PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Juan Gonzalez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucas Stafiano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gonzalez
vs
Stafiano

170 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Juan Gonzalez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lucas Stafiano!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stafiano tries to keep at a distance but Gonzalez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Stafiano displaying some good clinch control by pressing Gonzalez up against the cage.
Gonzalez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Stafiano scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Stafiano tries a body shot but Gonzalez blocks it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Stafiano - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A short right from Stafiano.

Gonzalez manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Gonzalez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stafiano is one step ahead there.
Gonzalez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stafiano's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Juan Gonzalez wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Gonzalez has Stafiano up against the cage in a clinch.
Stafiano slowing the pace effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stafiano lands a body punch in the clinch.
Stafiano is pushing Gonzalez up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Stafiano.
Gonzalez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Stafiano tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gonzalez's elbow.
Stafiano is pressed up against the cage. Gonzalez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Stafiano down to the mat. Stafiano avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gonzalez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Stafiano tries to sprawl but Gonzalez drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Gonzalez tries to stand and escape but Stafiano is controlling the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gonzalez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Gonzalez moves into full mount! Stafiano won't be happy about that!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Gonzalez working Stafiano over with strikes here.
Gonzalez with shots to the head and body - Stafiano looks very uncomfortable down there.
Gonzalez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stafiano avoids a series of strikes thrown by Gonzalez.
Gonzalez lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Stafiano hang on?
Stafiano holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Gonzalez tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Gonzalez landing strikes from the mount and Stafiano is in trouble!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stafiano takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Gonzalez dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Stafiano tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gonzalez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lucas Stafiano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stafiano misses with a wild combination.
Stafiano is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Stafiano darts in and clinches Gonzalez up against the cage.

Gonzalez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gonzalez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Juan Gonzalez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stafiano wants to clinch up but Gonzalez keeps it at a distance.
Stafiano tries to clinch but Gonzalez moves out of range.

Gonzalez drives through and clinches with Stafiano against the cage.
Gonzalez tries to score a body lock takedown but Stafiano shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Gonzalez can't break the clinch.

Gonzalez ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gonzalez no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Gonzalez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Stafiano is controlling him.

Gonzalez has his feet on Stafiano's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stafiano gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gonzalez will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Stafiano up against the cage.
Gonzalez blocks an uppercut.

Gonzalez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gonzalez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stafiano rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gonzalez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gonzalez shoots for a takedown but Stafiano saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Gonzalez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stafiano lands a nice shot that snaps Gonzalez's head back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez keeps the fight on the outside.

Stafiano forces Gonzalez back against the cage and clinches.
Gonzalez is trying to break the clinch but Stafiano has him pressed against the cage.

Gonzalez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Stafiano moves into the clinch.
Stafiano prevents Gonzalez from breaking the clinch.
Gonzalez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stafiano is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stafiano lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Stafiano softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Stafiano lands a nice uppercut.
Gonzalez wants a takedown.
Stafiano lands with a short shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A shot in the inside from Stafiano.
Stafiano taking a breather.
Stafiano prevents Gonzalez from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Stafiano.
A short left from Stafiano.
Gonzalez taking a breather.
Stafiano lands a body shot.
Stafiano lands with a light punch inside.
Gonzalez fails to pull guard.
Stafiano taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Stafiano lands a body shot in the clinch.
Gonzalez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gonzalez fails to pull guard.
Stafiano scores with a nice hook to the head.
Stafiano scores with a shot to the side of Gonzalez's head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Stafiano.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Stafiano avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gonzalez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right from Stafiano.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Stafiano creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Stafiano lands with a left to the head.
Stafiano just leaning against Gonzalez, taking a breather.
Stafiano lands with a light punch inside.
Gonzalez jumps guard but Stafiano stands there with Gonzalez around his waist. Gonzalez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Stafiano creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Gonzalez is looking to break free of the clinch but Stafiano has double underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gonzalez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Stafiano stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
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!
Stafiano is working Gonzalez over against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Stafiano.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucas Stafiano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Stafiano scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Stafiano is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Stafiano moves into range and clinches up with Gonzalez.
Stafiano softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Gonzalez successfully pulls guard.

Gonzalez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gonzalez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stafiano's guard.
Stafiano wants to get back to his feet but Gonzalez passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stafiano pushes Gonzalez off looking to stand but Gonzalez dives back in and keeps control.
Gonzalez is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Stafiano really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gonzalez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gonzalez wants to control the pace but Stafiano is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stafiano is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stafiano can do anything to dispel that myth.
Gonzalez trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gonzalez is landing with some decent strikes but Stafiano is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Juan Gonzalez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gonzalez controlling from the full mount.
Stafiano is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Stafiano takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gonzalez pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gonzalez lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Stafiano hang on?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stafiano is trying to stand but he's just given Gonzalez his back.

Stafiano defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Gonzalez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gonzalez 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Gonzalez!
Juan Gonzalez seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.