PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rosendo Newman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Warner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Newman
vs
Warner

195 cm
26
162 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

177 cm
23
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rosendo Newman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stephen Warner!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Steve Montenegro and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Newman darts in trying to clinch
and Warner counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Newman pushes Warner up against the cage in a clinch.
Warner stops a takedown attempt from Newman.

Newman has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Warner is trying to keep an underhook but Newman manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Warner has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Newman is on him like a limpet, forcing Warner back against the cage.

Warner decides to pull guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Warner has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Newman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Newman gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Warner buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Stephen Warner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Warner lands a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warner keeps the fight on the outside.
Warner throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Newman.

Warner clinches up against the cage.
Newman on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Warner breaks the clinch.
Warner avoids the body shot from Newman.
Warner lands a glancing blow to the side of Newman's head.

Warner closes the distance and pushes Newman back into the cage.
Warner gets underhooks to prevent Newman's takedown attempt.
Newman blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Warner lands a good knee to the midsection. Newman won't want to take too many of those.
Newman looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rosendo Newman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Newman tries for a takedown but Warner manages to get underhooks.

Warner jumps into guard, dragging Newman to the mat.
Warner wants to stand but Newman is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Warner throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Warner looking for a sweep. Not yet Warner, not yet.

Warner escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Newman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Newman wants to get up but he can't break Warner's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Warner wants to stand up but Newman is controlling him.
Newman makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Warner is striking from the bottom but Newman uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Warner is looking for a sweep. Newman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Warner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Newman drops an elbow to the side of Warner's head.
Newman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Warner keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Newman tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Warner.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Newman shoots for a double leg takedown but Warner sprawls well. He's pushed Newman's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Warner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
It looked like Newman wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Newman has taken the fight to the clinch.
Warner trying to land knees to the body.
Newman working hard to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Warner 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.

Newman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Newman throws a right and a left that Warner avoids nicely.
Newman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Warner.
Newman avoids the head kick by Warner.
Warner is looking to slow Newman down with leg kicks.
Warner throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Warner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stephen Warner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Newman closes the distance and pushes Warner back into the cage.
Warner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Warner lands an elbow that stopped Newman in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Rosendo Newman has been cut.

Warner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Newman tries to keep at a distance but Warner has taken the fight into the clinch.
Newman can't get the takedown.
Newman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newman has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Warner avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Newman fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rosendo Newman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Newman drops down looking for an ankle pick but Warner pulls his leg out and moves away.
Warner wants to clinch.
As Warner tries to get set, Newman tries to push him back and clinch up but Warner manages to avoid the attempt.
Warner tries a head kick but it misses.

Newman moves into the clinch successfully.

Warner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Warner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stephen Warner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Warner fails with an attempt to clinch.

Warner takes the fight into the clinch.
Warner scores a nice knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Warner prevents a takedown attempt there.
Warner prevents the takedown attempt.
Newman is working for takedown but Warner is calmly controlling the position for now.

Newman has hold of one of Warner's legs. Warner is fighting the takedown attempt but Newman gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Warner has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Newman has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Warner manages to break the clinch.
Warner throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Newman.
Warner tries to close the distance and clinch but Newman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Warner tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Newman paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Newman swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Warner tries to clinch but Newman is having none of it.
Warner misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Newman tries to clinch up but Warner circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Warner stops a takedown attempt from Newman.

Warner breaks from the clinch.
Warner tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Newman paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Newman avoids the head kick by Warner.

Newman gets a clinch.

Newman pulls Warner into guard.
Warner throwing strikes from guard but Newman blocks nicely.
Newman seems keen to control Warner's posture.
Newman keeping moving, preventing Warner from controlling successfully.
Warner is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.

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

Warner stands up and waves to Newman to follow him.
Newman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Warner manages to avoid it.
Newman blocks a head kick by Warner.
Warner tries to close the distance and clinch but Newman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Warner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Warner lands with a kick to the ribs.
Warner is looking to clinch.

Newman has Warner up against the cage in a clinch.
Newman wants a takedown.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Newman drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Warner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rosendo Newman's cut.
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!

Warner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Warner closes the distance and clinches.
Newman is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Warner misses with a knee strike.
Newman is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Warner is defending well.

Newman is trying to trip Warner. He has hold of a leg but Warner is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Newman persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Warner has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Newman off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
The fight stays on the outside here - Warner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Warner wants to clinch up but Newman keeps it at a distance.
Warner fakes the leg kick and cracks Newman in the body.

Warner closes the distance and clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Newman drops down looking for an ankle pick but Warner pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rosendo Newman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Warner throws a head kick but Newman moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newman takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Warner fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Warner throws a head kick but Newman moves out of range.
Newman swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Warner shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Warner trying to control but Newman is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Newman is on top in guard.

Newman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Newman thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Warner throws his legs up looking for a submission but Newman uses it to pass to side control.
Newman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Warner is looking for a sweep.

Newman decides to stand back up.
Newman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Warner sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Newman somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newman throws a nice looking combination but Warner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Warner dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Newman. That did some damage!
Warner misses with a few strikes there.
Newman throws a quick counter head kick but Warner was just out of range.

Warner rushes Newman and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Warner is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Warner's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Newman misses with a looping left.
Warner throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Warner throws a lazy head kick

and Newman holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Newman is looking for a takedown.
Stephen Warner seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Warner misses with a knee to the head.
Warner dodges an elbow strike from Newman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Newman has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Warner is trying to keep an underhook but Newman manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Warner kicks Newman off and gets back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Newman darts in looking for a takedown but Warner gets double underhooks and turns Newman into the cage.

Warner takes the fight into the clinch.

Warner gets control of Newman's arms and successfully pulls guard. Warner will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Warner is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Newman presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Warner breaks from the clinch.
Newman throws a head kick that misses.
Newman on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Rosendo Newman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stephen Warner is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Warner rushes Newman and presses him up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Warner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Warner 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Warner!