PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Plamen Stefanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Quach Minh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Minh has chosen beautiful life as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Stefanov
vs
Minh

183 cm
25
183 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
180 lbs
3 - 11 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Plamen Stefanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Quach Minh!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Gregory Folan and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Minh shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stefanov defends it nicely.

Stefanov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Minh is trying to defend but Stefanov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Minh trying to hold on to Stefanov's head to control him but Stefanov postures up.
We've been hearing that Stefanov has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Minh looking for submissions off his back.
Minh is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Minh looks winded!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minh has hold of Stefanov's hands but Stefanov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Stefanov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Minh is trying to stand.
Minh is looking for a sweep. Stefanov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Stefanov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Minh avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stefanov.
Stefanov wants to control but Minh is keeping him busy.
Stefanov is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Minh is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
No luck for Stefanov with that takedown attempt.
Plamen Stefanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stefanov slaps away a takedown attempt from Minh, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Stefanov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Minh!
Stefanov throws a strike aimed at the side of Minh's head but Minh avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minh is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Stefanov 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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
The ground and pound from Stefanov seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Minh gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Minh is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Stefanov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Stefanov's back!
Minh has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Stefanov's body.
Minh should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minh trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Minh might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Stefanov haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Minh is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Stefanov preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Minh.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Minh avoiding Stefanov 's attempts to control his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Quach Minh will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Minh displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stefanov.
Minh fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stefanov.
Stefanov throws a head kick but Minh moves out of range.
Minh unleashes a big counter combination but Stefanov bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Minh shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Minh shoots in for a takedown but Stefanov shows good takedown defense.
Plamen Stefanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Quach Minh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stefanov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Minh's waist but Minh gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stefanov off to one side.
Minh looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stefanov is fending him off so far but Minh persists. Nope, Stefanov circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stefanov throws a head kick but Minh moves out of range.
Minh is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Minh is defended easily by Stefanov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minh looks for a takedown but Stefanov sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stefanov.
Minh slaps away a takedown attempt from Stefanov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Minh misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice sprawl there from Minh as Stefanov shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Minh rushes Stefanov and presses him up against the cage.
Minh is looking for a takedown.
Minh looking for a takedown.
Stefanov lands an elbow inside that Minh shrugs off.

Minh breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Stefanov moves into the clinch.
Minh wants a takedown.

Stefanov decides to pull guard.
Stefanov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Stefanov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stefanov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stefanov can't keep his opponent in guard - Minh advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Stefanov wants to control but Minh is keeping busy.
Minh wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stefanov keeps working.
Stefanov tries to get to full guard but Minh has control of the leg.

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.
Minh thows a huge punch but Stefanov dodges it nicely.
Stefanov wants to get back to his feet.
Minh trying to control the action but Stefanov is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Stefanov stuffs the takedown.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sloppy strikes from Minh. Those never looked like landing.

Stefanov gets the takedown into side control.

Minh bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
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 Plamen Stefanov will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Stefanov misses with a takedown attempt

and Minh counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Minh lands with a right to the head.

Minh breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stefanov throws a head kick that misses.
Plamen Stefanov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Minh tries to clinch there but Stefanov circles away.
Minh closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stefanov circles away.
Minh tries for a takedown but Stefanov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Stefanov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Minh's half guard.
Minh looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
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!
Minh is trying to maintain the position but Stefanov is very close to passing his half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Minh wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minh is trying to control but Stefanov manages to pass to mount!
Minh is squirming around, avoiding Stefanov's attempts to control the action.
Stefanov lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Minh is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Minh wants to hold on but Stefanov pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minh is looking to get to half guard.
Stefanov scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Minh?
Stefanov lands a big shot there that rocks Minh but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Minh sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Minh wants to get back to full guard.
Stefanov is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The referee warns Minh that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stefanov landing strikes from the mount.
Minh can't escape the position.
Stefanov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Stefanov is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Stefanov lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Minh regains half guard.

Stefanov stands up from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stefanov connects with a high kick.
Stefanov is looking to clinch but Minh is avoiding it.

Minh pushes Stefanov up against the cage in a clinch.
Minh tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stefanov smiles and moves away.
Plamen Stefanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Quach Minh.
Stefanov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Minh gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Minh just misses with a elbow thrown towards Stefanov's brow.
Minh goes for a takedown attempt but Stefanov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Plamen Stefanov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stefanov 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Plamen Stefanov!
Quach Minh was interviewed post fight and said 'fuck'.