PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mario Puzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Stankevich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Puzo comes into the arena with Speak Softly Love blaring out of the sound system. On his way into the cage it seems that Mario Puzo has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Mario Puzo seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Puzo
vs
Stankevich

185 cm
23
187 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

185 cm
22
180 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mario Puzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Igor Stankevich!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Jorge Garcia and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stankevich shoots for a takedown but Puzo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Puzo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Puzo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stankevich is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Stankevich has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Stankevich misses with a hook.
Stankevich is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Puzo.
Puzo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Puzo moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Puzo has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Igor Stankevich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Puzo slips under a jab.
Puzo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stankevich ducks under a wild hook from Puzo.
Stankevich is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Puzo.

Stankevich 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.
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!
Puzo keeping moving, preventing Stankevich from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Puzo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stankevich engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Puzo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Puzo tries to get out of the position.
Stankevich lands a couple of elbows.
Puzo keeping moving, preventing Stankevich from controlling successfully.
Puzo can't keep his opponent in guard - Stankevich advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Puzo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stankevich.
Puzo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Stankevich prevents Puzo from improving his position.
Puzo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Stankevich on the ground.
Stankevich passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stankevich scoring with strikes but Puzo is staying in there.
Stankevich postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Puzo looks a forlorn figure.
Puzo blocking the ground and pound.
Stankevich looking to land elbow strikes but Puzo uses the position to regain half guard.
Puzo wants to control but Stankevich is keeping busy.
Stankevich seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
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. Stankevich connects with a nice short shot to Puzo's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stankevich lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Stankevich is keen to just control but Puzo is a slippery customer.
Puzo is trying to maintain the position but Stankevich is very close to passing his half guard.
Puzo wants to get back to full guard.
Puzo controlling the position for now.
Puzo is staying active underneath Stankevich, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Puzo is doing well to control the position and prevent Stankevich from advancing to side control.

That's four 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.
Stankevich controlling the action here.
Stankevich thows a huge punch but Puzo dodges it nicely.
Stankevich wants to lay and pray for a moment but Puzo keeps working.
Puzo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Puzo.
Stankevich is working Puzo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Puzo is on top in guard.

Stankevich working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Puzo.
Stankevich is looking to stand up but Puzo isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Stankevich dominated that 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.

Stankevich connects with a good right hand that stumbles Puzo. Puzo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Stankevich takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Puzo takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Stankevich ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Puzo moves away.
Puzo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Puzo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stankevich circles away quickly and effectively.
Puzo scoring well with a low kick there.
Stankevich takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Puzo connects with a looping right hand.
Stankevich looks to score with a jab to the body but Puzo is just out of range.
Stankevich throws an off balance right hand
and Puzo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Puzo moves out of range as Stankevich strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Puzo slips a straight right by Stankevich.
Stankevich shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Puzo as he jumps to the side.
Mario Puzo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stankevich.
Stankevich dodges the punch combination from Puzo.
Puzo takes a swing at Stankevich's ribcage but misses.
Stankevich doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Stankevich shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Puzo as he avoids it easily.
Mario Puzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Stankevich.
Puzo just misses with a punch to the body.
Puzo throws a body shot but no joy.
Stankevich keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Puzo misses with a hook.
A punch combination from Puzo misses.
Stankevich shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Puzo but Puzo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Puzo misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stankevich misses with an uppercut.
Stankevich misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Puzo.
Stankevich tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Puzo was well out of range. Poor timing from Stankevich.
Puzo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Puzo throws the left hand but Stankevich avoids the punch easily.
Stankevich lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Puzo slips a straight right by Stankevich.
A counter left hand to the body from Puzo misses its target.
Stankevich takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Puzo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Puzo looks to land a body kick but Stankevich moved away.
Puzo on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Stankevich takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Stankevich on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Stankevich takes one on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stankevich misses with a wild body shot.
Puzo swings for the body but Stankevich moves out of range.
It seemed like Stankevich was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Stankevich misses with a hook.
Stankevich throws a looping overhand right but Puzo ducks down to avoid it.
Puzo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Stankevich misses with a lunging right hand
and Puzo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Puzo lands with a nice body punch.
Stankevich connects with a crisp jab.
Stankevich misses with a straight left.
Mario Puzo is winning the standup battle so far.
Stankevich fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Puzo avoids it really well and circles away.
Stankevich tests Puzo's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puzo lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Stankevich at a distance.
Puzo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stankevich throws out the jab.
Decent striking displayed by Puzo there.
Puzo misses with a wild body shot.
Puzo slips under a jab from Stankevich.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stankevich keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Puzo.
Nice uppercut lands for Puzo. That snapped Stankevich's head back.
Stankevich looks to land a right hand but Puzo moved out of range.
Puzo avoids the body shot from Stankevich.
Puzo misses with a looping left.
Puzo is looking to wear down Stankevich with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Puzo walks into a jab.
Puzo misses with a looping left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Puzo. Stankevich does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Puzo dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Stankevich throws a hook but Puzo avoids it easily.
Puzo is looking to counter with head kicks.
Stankevich throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Puzo punishes Stankevich's body with a nice straight punch.
A shot to the liver by Stankevich. Beautiful body shot.
Puzo misses the jab.
Puzo lands an overhand right.
Puzo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stankevich misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Puzo.
Puzo misses the shot to the body.
Puzo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stankevich is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Stankevich waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Puzo.
Puzo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Stankevich looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Stankevich goes for a double leg but Puzo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Puzo continues to drive forward.
Stankevich slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puzo takes a swing at Stankevich's ribcage but misses.
Puzo slips a jab from Stankevich.
Puzo lands a nice looking body shot.
Puzo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stankevich.
Puzo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stankevich.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stankevich. Puzo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stankevich fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Puzo looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Stankevich uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Puzo.
Stankevich throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Puzo stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A solid leg kick lands there for Puzo.
Puzo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Puzo lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Stankevich at a distance.
Puzo scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stankevich misses the shot to the body.
Stankevich misses with a takedown attempt
and Stankevich takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Puzo throws a hook to the side of Stankevich's head but Stankevich sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Puzo moves away from the strike by Stankevich.
Stankevich throws a hook but Puzo avoids it easily.
Puzo defending well as Stankevich loads up on a big left hand.
Puzo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Puzo walks into a left hand.
Puzo loads up on a big right hand but Stankevich slips the punch.
It seemed like Stankevich was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Stankevich swings for the body but Puzo moves out of range.
Stankevich throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Puzo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Stankevich throws a lazy right hand but Puzo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Puzo.
Stankevich shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mario Puzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Stankevich.
Horrible takedown attempt by Stankevich or perhaps it was just good defense by Puzo, which made it look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Puzo. That snapped Stankevich's head back.
A big right from Stankevich misses.
Nice shot lands for Puzo.
Puzo scores with a jab.
Puzo moves forwards but Stankevich connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Puzo falls off balance throwing a combination
and Stankevich counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Stankevich swings for the body but Puzo moves out of range.
It looked like Puzo wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Nice uppercut lands for Puzo. That snapped Stankevich's head back.
Puzo moves out of range of the strikes.
Puzo was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Stankevich throws out a loose jab but Puzo uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stankevich goes for a double leg but Puzo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Puzo continues to drive forward.
Puzo thuds a left hand into Stankevich's body.
Puzo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Puzo misses with the combination.
Stankevich lands a jab.
Puzo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Stankevich shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Puzo as he avoids it easily.
A quick step to the side and Puzo tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stankevich is trying hard to land a takedown here. Puzo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Puzo on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Puzo ducks under a wild hook from Stankevich.
Puzo was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Puzo scores with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mario Puzo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Puzo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mario Puzo!
After the big win, Mario Puzo made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Spartan Nutrition and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.