PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Karl Stienz (ranked 3212 p4p, 580 weight class) and Pope Callixtus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Stienz
vs
Callixtus

185 cm
26
135
5 - 3 - 0

167 cm
27
140
9 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Karl Stienz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Pope Callixtus!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Daniel Franklin and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stienz shoots in and drives through. Callixtus sprawls well.
Stienz with a poor takedown

and Callixtus counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Stienz wants to control the position but Callixtus says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Stienz tries to get to full guard but Callixtus has control of the leg.

Callixtus is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
My spies in Cozad The Island inform me that Callixtus has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Stienz wants to improve his position but Callixtus is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Callixtus wants to work for an arm triangle but Stienz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Stienz is looking to control Callixtus's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stienz avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stienz is trying to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Callixtus in particular looking to stall.
Stienz is looking for a sweep. Callixtus is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Stienz trying to hold on to Callixtus's head to control him but Callixtus postures up.
Callixtus wants to control but Stienz is keeping him busy.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stienz slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Stienz pulls Callixtus in to control the position.
Callixtus is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Callixtus closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Stienz is not content to let Callixtus control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stienz tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Callixtus easily slips into full mount!
Callixtus controlling his opponent.
Stienz is looking to improve his position but Callixtus isn't that keen on the idea.

Callixtus has control of Stienz's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Stienz regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Stienz tries to hold on but Callixtus postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Stienz can't escape the position.
Stienz is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Callixtus trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Callixtus sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stienz is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pope Callixtus dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Stienz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Callixtus sprawls well. Callixtus wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stienz gets slowly back to his feet.
Callixtus is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Callixtus shoots in looking for a takedown. Stienz tries to sprawl out of it but Callixtus keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stienz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Stienz appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Callixtus drives through with a takedown into Stienz's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Stienz is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Callixtus dives into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Callixtus has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stienz is looking to reverse the position.
Stienz is trying to control Callixtus's posture but Callixtus avoids it.
Callixtus moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Stienz is looking to regain half guard here but Callixtus keeps moving and retains side control.

Callixtus working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Callixtus trying to control the action but Stienz is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stienz holds on to Callixtus's head and controls the position momentarily.
Callixtus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stienz keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stienz is looking to regain half guard here but Callixtus keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Callixtus thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Callixtus goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Stienz has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Callixtus but great work by Stienz.
Stienz trying to control the action but Callixtus is working from the bottom.

Stienz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Stienz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Stienz goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Callixtus rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Stienz's guard! Nice work there by Callixtus!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Callixtus tries to free his leg and advance position but Stienz is retaining full guard.
Stienz pulls Callixtus in close to his closed guard and prevents Callixtus from doing any damage or advancing position.
Callixtus won't allow Stienz to sweep him here.
Callixtus trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stienz trying to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Callixtus won't allow Stienz to sweep him here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pope Callixtus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Callixtus looking to score a takedown here. Stienz is defending well but Callixtus drives through and ends up in Stienz's guard.
Stienz wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Stienz keeping moving, preventing Callixtus from controlling successfully.
Stienz looking to control.
Callixtus is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Stienz 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.
Stienz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stienz pulls Callixtus in close to prevent any damage.
Stienz 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.
Callixtus postures up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Karl Stienz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stienz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Callixtus.
Stienz tries to counter by clinching up but Callixtus breaks away and moves out of range.
Stienz seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Stienz fails with a takedown attempt.
Callixtus misses the jab.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Callixtus looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Stienz looking for a sweep. Not yet Stienz, not yet.
Stienz is trying to keep Callixtus in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Callixtus wants to pass the guard but Stienz is keeping the position.
Stienz looking to control.

Callixtus has gone for a leg lock! Stienz slips out almost immediately though and dives into Callixtus's guard.

Stienz drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Callixtus dives on top into guard.

Callixtus tries to free his leg and advance position but Stienz is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Callixtus slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Callixtus is continuing to stall.
Callixtus's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Stienz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Callixtus defends it easily.
Karl Stienz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stienz trying to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pope Callixtus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Callixtus 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight for Pope Callixtus!
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Pope Callixtus!
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight for Pope Callixtus!

Pope Callixtus wins by unanimous decision!
Pope Callixtus decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.