PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lionel Stanton (ranked 5917 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Anthony (ranked 6898 p4p, 0 weight class). Alex Anthony has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Stanton
vs
Anthony

162 cm
23
178 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

191 cm
21
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lionel Stanton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Alex Anthony!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Anthony darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Anthony is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Stanton moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Anthony postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Anthony trying to control but Stanton is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anthony throws a big elbow that misses.
Anthony trying to control but Stanton is working from the bottom.

Stanton looking for a guillotine here but Anthony defends easily.
Stanton really is a fat lump.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anthony tries to free his leg and advance position but Stanton is retaining full guard.
Stanton lands a decent shot there.
Anthony trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Anthony avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Anthony decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Stanton, up you get!

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

Anthony shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Anthony wants to control from the top but Stanton keeps moving.
Stanton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Anthony trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stanton throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Stanton preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Anthony trying to control the position from guard on top but Stanton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Anthony is looking to work some ground and pound but Stanton has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanton pulls Anthony in to control the position.
Stanton keeping moving, preventing Anthony from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Anthony tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Anthony gets a takedown into half guard.

Anthony is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Anthony sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Stanton has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Anthony clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Stanton doesn't have the hooks in and Anthony manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Anthony is looking to work some ground and pound but Stanton has wrist control.
Anthony trying to control the position from guard on top but Stanton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Anthony is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Stanton is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Anthony is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Anthony dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Anthony fails in his attempt to clinch.

Anthony looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Anthony wants to control from the top but Stanton keeps moving.
Alex Anthony has got the better of the ground game so far.

Anthony got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stanton has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Anthony has managed to get both his arms back between Stanton's legs - danger averted.
Anthony trying to control the position from guard on top but Stanton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anthony stands and throws Stanton's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Stanton is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anthony wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Stanton, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Anthony has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Anthony throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Stanton tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Anthony is in Stanton's guard.

Stanton is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Anthony defends well.
Stanton doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anthony trying to control the position from guard on top but Stanton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stanton is looking to stand up but Anthony isn't so interested in that idea.
Anthony wants to control from the top but Stanton keeps moving.
Anthony content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Stanton pushes Anthony off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anthony goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Anthony tries to clinch up.
A counter left hand to the body from Stanton misses its target.

Anthony shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Anthony advances position into side control!
Anthony trying to control the action but Stanton is working from the bottom.

Anthony stands up and beckons Stanton to his feet.

Stanton tries to sprawl but Anthony drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanton pushes Anthony off looking to stand but Anthony dives back in and keeps control.
Anthony is trying to control. Stanton wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Anthony has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Anthony throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Anthony cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Anthony stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Anthony shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Stanton napping and manages to drive through into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Anthony 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. This is the final round!

A left and a right from Anthony both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Lionel Stanton has been cut.

Anthony feints and as Stanton raises his hands in defense, Anthony changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Anthony trying to control the position from guard on top but Stanton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Anthony prevents Stanton from getting back to his feet.
Stanton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Anthony trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stanton manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Anthony darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Stanton enables Anthony to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Stanton manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Stanton is looking for a triangle but Anthony pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Stanton pushes Anthony off and gets back to his feet.

Stanton gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Anthony to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Anthony sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stanton is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Anthony defends well.
Anthony trying to control but Stanton is working from the bottom.

Stanton has his foot on Anthony's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Anthony works his way back into a safe position though.
Anthony not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Stanton keeping moving, preventing Anthony from controlling successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanton wants to stand and escape but Anthony is having none of it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Stanton gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Anthony to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Anthony slips nicely into half guard.
Anthony scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Anthony prevents Stanton from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anthony is controlling the pace.
Anthony wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stanton keeps working.

Anthony seems to be working for a kimura but Stanton defends the submission attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stanton wants to control but Anthony is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Anthony comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Anthony 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Anthony!