PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Airidas Staniunas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Oconnor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Staniunas
vs
Oconnor

155 cm
19
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

220 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Airidas Staniunas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ryan Oconnor!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Peter Branson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Staniunas shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Oconnor manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Staniunas might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Staniunas throws an elbow that misses. Oconnor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Staniunas's guard. Nice move by Oconnor!

Oconnor stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Oconnor pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Oconnor avoids the head kick by Staniunas.
Staniunas tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Oconnor defends well and Staniunas ends up having to push Oconnor into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Staniunas swings wildly with an uppercut but Oconnor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Staniunas could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Oconnor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Oconnor defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Staniunas.
Staniunas moves in looking to clinch but Oconnor pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staniunas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Staniunas shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Oconnor sprawls well. Oconnor wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Staniunas gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Airidas Staniunas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Oconnor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Airidas Staniunas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Oconnor darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Oconnor decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Staniunas darts in looking for a takedown but Oconnor gets double underhooks and turns Staniunas into the cage.
Staniunas is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oconnor landing knees to the head.
Staniunas prevents Oconnor from breaking the clinch.
Oconnor landing knees to the head.
Oconnor is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Staniunas pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Oconnor tries for a takedown. No joy.

Oconnor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A slapping leg kick lands for Oconnor.
A head kick from Oconnor lands but Staniunas takes it in his stride.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Oconnor lands a head kick!
Staniunas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Oconnor paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A head kick misses from Oconnor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Staniunas closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Oconnor's guard.
Oconnor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Staniunas is one step ahead there.
Staniunas wants to stand and escape but instead Oconnor has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Oconnor avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Staniunas wants to get back to his feet but Oconnor is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Oconnor decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Oconnor is trying hard to land a takedown here. Staniunas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Staniunas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Staniunas goes for a double leg but Oconnor avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Oconnor continues to drive forward.

Staniunas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Oconnor wants to clinch up but Staniunas keeps it at a distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Staniunas takes a head kick and keeps coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Oconnor dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Staniunas drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Staniunas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Oconnor is keeping the position for now.
Staniunas is looking to pass into half guard but Oconnor pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Oconnor is in guard.

Staniunas has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Oconnor can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Staniunas is working an open guard so Oconnor takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Oconnor lands a high kick!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Staniunas tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oconnor connects with a solid leg kick.
Staniunas avoids the head kick by Oconnor.
Oconnor avoids the head kick by Staniunas.
Oconnor ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Oconnor throws a series of strikes that have Staniunas backpedaling.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Oconnor.
Oconnor keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Staniunas.
Staniunas throws a right hand that misses
and Oconnor counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Staniunas is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Staniunas tries for a takedown but Oconnor sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staniunas takes a kick to the side of the head.
Oconnor lands a jab to the nose.
Oconnor scores with a head kick. Staniunas tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Staniunas is rocked!
Staniunas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Oconnor paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Oh Staniunas is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Oconnor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Staniunas seems to have got his legs back now.
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!
Staniunas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Oconnor throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oconnor tests Staniunas's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Staniunas dives in and grabs Oconnor's left leg, looking for a takedown. Oconnor pushes down on Staniunas's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Airidas Staniunas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Oconnor wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Staniunas fails with a takedown attempt.
Staniunas takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Ryan Oconnor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Oconnor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oconnor tries a head kick but it misses.
Staniunas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Oconnor goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Oconnor throws a head kick that half lands.
Oconnor throws a head kick that half lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Staniunas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Oconnor is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Oconnor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Staniunas waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Oconnor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Oconnor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Oconnor explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Staniunas tries a head kick but it misses.
Staniunas tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Oconnor defends well and Staniunas ends up having to push Oconnor into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Staniunas breaks from the clinch.
Oconnor scores with a head kick. Staniunas tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Oconnor throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Staniunas wants to clinch up but Oconnor keeps it at a distance.
The fighters circle momentarily. Oconnor darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Staniunas misses with an uppercut
and Oconnor counters with a low kick, right behind Staniunas 's knee.
Oconnor is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Oconnor thumps Staniunas with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staniunas blocks a head kick by Oconnor.
Oconnor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Staniunas tries to clinch but Oconnor is having none of it.
Oconnor works Staniunas's body with a nice hook.
Airidas Staniunas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Staniunas thows a left - swing and a miss!
Staniunas shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Oconnor defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Airidas Staniunas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Oconnor throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oconnor goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Oconnor throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Staniunas on the side of the head.
Oconnor lands a head kick!
Oconnor shoots for a double leg takedown but Staniunas sprawls well. He's pushed Oconnor's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Staniunas slaps away a takedown attempt from Oconnor, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Oconnor throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oconnor is looking to clinch but Staniunas is avoiding it.
Oconnor throws a nice head kick!
Staniunas is looking to clinch.
Oconnor scores with a kick to the body.
Staniunas tries to close the distance and clinch but Oconnor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Staniunas loads up on a big right hand but Oconnor slips the punch.
A swing and a miss from Staniunas.
Ryan Oconnor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Staniunas is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Oconnor's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Staniunas darts in looking for a takedown but Oconnor gets double underhooks and turns Staniunas into the cage.
Oconnor creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Staniunas's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Staniunas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Oconnor throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Staniunas's head.
Oconnor lands a front kick.
Staniunas takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Oconnor doesn't manage to clinch there - Staniunas circles away.
Oconnor throws a head kick that half lands.
A head kick misses from Oconnor.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Staniunas drives through with a takedown into guard.
Airidas Staniunas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Staniunas throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Oconnor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Oconnor winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Oconnor!