PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Danny Parker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matija Stefulinac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Danny Parker has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Parker
vs
Stefulinac

219 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

169 cm
18
130 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Danny Parker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matija Stefulinac!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Alexandre Firmino and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stefulinac darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Parker is trying to escape back to his feet but Stefulinac uses the scramble to pass into side control.

Stefulinac tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Stefulinac decides to take the fight back to the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stefulinac misses the shot to the body.
Parker feinted with a counter takedown.
Parker bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Stefulinac's head backwards.

Parker gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Stefulinac to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Parker has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stefulinac can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stefulinac controlling from the top position.
Stefulinac wants to control from the top but Parker keeps moving.
Stefulinac prevents Parker from getting back to his feet.
Parker will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Parker is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stefulinac wants to control from the top but Parker keeps moving.
Stefulinac tries to free his leg and advance position but Parker is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Stefulinac drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Parker is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Stefulinac is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Parker has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Parker manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Stefulinac is trying to control the action in half guard but Parker is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Stefulinac throwing shots but Parker is blocking nicely.
Parker tries to get to full guard but Stefulinac has control of the leg.
Parker really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Stefulinac wants to free his trapped foot but Parker is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Parker is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Stefulinac pulls his head out easily.
Stefulinac seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Parker does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Parker tries to kick Stefulinac off but Stefulinac keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Parker regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Stefulinac.
Stefulinac trying to control the position from guard on top but Parker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Parker wants to stand up but Stefulinac is controlling him.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Stefulinac trying to control the position from guard on top but Parker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Stefulinac closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matija Stefulinac dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Parker shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stefulinac misses with a jab to the body
and Parker counters with a nice uppercut.

Stefulinac dives in and scores a takedown into Parker's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stefulinac trying to control the position from guard on top but Parker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stefulinac chips away with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stefulinac trying to control but Parker is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stefulinac gets to his feet. Parker looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Stefulinac swinging wildly here.

Stefulinac shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Parker napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Parker is looking to regain half guard here but Stefulinac keeps moving and retains side control.
Matija Stefulinac has got the better of the ground game so far.
Parker bucks up and tries to throw Stefulinac off but instead Stefulinac has got his back!
Parker is trying to get back to his feet but Stefulinac has full control of the position and if anything, Parker has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Parker is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Stefulinac gets his way!
A lull in the action here.
Parker is trying to stand back up.
Stefulinac is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Parker up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Parker is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Stefulinac working for a choke but Parker reverses nicely into Stefulinac 's guard.
Parker postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Parker wants to stand but Stefulinac is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Parker postures up.

Stefulinac working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Parker doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Parker manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Stefulinac wants to sweep but no luck.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Parker slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matija Stefulinac showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Good shot there by Stefulinac.
Parker ducks under a wild hook from Stefulinac.
It looked like Parker was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Stefulinac.
Stefulinac tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Stefulinac closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Parker quickly recovers to half guard.

Parker pushes Stefulinac off and gets back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stefulinac clinches.
Stefulinac has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Stefulinac tightens his grip and picks Parker up, before dumping him to the ground. Parker manages to land in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Parker striking from his own guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Parker is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Parker had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stefulinac defends it easily.

Stefulinac gets to his feet. Parker looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Stefulinac fails with an attempt to clinch.
Parker half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Parker closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Stefulinac to the mat! Stefulinac manages to get full guard.
Stefulinac looking for a sweep. Not yet Stefulinac, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stefulinac not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Parker content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Stefulinac has a closed guard, preventing Parker from standing up.

Parker stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Stefulinac shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Parker manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Parker is wriggling around but Stefulinac manages to pass to half guard.

Stefulinac trying to pass the guard but Parker defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stefulinac throwing shots but Parker is blocking nicely.
Stefulinac wants to pass to mount but Parker is defending the position.
Parker is refusing to be controlled, as Stefulinac sits in half guard.
Parker wants to get back to his feet.
Parker is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Stefulinac scores with a couple of nice shots.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Stefulinac in particular looking to stall.

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.

Stefulinac stands up from half guard.

Stefulinac bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Parker bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Stefulinac changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Parker looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Stefulinac gets to mount! Parker was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Danny Parker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matija Stefulinac is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Stefulinac controlling his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Danny Parker.
Well Stefulinac has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matija Stefulinac!