PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Musial Stanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Fernando (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fernando is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Miss Jackson. Musial Stanson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Stanson
vs
Fernando

190 cm
24
204 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

180 cm
24
204 lbs
3 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Musial Stanson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Manny Fernando!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stanson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Stanson trying to control the position but Fernando is working away.
Fernando tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Stanson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Stanson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Fernando gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Stanson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Stanson is trying to control the action in half guard but Fernando is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stanson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Fernando has managed to free his arm - good work.
Stanson throwing shots but Fernando is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernando is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Fernando wants to control but Stanson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stanson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stanson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Stanson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Fernando is trying to defend but Stanson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Stanson seems to be working for a kimura but Fernando defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stanson wants to take a breather but Fernando is having none of it.
Fernando wants to get back to full guard.
Fernando keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Fernando wants to control but Stanson is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanson controlling the pace.
Fernando trying to hold on to Stanson's head to control him but Stanson postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stanson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Stanson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
An elbow from Stanson crashes against the mat.
You can see the frustration on Fernando's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Stanson sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Fernando is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Fernando is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Stanson has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Stanson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Fernando has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fernando keeps working.

Stanson stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Stanson looking to score a takedown here. Fernando is defending well but Stanson drives through and ends up in Fernando's guard.

Fernando had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stanson defends it easily.

Fernando is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stanson is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Musial Stanson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fernando shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Stanson's guard.
Fernando trying to control the position from guard on top but Stanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Fernando got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stanson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Fernando has managed to get both his arms back between Stanson's legs - danger averted.
Fernando trying to control the position from guard on top but Stanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stanson looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fernando stopping the sweep attempt from Stanson.
Fernando trying to control but Stanson is working from the bottom.
Stanson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fernando can do to turn this around?
Fernando stopping the sweep attempt from Stanson.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernando showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Fernando closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Stanson's guard.
Fernando wants to control from the top but Stanson keeps moving.

Stanson is working an open guard so Fernando takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Stanson moves into the clinch successfully.
Fernando keeps control of Stanson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Fernando tightens his grip and picks Stanson up, before dumping him to the ground. Stanson manages to land in guard.
Stanson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Fernando controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stanson wants to sweep here but Fernando controlling him for the moment.
Fernando controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Fernando trying to control but Stanson is working from the bottom.

Stanson is looking for a triangle here but Fernando uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Stanson tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernando wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stanson keeps working.

Fernando swings around for an armbar but Stanson sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Fernando's guard.

Fernando working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Stanson has passed into half guard!
Fernando on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Fernando has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stanson is working away from the top position though.
Musial Stanson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stanson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fernando keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stanson is trying to work for a kimura but Fernando is defending well.
Stanson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fernando defending well though.
Fernando wants to get back to full guard.

Fernando looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Stanson throwing shots but Fernando is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Fernando showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! 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.

Stanson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Fernando quickly recovers to half guard.
Fernando is trying to get back to full guard.
Stanson slips a nice elbow through Fernando's hands, connecting with Fernando's forehead.
Stanson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fernando keeps working.
Fernando keeping hold of Stanson's head, controlling as best he can.
Fernando tries to roll over but Stanson keeps him under control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fernando keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernando is refusing to be controlled, as Stanson sits in half guard.

Stanson is trying to work for a kimura but Fernando is defending well.

Stanson seems to be looking for submissions.
Fernando trying to control but Stanson postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.

Fernando shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Fernando showed some decent athleticism there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stanson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Fernando is working away from the top position though.
Stanson controlling the position well.
Stanson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Fernando is working away from the top position though.
Stanson tries to get to full guard but Fernando has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanson is trying to maintain the position but Fernando is very close to passing his half guard.
Fernando wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stanson keeps working.

Stanson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Fernando seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stanson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Stanson gets caught napping as Fernando dives in and scores a takedown. Stanson manages to retain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fernando trying to control the position from guard on top but Stanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Stanson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Fernando defends well.
Fernando would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Fernando postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Stanson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Fernando, into his guard.

Stanson wants to control from the top but Fernando keeps moving.

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 Musial Stanson.
Well Stanson 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Musial Stanson!
A relieved looking Musial Stanson thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Manny Fernando spoke after the fight, saying 'Well done sir, you have beaten me. '.