PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roman Stalenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roberto Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stalenko comes to the cage accompanied by TATU - Nas ne dogonyat. Roberto Jones looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Stalenko
vs
Jones

175 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
22
189 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

DRAGON MMA Gear
HGH Nutrients

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Roman Stalenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Roberto Jones!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stalenko feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Stalenko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stalenko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jones works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stalenko throws a big right hand that misses.
Jones wants to sweep here but Stalenko controlling him for the moment.
Stalenko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Jones is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jones looking for a sweep. Not yet Jones, not yet.
Stalenko scoring with punches to the head and body.
Stalenko thows a big elbow that misses.
Stalenko is in close to Jones's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Stalenko trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Jones trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Jones is trying to keep Stalenko in close.
Stalenko stopping the sweep attempt from Jones.
Jones looks gassed!
Stalenko trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Stalenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stalenko trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Stalenko shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jones sprawls well. Jones wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stalenko gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Jones scoring well with a low kick there.
Jones throws a push kick but Stalenko slaps the foot to one side.

Stalenko clinches up against the cage.
Jones tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Jones jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stalenko walks away with a smile on his face. Jones gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Stalenko shoots in but no luck this time.
Jones misses with a takedown

and Stalenko holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Roman Stalenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roberto Jones.

Stalenko manages to break the clinch.
Stalenko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jones's waist but Jones gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stalenko off to one side.

Stalenko decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Stalenko thows a huge punch but Jones dodges it nicely.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Stalenko in particular looking to stall.
Stalenko trying to pass the guard but Jones defending well.
Stalenko blocks the strikes from Jones.
Stalenko working Jones over with strikes.
Stalenko looks to land a strike but Jones avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones wants to stand but Stalenko is controlling the position.
Stalenko with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Stalenko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Stalenko drops back looking for a leg! Jones is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Jones manages to kick Stalenko off! Stalenko jumps back into Jones's guard.
Stalenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jones is keeping the position for now.
Stalenko is working Jones over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Stalenko scores with a takedown into Jones's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Stalenko dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stalenko shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Jones is trying to defend but Stalenko finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Jones is trying to control but can't.
Jones keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jones looks like he's trying to stand up.
Stalenko trying to control from half guard but Jones is working away.
Stalenko prevents Jones from improving his position.
Stalenko could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Stalenko drops an elbow to the side of Jones's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalenko is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Jones is breathing heavily.
Jones avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stalenko.

Stalenko is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Stalenko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Stalenko is looking to stall here but Jones recovers full guard.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Stalenko from controlling successfully.
Jones is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stalenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Jones gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Stalenko counters with a takedown into side control.
Stalenko is chipping away with strikes.
Stalenko working the head with strikes.
Stalenko working away.
Jones tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stalenko lands a decent elbow from side control.
Stalenko controlling the position.
Stalenko working the head and body with strikes.
Stalenko scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Jones to see if he's OK.
Stalenko lands a nice forearm strike.

Stalenko stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Stalenko tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jones swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones throws a nice looking combination but Stalenko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Stalenko closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Stalenko winds up and cracks Jones with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Jones blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stalenko.

Stalenko is working for a submission of some sort.
Jones moves into full guard.
Stalenko throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Stalenko dominated that second round.
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!

Stalenko forces Jones back against the cage and clinches.

Jones breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jones tries to clinch

and Stalenko counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Jones's guard now.
Jones trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Stalenko preventing the sweep.
Stalenko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Jones on the ground.

Stalenko postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Jones is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Stalenko, into his guard.
Jones throwing strikes but missing.
Stalenko wants to sweep here but Jones controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones is looking to work some ground and pound but Stalenko has wrist control.
Stalenko throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Stalenko is working an open guard so Jones takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Stalenko misses with a takedown

and Jones counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Stalenko's guard now.
Stalenko 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.
Stalenko might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Jones trying to control but Stalenko is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stalenko lands with a heel strike from the guard.

Stalenko has his foot on Jones's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jones works his way back into a safe position though.
Stalenko is looking to stand up but Jones isn't so interested in that idea.
Jones passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Roman Stalenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jones landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jones decides to stand back up.
Jones moves in looking to clinch but Stalenko pushes him off.

Stalenko drives through with a takedown into guard.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Stalenko from controlling successfully.
Stalenko scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Stalenko has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Jones has his foot on Stalenko's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stalenko works his way back into a safe position though.
Stalenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jones looking to control.
Roberto Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jones looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stalenko is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stalenko thows a big elbow that misses.
Stalenko with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stalenko shoots in for a takedown but Jones shows good takedown defense.
Stalenko misses with a takedown attempt - Jones sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roman Stalenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stalenko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Roman Stalenko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jones shoots and misses

and Stalenko counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jones tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Stalenko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Stalenko decides to stand back up. Stalenko steps back and let's Jones get back to his feet.

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 Roman Stalenko.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stalenko, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roman Stalenko!