoyanov moves into the clinch successfully.
Gates blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gates fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Stoyanov manages to pull guard.
Gates has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Stoyanov is proving hard to escape from.

Gates got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stoyanov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gates has managed to get both his arms back between Stoyanov's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stoyanov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gates is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stoyanov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gates gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Stoyanov has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Gates has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stoyanov breaks the clinch.

Stoyanov has Gates up against the cage in a clinch.
Gates has Stoyanov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stoyanov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Stoyanov is working for takedown but Gates is calmly controlling the position for now.

Stoyanov pulls guard successfully.
Stoyanov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gates is looking to escape.
Stoyanov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stoyanov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gates's head.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Stoyanov in particular looking to stall.

Stoyanov stands up from half guard.
Stoyanov blocks a head kick by Gates.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gates connects with a jab.
Stoyanov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stefan Stoyanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gates keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Stoyanov closes the distance and pushes Gates back into the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Gates misses with some punches.
A right hand to the body from Stoyanov.
Stoyanov wants to take the fight to the mat but Gates manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Gates throws an elbow but it misses.
Stoyanov blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stoyanov manages to pull guard.
Stoyanov seems keen to control Gates's posture.
Stoyanov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Stoyanov controlling the action here.

Stoyanov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stefan Stoyanov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Stoyanov takes the fight into the clinch.

Stoyanov manages to break the clinch.
Gates pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stoyanov fails to land the takedown.
Stoyanov throws a head kick that Gates semi-blocks.

Stoyanov has closed the distance and engaged Gates in a clinch.
Gates throws a head punch that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stoyanov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stoyanov shoots in looking for a takedown but Gates manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Stoyanov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Stoyanov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Stoyanov moves into the clinch.
Gates wants to get back to striking at distance but Stoyanov won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gates wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gates tries to break the clinch but Stoyanov is controlling the position.
Stoyanov lands a body shot.
Stoyanov lands a body shot in the clinch.
Gates is breathing heavily.
Gates wants to break free but Stoyanov has control.
Gates tries to break the clinch but Stoyanov is controlling the position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Stoyanov.
Gates letting Stoyanov take a breather here.

Stoyanov successfully pulls guard.
Stoyanov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gates is one step ahead there.
Stoyanov throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stoyanov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stoyanov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Stoyanov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gates is aware though and is defending well.
Stoyanov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gates's guard.

Stefan Stoyanov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stoyanov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stoyanov passes into half guard.

Stoyanov postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Gates to stand up.
Stoyanov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stefan Stoyanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stoyanov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gates defends it nicely.
Stoyanov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stoyanov throws a body shot but no joy.

Stoyanov closes the distance and clinches.

Stoyanov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gates uses from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stoyanov controlling the position.
Stoyanov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gates manages to get himself to full guard.

Stoyanov stands and steps away. Gates gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stoyanov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gates as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stefan Stoyanov dominated that second round.
That's time! Stoyanov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gates gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Stoyanov slips nicely into half guard.
Stoyanov is controlling the pace.
Gates really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stoyanov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Stoyanov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gates's head.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Stoyanov here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stoyanov passes to side control.
Gates takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Stoyanov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gates has escaped the position, nice work there.
Stoyanov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The referee asks Stoyanov politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Stoyanov prefers to stall for the moment though.

Stoyanov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Stoyanov controls the position.
Gates is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Stoyanov is controlling him well.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Stoyanov shoots in and drives through. Gates sprawls well.
No luck for Stoyanov with that takedown attempt.
Stoyanov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gates can do to turn this around?
Stoyanov closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Gates closes the distance looking to clinch

and Stoyanov counters by clinching up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gates prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stefan Stoyanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gates taking a breather.

Stoyanov pulls Gates into guard.

Stoyanov has his foot on Gates's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gates works his way back into a safe position though.
Stoyanov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Stoyanov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Stoyanov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stoyanov is on top in guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stoyanov stays in close to Gates's body and controls the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stefan Stoyanov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stoyanov, 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight for Stefan Stoyanov!
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight for Stefan Stoyanov!
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight for Stefan Stoyanov!

Stefan Stoyanov wins by unanimous decision!