PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mizo Samxona (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Musial Stanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Musial Stanson 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!

Samxona
vs
Stanson

192 cm
29
212 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

190 cm
28
204 lbs
10 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Museum of Monsters & Madmen

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mizo Samxona!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Musial Stanson!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Samxona jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

Stanson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Samxona wants to get back to striking at distance but Stanson won't allow it.
Stanson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Samxona gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Samxona tries for a takedown but Stanson manages to get underhooks.

Stanson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Stanson controlling Samxona's posture.
We've been hearing that Samxona has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Samxona lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Stanson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Samxona puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Samxona thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Samxona looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Samxona has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Stanson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Samxona.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samxona seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stanson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Stanson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Stanson.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stanson keeping moving, preventing Samxona from controlling successfully.
Samxona's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Samxona connects with a couple of short punches.
Stanson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stanson keeping moving, preventing Samxona from controlling successfully.
Stanson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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 looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Samxona slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Stanson moves into range and clinches up with Samxona.
Stanson tries to pull guard but Samxona forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Stanson gets through Samxona's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

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 Samxona uses from the top position.
Samxona is stalling in the full guard.
Stanson is trying to keep Samxona in close.
Samxona throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stanson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samxona looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Stanson trying to keep a closed guard but Samxona is proving a slippery customer.
Samxona stays in close to Stanson's body and controls the position.
Samxona trying to control the position from guard on top but Stanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Stanson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mizo Samxona has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Musial Stanson.
Samxona throws a shot from downtown. Stanson moves away and avoids it.
Stanson throws a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanson doesn't manage to clinch there - Samxona circles away.
Stanson misses with a takedown attempt - Samxona sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stanson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Stanson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stanson tries for a takedown but Samxona sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Samxona scores with a jab to the body.
Samxona swats away the attempt to clinch by Stanson.
Stanson goes for a double leg but Samxona avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Samxona continues to drive forward.
Samxona throws a lazy right hand but Stanson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Samxona motions for Stanson to come forward. Samxona throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Samxona does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Samxona throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stanson has his takedown stuffed
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Stanson is looking to clinch but Samxona is avoiding it.
Stanson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mizo Samxona dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stanson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Samxona throws out the jab.
Samxona misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stanson.
Stanson fails in his attempt to clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stanson.
Stanson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Stanson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Samxona.
Stanson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Samxona swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stanson tries for a takedown but Samxona sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mizo Samxona has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Musial Stanson.
No luck for Stanson with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stanson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Samxona swings for the body but Stanson moves out of range.
Stanson tries to clinch up.
Samxona swings for the body but Stanson moves out of range.

Stanson moves into range and clinches up with Samxona.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samxona is trying to break the clinch but Stanson has him pressed against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Stanson.
Samxona is trying to break the clinch but Stanson is controlling him.
Stanson prevents the takedown attempt.
Samxona is looking to take this one to the mat.
Samxona has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Samxona is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stanson can do to turn this around?
Samxona is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Samxona is fighting off a takedown attempt but Stanson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Samxona to the mat. Samxona regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Samxona escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stanson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Stanson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Stanson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stanson trying to control the position from guard on top but Samxona is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stanson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Stanson looking to sit in guard and control but Samxona gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Samxona accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Samxona is pushing down on Stanson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Stanson is fighting to maintain full guard but Samxona has managed to sneak the leg through.
Samxona trying to control the pace.
Stanson punching from the bottom.
Samxona is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samxona winds up and cracks Stanson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Mizo Samxona overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Stanson trying to control from the bottom.
Stanson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Samxona working Stanson over with strikes.
Samxona slips a nice elbow through Stanson's hands, connecting with Stanson's forehead.
Samxona sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanson tries to roll over but Samxona keeps him under control.
Stanson is doing well to control the position and prevent Samxona from advancing to side control.
Samxona takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Stanson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice strikes from Samxona there.
Stanson wants to control but Samxona is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Samxona tries to pass to full mount but Stanson defends it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Samxona sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mizo Samxona dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Stanson takes the fight into the clinch.
Stanson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A frustrated look appears on Samxona's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Samxona misses with a body punch.
Stanson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Samxona is trying to push Stanson away but Stanson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Samxona manages to break the clinch.

Stanson darts in and clinches Samxona up against the cage.
Stanson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Samxona pulls him back up using the underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Samxona softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Samxona.
Stanson is looking to take this one to the mat.

Samxona's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Samxona keeps the fight on the outside.
Samxona is looking to counter punch.

Stanson closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Samxona's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Samxona working hard to break the clinch.
Stanson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Stanson prevents Samxona from breaking the clinch.
Samxona wants a takedown but no success here.
A head punch on the inside from Stanson fails to land.
Samxona wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Samxona can't get the takedown.
Samxona goes for a takedown in the clinch but Stanson prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mizo Samxona. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Samxona pulls guard.
Stanson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stanson trying to control but Samxona is working from the bottom.
Stanson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stanson with a flurry of punches that miss.

Stanson stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Stanson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Stanson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Stanson has Samxona pressed against the cage, preventing Samxona from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Samxona wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Samxona is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Stanson throws a head punch that misses.
Samxona wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Samxona breaks from the clinch.
Samxona swats away the attempt to clinch by Stanson.
Stanson checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanson darts in looking for a takedown but Samxona gets double underhooks and turns Stanson into the cage.
Stanson fails with the takedown.
Stanson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Samxona counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Stanson has Samxona up against the cage in a clinch.

Samxona breaks the clinch.
Stanson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Samxona manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Samxona avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stanson is looking to clinch.
Stanson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Samxona counters with a right hand to the body.
Samxona is looking to wear down Stanson with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Stanson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stanson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Samxona counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Stanson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samxona lands a really nice looking cross but Stanson seems unphased.
A shot to the liver by Samxona. Beautiful body shot.
Musial Stanson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stanson is looking to clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stanson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Samxona keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Samxona fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Samxona circles away from the clinch attempt.
Samxona circles away from the clinch attempt
and Samxona counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Stanson is looking to clinch but Samxona is avoiding it.
Stanson fails with the takedown.
A looping hook to the body misses from Samxona. Stanson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Samxona waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stanson.
Musial Stanson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mizo Samxona is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stanson cracks Samxona with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mizo Samxona showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Samxona, 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mizo Samxona!
During a confident post fight interview, Mizo Samxona thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.