PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nick Mondo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kim Stenemo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stenemo has chosen Hand of Stone as his entrance music. Kim Stenemo struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.3lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. On his way into the cage it seems that Nick Mondo has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Nick Mondo seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Mondo
vs
Stenemo

169 cm
21
155 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

175 cm
22
165 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Nick Mondo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Kim Stenemo!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Sam Margolis and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mondo takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Stenemo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Mondo is looking to stand up but Stenemo isn't so interested in that idea.
Stenemo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mondo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mondo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mondo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stenemo's guard.
Mondo passes Stenemo's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Stenemo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mondo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mondo's back!
Mondo trying to control the position but Stenemo manages to sink in the hooks.
Mondo rolls, trying to escape but Stenemo keeps control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stenemo patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Mondo rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Mondo pushes Stenemo off and gets back to his feet.
Stenemo has a takedown stuffed.
Stenemo looks gassed!
Mondo tries to clinch but Stenemo moves out of range.

Stenemo drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mondo is looking to stand up but Stenemo isn't so interested in that idea.
Stenemo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mondo is keeping the position for now.

Mondo kicks Stenemo off and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stenemo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Mondo connects with a couple of short punches.
Stenemo keeping full guard, as Mondo tries to pass.
Mondo pushes down on Stenemo's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mondo trying to control from Stenemo's half guard. Stenemo has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Mondo forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mondo trying to control from half guard but Stenemo is working away.
Stenemo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mondo lands a nice short elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Mondo escapes and gets back to his feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Stenemo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mondo counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Mondo has a takedown stuffed.
Stenemo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mondo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stenemo as he avoids it easily.

Mondo moves into the clinch successfully.
Stenemo goes for a takedown attempt but Mondo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nick Mondo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kim Stenemo.

Mondo closes the distance and pushes Stenemo back into the cage.

Mondo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Stenemo bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mondo sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Mondo is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nick Mondo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nice sprawl there from Mondo as Stenemo shoots in.

Mondo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mondo lands in his opponent's guard.
Mondo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mondo wants to pass the guard but Stenemo is keeping the position.

Stenemo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mondo wants to stand but Stenemo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mondo stands and throws Stenemo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Stenemo tries to improve position but can't.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mondo circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mondo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stenemo circles away.

Mondo scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mondo drops an elbow to the side of Stenemo's head.
Mondo wants to control but Stenemo is keeping him busy.

Mondo stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Stenemo to get to his feet.
Stenemo avoids the head kick by Mondo.
Kim Stenemo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Stenemo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Mondo is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Stenemo off and has taken his back!
Stenemo manages to reverse the position and now he's in Mondo's guard. Nice work there by Stenemo.
Stenemo stopping the sweep attempt from Mondo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stenemo advances to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stenemo moves nicely into side control.
Mondo gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Mondo working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Stenemo looking to secure an arm triangle but Mondo defends it well.
Nick Mondo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mondo really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mondo has given up his back. Will we see Stenemo going for some submissions?
Mondo tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nick Mondo will probably get the nod.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Stenemo tries to clinch

and Mondo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Stenemo!
Mondo with good strikes from the mount here!
Mondo looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Mondo breaks from Stenemo's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Mondo is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Stenemo can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Mondo goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Stenemo is on top in guard.

Stenemo drops back looking for a leg! Mondo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mondo manages to kick Stenemo off! Stenemo jumps back into Mondo's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Stenemo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Stenemo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mondo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stenemo's guard.

Stenemo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stenemo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mondo is one step ahead there.
Mondo looking to sit in guard and control but Stenemo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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.
Mondo keeping full guard, as Stenemo tries to pass.
Mondo wants to stand but Stenemo is controlling the position.
Mondo trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stenemo drops back, looking for a kneebar! Mondo looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Mondo looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Mondo!
Mondo looks up at the clock and then as Stenemo takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Mondo smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Stenemo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Mondo seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Mondo wants to control but Stenemo is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Stenemo actively working from the bottom here.
Mondo thows a huge punch but Stenemo dodges it nicely.

Stenemo looking for submissions off his back.
Stenemo is pressing down on Mondo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mondo throwing strikes from guard but Stenemo blocks nicely.
Mondo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stenemo is keeping the position for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Mondo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mondo, 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Mondo!