PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Athan Stamatis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michal Tarnowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stamatis comes to the cage accompanied by Lose Yourself. Tarnowski has chosen Hemp Gru - Sami swoi as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Michal Tarnowski told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Stamatis
vs
Tarnowski

176 cm
37
184 lbs
51 - 25 - 0

179 cm
26
154 lbs
34 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 51 - 25 - 0, fighting out of New York, Athan Stamatis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michal Tarnowski!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Eddie Farnsworth and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tarnowski throws a nice inside leg kick.
Stamatis shoots in for a takedown but Tarnowski shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tarnowski motions for Stamatis to come forward. Tarnowski throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Stamatis checks a leg kick nicely.
Stamatis misses with a combination

and Tarnowski decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Stamatis's guard.
Tarnowski looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Tarnowski is looking to work some ground and pound but Stamatis has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarnowski throwing strikes from guard but Stamatis blocks nicely.
Stamatis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stamatis is nestled in close to Tarnowski, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Tarnowski works his way to full guard. Good work.
Tarnowski wants to improve his position but instead Stamatis has moved into half guard.
Stamatis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stamatis keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tarnowski manages to get to full guard.
Stamatis trying to control but Tarnowski is working from the bottom.
Stamatis postures up.
Stamatis has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stamatis landing some decent shots from guard.
Tarnowski is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tarnowski 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.
Stamatis wants to control from the top but Tarnowski keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tarnowski is on top in guard.

Stamatis trying to keep a closed guard but Tarnowski is proving a slippery customer.
Tarnowski forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarnowski missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tarnowski wants to control but Stamatis is keeping him busy.

Tarnowski is working for a submission of some sort.
Tarnowski trying to control the action but Stamatis is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tarnowski misses with a head shot. Stamatis uses the momentum to regain guard.
Tarnowski pushing down on Stamatis's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Tarnowski thows a huge punch but Stamatis dodges it nicely.
Tarnowski thows a huge punch but Stamatis dodges it nicely.
Tarnowski is nestled in close to Stamatis, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Stamatis blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tarnowski.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tarnowski is trying to control the action in half guard but Stamatis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tarnowski frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Stamatis wants to control but Tarnowski is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michal Tarnowski 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.

Tarnowski throws a body shot but no joy.
Stamatis fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tarnowski swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Stamatis.
Tarnowski throws a front kick that sends Stamatis stumbling back into the cage.
Stamatis misses with a low kick.
Tarnowski has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stamatis shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tarnowski sprawls well. Tarnowski wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stamatis gets slowly back to his feet.
Tarnowski throws a wild body kick that Stamatis sees coming a mile off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarnowski avoids the head kick by Stamatis.
Tarnowski throws a front kick aimed at Stamatis's knee but Stamatis avoids it well.
Stamatis misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stamatis takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Tarnowski keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stamatis.
Tarnowski fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stamatis scores with a one two! Tarnowski had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Stamatis throws the kick towards the body but Tarnowski avoids it.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stamatis.
Tarnowski manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Michal Tarnowski has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tarnowski trying to control from the bottom.
Stamatis throwing shots but Tarnowski is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarnowski trying to control but Stamatis postures up.
Nice strikes from Stamatis there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tarnowski is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stamatis moves into full mount! Tarnowski won't be happy about that!
Stamatis prevents Tarnowski from getting the reversal.
Stamatis raining down shots from the mount!

Tarnowski is rocked!
Stamatis drops a big elbow. That's hurt Tarnowski! More shots from Stamatis and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Athan Stamatis!
Athan Stamatis bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.