PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sam Ponjev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rod Stiffington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stiffington is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: I'm Too Sexy by Right Said Fred. Rod Stiffington has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ponjev
vs
Stiffington

185 cm
29
180 lbs
20 - 2 - 0

178 cm
28
180 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Sun-Tzu. 15%

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sam Ponjev!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rod Stiffington!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Chris Saunders and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ponjev tests Stiffington's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Stiffington shoots for a double leg takedown but Ponjev sprawls well. He's pushed Stiffington's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Some wild striking there from Ponjev.
Stiffington fails with a takedown attempt.
Ponjev connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Stiffington doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ponjev counters with a nice uppercut.
Ponjev seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Sam Ponjev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rod Stiffington.
Ponjev misses with an uppercut. Stiffington saw that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stiffington shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ponjev sprawls well. Ponjev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stiffington gets slowly back to his feet.
Stiffington fails with the takedown.
Stiffington needs to keep his hands up - Ponjev had a free shot at his head there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stiffington keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ponjev.
Stiffington with a poor takedown
and Ponjev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ponjev lands a jab to Stiffington's midsection.
Stiffington walks into a left hand.
Ponjev throws a good cross that connects.
Stiffington changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ponjev tries to avoid it but Stiffington manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ponjev to the ground. Ponjev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ponjev swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Stiffington closes the distance and clinches up with Ponjev, looking for a takedown. Stiffington pushes Ponjev against the cage but Ponjev circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ponjev feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Stiffingtons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Stiffington has a takedown stuffed.
Ponjev is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Nice sprawl there from Ponjev as Stiffington shoots in.
Ponjev swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Stiffington shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ponjev counters with a stiff right hand.
Stiffington takes a shot to the body in his stride.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ponjev lands with a shot to the body.
Ponjev throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ponjev is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponjev is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stiffington.
Stiffington shoots in for a takedown but Ponjev shows good takedown defense.
Ponjev is looking to counter punch.
Ponjev lands with a hook. Stiffington tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Stiffington closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ponjev to the mat! Ponjev manages to get full guard.

Stiffington drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ponjev looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ponjev looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ponjev!

Ponjev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stiffington keeps working.
Stiffington manages to get back to half guard.
Stiffington is looking for a sweep. Ponjev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stiffington wants to control but Ponjev is keeping busy.
Stiffington avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ponjev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponjev lands strikes from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stiffington looking for submissions off his back.
Ponjev wants to free his trapped foot but Stiffington is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Stiffington trying to control but Ponjev postures up.
Ponjev prevents Stiffington from improving his position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ponjev connects with a nice short shot to Stiffington's temple.
Stiffington wants to improve his position but Ponjev is controlling well.
Stiffington tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Ponjev has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponjev landing strikes from the mount and Stiffington is in trouble!
Stiffington is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ponjev working Stiffington over with strikes here.
Stiffington taking shots to the head.
Ponjev lands with some strikes.

Stiffington is rocked!
Stiffington is working to get back to half guard.
Stiffington is still in real trouble! Can Ponjev finish him?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stiffington wants to hold on but Ponjev pushes him away.
The referee warns Stiffington that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Ponjev dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Stiffington shoots in but no luck this time.
Stiffington seems to have recovered his senses.
Stiffington has his takedown stuffed
and Ponjev counters with a straight right hand.
Stiffington misses with a takedown
and Ponjev scores with a counter punch that sends Stiffington to the canvas! Ponjev smells blood - he's punishing Stiffington with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Stiffington has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:16 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sam Ponjev!
Sam Ponjev retains his welterweight title!
An out of breath Sam Ponjev thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
Rod Stiffington spoke after the fight, saying 'He tried to touch my sack!'.