PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Leonard Garcia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taylor Stram (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor Stram has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Garcia
vs
Stram

176 cm
28
158 lbs
5 - 11 - 0

185 cm
23
168 lbs
6 - 11 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Dangerous GnP
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leonard Garcia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Taylor Stram!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Russell Pearce and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stram shoots in for a takedown but Garcia shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stram doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Garcia counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Stram has a takedown stuffed.
Leonard Garcia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taylor Stram.
A nice combination there by Garcia.
Stram doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Stram takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Stram drives through with a takedown into guard.
Garcia looking for a sweep. Not yet Garcia, not yet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Garcia working a defensive guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stram accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Garcia tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stram wants to pass the guard but Garcia is keeping the position.
Stram works over Garcia with some ground and pound from guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stram with a flurry of punches that miss.
Garcia is controlling Stram's posture.
Stram passes Garcia's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stram is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Garcia is just riding it out for now. Stram eventually gives up the hold.
Garcia is trying to get back to full guard.
Garcia is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garcia punching from the bottom.

Stram is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Stram is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Garcia sees it coming and defends easily.
Garcia flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stram seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Garcia manages to get to full guard.
Garcia knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Stram on the ground.
Stram throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stram trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Stram has gone for a leg lock! Garcia slips out almost immediately though and dives into Stram's guard.
Garcia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stram swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Garcia trying to control the position from guard on top but Stram is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Stram looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Stram is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Stram lands an upkick as Garcia stands over him.
Stram is trying to control the position but Garcia postures up.
Garcia landing some decent shots from guard.
Stram throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Garcia tries to free his leg and advance position but Stram is retaining full guard.
Stram manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Garcia wants to control but Stram is having none of it.
Garcia is trying desperately to improve position.
Garcia is bucking up trying to escape but Stram cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Stram is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Garcia to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Garcia shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Garcia is looking to get to half guard.

Garcia defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Stram.

Stram looking to secure an arm triangle but Garcia defends it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stram lands a big elbow.

Stram working for a submission but Garcia is keeping him at bay.
Stram has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Stram working for a guillotine from mount but Garcia is in no mood to give up.

Stram is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Garcia can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taylor Stram dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Stram shoots and misses
and Garcia counters with a two punch combo.
Garcia will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Garcia closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Garcia lands in his opponent's guard.
Garcia lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Stram is trying to control the position but Garcia postures up.

Stram looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Stram looking for a guillotine here but Garcia defends easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stram utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Garcia lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stram had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Garcia defends it easily.

Stram has his feet on Garcia's thighs here. He's pushed Garcia off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Garcia screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Taylor Stram!