PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Njord Freyr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitchell Stehling (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Freyr comes into the arena with Twilight of the Thunder God blaring out of the sound system. Stehling has chosen Turmion Kätilöt - Minä MÄÄRÄÄN! as his entrance music. Njord Freyr has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Freyr
vs
Stehling

195 cm
36
248 lbs
30 - 16 - 0

191 cm
39
261 lbs
58 - 31 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

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 30 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Njord Freyr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 58 - 31 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mitchell Stehling!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Glass and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stehling jabs Freyr to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Stehling throws a head kick but Freyr moves out of range.
Freyr appears to be looking for a big counter.
Stehling connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

It looks like Njord Freyr has been cut.

Stehling moves into the clinch.

Stehling's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Freyr turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Freyr scores with a leg kick.
Freyr fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Stehling.
A solid leg kick lands there for Freyr.
Freyr tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Stehling just misses with a punch to the body.
Freyr throws a body kick that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stehling lands a jab.
Freyr avoids the head kick by Stehling.
Freyr avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Stehling walks into a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stehling darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Stehling wants to pass to mount but Freyr is defending the position.
Freyr is not content to let Stehling control the position.
Stehling throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Freyr trying to control here.
Freyr is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stehling working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stehling is trying to control the action in half guard but Freyr is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Freyr is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stehling drops an elbow to the side of Freyr's head.
Freyr avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stehling.
Freyr wants to control but Stehling is keeping busy.
Stehling is pressing down on Freyr's thigh, looking to free his foot. Freyr is holding on for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stehling is looking to take a break and control but Freyr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Freyr is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Stehling's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Stehling's back!
Stehling looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freyr is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Stehling tries to roll but Freyr sticks to his back.
Stehling has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Freyr struggling to keep hold of the position.
Stehling just trying to survive but Freyr is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Freyr wants to control but Stehling is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Stehling can't escape the position.
Freyr biding his time, controlling Stehling.
Stehling can't escape the position.
Freyr trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mitchell Stehling will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Njord Freyr's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Freyr pivots, looking for a leg kick but Stehling is out of range and Freyr settles back down.
Stehling swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Freyr looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stehling changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Freyr has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Stehling.
Stehling explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Stehling throws a sloppy head kick and Freyr moves out of range easily.
Freyr is looking for a counter combo.
Stehling throws a body punch but Freyr moves out of range.
Stehling throws a body punch but Freyr moves out of range.
Stehling fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Freyr throwing a counter right hand but Stehling manages to avoid it.
Freyr scores with a leg kick.
Stehling takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Stehling changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Stehling swings away with a leg kick that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stehling misses with a body shot.
Freyr was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stehling looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Stehling misses with a straight left.
Stehling uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Stehling misses the shot to the body.
Stehling avoids a kick to the body.
Freyr takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Stehling takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Stehling works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Freyr throws a body kick that misses
and Stehling counters with a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stehling misses with a looping right.
Freyr went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Stehling lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Njord Freyr's cut is getting worse.
Stehling has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stehling changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Freyr tries to avoid it but Stehling manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Freyr to the ground. Freyr escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Freyr swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Stehling lands a slapping body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stehling throws a body kick that misses.
Freyr appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

Stehling instigates a clinch.
Freyr lands with a light punch inside.
Freyr lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Freyr tries a body shot but Stehling blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Stehling fails to land.
Freyr misses with a knee to the head.
Freyr tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stehling lands a left hand that snaps the head of Freyr backwards.
Freyr tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Freyr lands with a left to the head.
Stehling lands with a left to the head.
Stehling lands a hook that snaps the head of Freyr backwards.
Stehling lands a hook that snaps the head of Freyr backwards.
Stehling has a couple of punches blocked by Freyr.
Stehling misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freyr tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stehling is working for takedown but Freyr is calmly controlling the position for now.
Freyr throws a punch but it's blocked by Stehling.
Stehling lands a right hand that snaps the head of Freyr backwards.
A body shot lands from Freyr.
Freyr throws a punch but it's blocked by Stehling.
Stehling wants to break free but Freyr has control.
Stehling tries to work over Freyr's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Freyr stalling in the clinch but Stehling improves position.
Freyr stalling in the clinch but Stehling improves position.
Freyr working aggressively here.
Stehling doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Freyr tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stehling throws a punch but it's blocked by Freyr.
A frustrated look appears on Stehling's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Freyr lands a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freyr lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Stehling.

Njord Freyr's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Freyr struggles to land a body shot inside as Stehling controls his hands.
Freyr blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Freyr lands with a right to the head.
Stehling working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A shot in the inside from Stehling.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Freyr throws a head punch that misses.
Freyr pushes Stehling back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Freyr looking to throw knees to the head but Stehling is blocking nicely.
Freyr struggles to land a body shot inside as Stehling controls his hands.
A right hook to the body lands for Stehling.
Freyr is trying to push Stehling away but Stehling has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Stehling on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A short uppercut from Freyr.
Freyr tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A body shot lands from Freyr.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitchell Stehling showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Njord Freyr's cut.
That's time! Freyr's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Stehling is looking to chop away at Freyr's legs.
Freyr avoids a kick to the body.
Stehling getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Nice straight punches there by Stehling. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Stehling.
Stehling walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Stehling cracks the inside of Freyr's front leg.
Freyr takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Freyr keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A head kick misses from Stehling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stehling looks to throw a body kick
and Freyr counters with a straight right hand.
Freyr dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Freyr throws a leg kick but Stehling sees it coming and moves out of range.
Freyr tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stehling is rocked!
Stehling scores with a hook.
Stehling is still on wobbly legs! Can Freyr finish him?
Freyr lands a nice looking body kick.
Stehling misses with a left hand
and Freyr counters with an inside leg kick.
Stehling seems to have recovered his senses.
Stehling takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Freyr throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Freyr ducks under a wild hook from Stehling.

Freyr lands a big head kick that sends Stehling tumbling to the mat! Freyr takes a step backwards and waves Stehling back to his feet - he wants the finish!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Stehling clinches with his opponent.

Freyr breaks the clinch.

Freyr feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Stehling sprawling to the canvas! Stehling rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Freyr finish him?!
Stehling is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Freyr.
Stehling throws a body shot but no joy.
Freyr uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stehling.
Njord Freyr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Freyr.
Stehling pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A nice inside leg kick there by Freyr. That's going to slow Stehling down.
Freyr looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Freyr misses with a lunging right hand
letting Stehling counter with a right hand.
Freyr looks to score with a jab to the body but Stehling is just out of range.
Stehling misses the shot to the body.
Stehling misses with a lunging right hand
and Freyr counters with a solid body kick.
Stehling throws a wild body kick that Freyr sees coming a mile off.
Freyr half committed to a counter leg kick.
Stehling bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Stehling wants to land a leg kick but Freyr is out of range.
Njord Freyr is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stehling.
Freyr looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Freyr sends Stehling crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Freyr is motioning to the referee to let Stehling up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

It looks like Mitchell Stehling has been cut.
Stehling lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Mitchell Stehling seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Freyr fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Stehling has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Freyr misses with a hook. Stehling ducked under it nicely.
Freyr checks a low kick from Stehling.
Stehling tries to score with a low kick but Freyr moves his leg out of the way.
Freyr lands a body shot.
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!
Stehling throws a chopping leg kick but Freyr manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Stehling tries to work over Freyr's front leg with a kick but Freyr checks it.
Freyr moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freyr turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Freyr lands a big right hand that sends Stehling crashing to the mat! Freyr stays standing though and waves Stehling back to his feet!
Freyr fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Freyr jabs Stehling to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Freyr throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Freyr throws a body shot but no joy.
Jab, jab by Stehling - just one landing.

Jeez, Njord Freyr's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Stehling throws a shot to the body.
Nice defenses there by Stehling.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stehling tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Freyr makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Stehling lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Stehling wants to land a leg kick but Freyr is out of range.
As Stehling looks to move away, Freyr throws a big counter combo bu Stehling just gets out of the way.

And that's the end of the fight!
Njord Freyr showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stehling has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mitchell Stehling!
A victorious Mitchell Stehling thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.