PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Musial Stanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Fernando (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Fernando's choice of entrance music: Miss Jackson. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Stanson
vs
Fernando

190 cm
26
204 lbs
8 - 12 - 0

180 cm
26
204 lbs
3 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 8 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Musial Stanson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Manny Fernando!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fernando shoots for a takedown but Stanson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Stanson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fernando goes for a takedown in the clinch but Stanson prevents it.
Fernando tries for a takedown. No joy.
Musial Stanson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manny Fernando.
Stanson has a couple of punches blocked by Fernando.

Fernando gets control of Stanson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Fernando will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Fernando looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Stanson looking to sit in guard and control but Fernando gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Fernando told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Stanson is trying to control the position but Fernando postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fernando accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fernando passes Stanson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Fernando missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernando perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Fernando is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Stanson is just riding it out for now. Fernando eventually gives up the hold.

Stanson looking for submissions off his back.
Stanson manages to get to full guard.
Fernando throws a big elbow that misses.
Stanson keeping moving, preventing Fernando from controlling successfully.
Fernando slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two 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.
Fernando trying to control but Stanson is working from the bottom.

Stanson looking for a guillotine here but Fernando defends easily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Fernando wants to control from the top but Stanson keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernando is fighting to break Stanson's control of his arms but Stanson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stanson.
Stanson throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Fernando is not content to let Stanson control the position.
Fernando wants to control but Stanson postures up.
Fernando is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stanson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Fernando has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Stanson but great work by Fernando.
Fernando wants to control but Stanson is keeping him busy.
Stanson is trying to get back to half guard.

Fernando goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Stanson rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Fernando's guard! Nice work there by Stanson!

Fernando has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stanson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Stanson wants to control from the top but Fernando keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fernando pulls Stanson in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Musial Stanson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Fernando fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stanson avoids it really well and circles away.
Fernando fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stanson avoids it really well and circles away.

Stanson has Fernando up against the cage in a clinch.
Stanson tries to throw a body punch but Fernando avoids it by throwing Stanson back against the cage.
Stanson working aggressively here.

Stanson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Fernando uses from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fernando drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Fernando jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Fernando trying to control the position from guard on top but Stanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Musial Stanson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fernando throwing strikes from guard but Stanson blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Fernando tries to free his leg and advance position but Stanson is retaining full guard.
Fernando missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stanson wants to stand up but Fernando is controlling him.
Fernando looking to pass the guard.
Fernando passes into half guard.

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

That's two 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.

Fernando looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Fernando is trying to control the action in half guard but Stanson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Fernando is trying to work for a kimura but Stanson is defending well.

Fernando is looking for a kimura but Stanson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Fernando to get the leverage.
Fernando wants to take a breather but Stanson is having none of it.
Stanson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fernando can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernando is thwarting Stanson's attempts to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Stanson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Fernando napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Stanson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Fernando is trying to control Stanson's posture but Stanson avoids it.
Stanson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Stanson tries for a kimura but Fernando is defending well.
Stanson lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Stanson fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernando is not content to let Stanson control the position.
You can see the frustration on Fernando's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Stanson looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Fernando is avoiding damage well.
Fernando tries to bench press Stanson off him but Stanson keeps the position.
Fernando is not content to let Stanson control the position.

Stanson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Fernando to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Musial Stanson dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Fernando gets caught flat footed, as Stanson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Fernando is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stanson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fernando works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Fernando looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Stanson passes into half guard.
Stanson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fernando holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Stanson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stanson stalling.
Fernando is controlling Stanson's trapped leg to prevent Stanson from advancing to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernando trying to hold on to Stanson's head to control him but Stanson postures up.
Stanson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Stanson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Fernando defends it well.
Fernando manages to get to full guard.

Fernando has his foot on Stanson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stanson works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Stanson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stanson trying to control the position from guard on top but Fernando is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Stanson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fernando has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stanson has managed to get both his arms back between Fernando's legs - danger averted.
Stanson throws a big right hand that misses.
Stanson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Stanson pushes Fernando up against the cage in a clinch.
A right hand to the body from Fernando.

Stanson pulls guard successfully.
Fernando throwing strikes but missing.
Manny Fernando has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Fernando working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Stanson is trying to keep Fernando in close.
Fernando working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fernando postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Fernando engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Stanson is trying to keep Fernando in close.
Fernando throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Fernando is looking to work some ground and pound but Stanson has wrist control.
Stanson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fernando is one step ahead there.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Stanson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fernando.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Stanson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Fernando looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Fernando is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stanson is aware though and is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Stanson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Stanson distracts Fernando with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

And that's the end of the fight!
Musial Stanson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Stanson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Musial Stanson!
A relieved looking Musial Stanson thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Manny Fernando was interviewed post fight and said 'Well done sir, you have beaten me. '.