PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Donald Stewart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Panos Kirifidis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stewart comes to the ring accompanied by Celly cel - Its Goin Down Tonight . Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Stewart
vs
Kirifidis

183 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
168 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Donald Stewart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Panos Kirifidis!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, David Schapiro and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kirifidis tries for a takedown but Stewart circles away easily

and Stewart counters with a takedown into side control.
Stewart landing strikes.
Kirifidis tries to buck Stewart off but Stewart is having none of it.
Stewart misses with the ground and pound.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Stewart misses with the ground and pound.
Stewart working the strikes but Kirifidis uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Kirifidis gets full guard.
Stewart knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kirifidis on the ground.
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!
Stewart scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Stewart scoring with some ground and pound.
Stewart working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Stewart has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stewart throws a strike but Kirifidis rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Kirifidis drops back looking for a leg! Stewart is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Stewart manages to kick Kirifidis off! Kirifidis jumps back into Stewart's guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirifidis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Stewart pulls Kirifidis in close to prevent any damage.
Stewart wants to stand and escape but Kirifidis is having none of it.
Kirifidis passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Stewart wants to get back to his feet but Kirifidis drags him back down.

Kirifidis is trying to get an arm triangle but Stewart is defending well.
Stewart is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Stewart wants to control but Kirifidis postures up.
The strikes coming from Kirifidis are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Stewart is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Kirifidis is controlling him well.
Stewart avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Kirifidis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirifidis prevents Stewart from escaping the position.
Kirifidis connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Stewart some visible discomfort.
Stewart wants to get back to his feet but Kirifidis drags him back down.

Kirifidis tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kirifidis has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kirifidis has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stewart is trying to get back to his feet.
An elbow from Kirifidis crashes against the mat.
Stewart is looking to reverse the position.
Kirifidis works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Kirifidis prevents Stewart from escaping the position.

Kirifidis is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Stewart is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kirifidis looks gassed!
Stewart wants to get back to his feet.
Stewart gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kirifidis is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Kirifidis is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Stewart sees it coming and defends easily.

Kirifidis is looking for a kimura but Stewart is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kirifidis to get the leverage.
Stewart keeping control of the position.

Kirifidis is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Stewart is trying to stand up here but Kirifidis is controlling him well.
Kirifidis prevents Stewart from improving his position.
Kirifidis not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stewart wants to get back to his feet.
Stewart tries to get to full guard but Kirifidis has control of the leg.
Kirifidis prevents Stewart from standing back up.

Kirifidis is working for a kimura but Stewart is defending it quite comfortably.
Stewart blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kirifidis.
Kirifidis thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stewart is trying to stand.

Kirifidis is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Stewart sees it coming and defends easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stewart tries to get to full guard but Kirifidis has control of the leg.

Kirifidis is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stewart defends it well.
Stewart tries to kick Kirifidis off but Kirifidis keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stewart drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kirifidis holds on and takes a little breather.
Stewart trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kirifidis trying to keep a closed guard but Stewart is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kirifidis wants to stand and escape but Stewart is having none of it.
Kirifidis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Panos Kirifidis has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Stewart throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kirifidis sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kirifidis fails with the takedown

and Stewart counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kirifidis's guard now.
Kirifidis is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stewart scoring with punches to the head and body.
Stewart scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kirifidis keeping full guard, as Stewart tries to pass.
Stewart is working Kirifidis over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Donald Stewart overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stewart is in close to Kirifidis's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Stewart content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kirifidis keeping moving, preventing Stewart from controlling successfully.
Stewart in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stewart throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stewart stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kirifidis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stewart postures up and lands a big shot to Kirifidis's brow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stewart with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stewart stands up over Kirifidis, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Stewart pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kirifidis is keeping the position for now.
Stewart trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Stewart's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Stewart wants to control from the top but Kirifidis keeps moving.
Kirifidis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stewart.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stewart lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Stewart is working Kirifidis over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Stewart scoring with some ground and pound.
Stewart is in close to Kirifidis's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Stewart tries to free his leg and advance position but Kirifidis is retaining full guard.
Stewart trying to control the position from guard on top but Kirifidis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stewart working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kirifidis keeping full guard, as Stewart tries to pass.
Stewart trying to control but Kirifidis is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stewart stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kirifidis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stewart is working hard here to advance position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Stewart trying to control the position from guard on top but Kirifidis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donald Stewart dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Stewart throws a jab but it's blocked by Kirifidis.
Kirifidis shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stewart as he jumps to the side.
Stewart misses with an uppercut. Kirifidis saw that one coming.
Kirifidis fails with a takedown attempt.
Kirifidis shoots in looking for a takedown. Stewart tries to sprawl out of it but Kirifidis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Stewart manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Donald Stewart has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Panos Kirifidis.
Stewart fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kirifidis manages to avoid it.
Kirifidis fails with the takedown

and Stewart counters with a shoot takedown. Kirifidis fights it but they end up in guard.
Stewart trying to move into half guard but instead Kirifidis has managed to sweep!
Kirifidis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kirifidis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stewart swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Kirifidis drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kirifidis jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stewart is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kirifidis is controlling him.
Kirifidis won't allow Stewart to sweep him here.

Stewart scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Kirifidis fails with the takedown

and Stewart counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Stewart.
Stewart working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kirifidis has momentary wrist control but Stewart slips an elbow through the middle.
Kirifidis is trying to control the position but Stewart postures up.
Stewart working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kirifidis's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kirifidis is trying to keep Stewart in close.
Stewart works over Kirifidis with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stewart working some strikes from top position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Stewart's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Stewart working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Stewart's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Kirifidis looking for a guillotine here but Stewart defends easily.
Stewart stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kirifidis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stewart throwing strikes from guard but Kirifidis blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stewart trying to control but Kirifidis is working from the bottom.
Stewart postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Stewart distracts Kirifidis with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Stewart pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kirifidis is keeping the position for now.
Kirifidis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kirifidis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stewart.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stewart looking to pass the guard.
Donald Stewart is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stewart controls from within his opponent's guard.
Panos Kirifidis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donald Stewart showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Stewart has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 for Donald Stewart!
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight for Donald Stewart!
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight for Donald Stewart!

Donald Stewart wins by unanimous decision!