PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jeremy Stapleton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Lovato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stapleton comes to the cage accompanied by Stick To Your Guns - Against Them All. Jeremy Stapleton has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Stapleton
vs
Lovato

194 cm
26
215 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

185 cm
25
215 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jeremy Stapleton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Paulo Lovato!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, William Gold and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stapleton lands with an overhand left.

Lovato takes the fight into the clinch.
Lovato is trying to drag Stapleton to the mat but Stapleton just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Lovato pulls Stapleton into guard.

Stapleton got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lovato has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stapleton has managed to get both his arms back between Lovato's legs - danger averted.
Stapleton tries to stand but Lovato is controlling from the bottom.

Lovato is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stapleton is aware though and is defending well.

Lovato isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Stapleton stacks Lovato on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Stapleton!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stapleton is looking to take a break and control but Lovato is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lovato prevents Stapleton from moving into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lovato struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stapleton passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Lovato!
Stapleton is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Stapleton takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Lovato is in all sorts of trouble here.
Lovato tries to hold on but Stapleton pushes him away.
Stapleton is looking to stand but Lovato has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Lovato bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lovato is looking to advance position but Stapleton has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Stapleton tries to stand up but Lovato had a hold of his arm and he's managed to perform a nice reversal, into half guard.

Lovato is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Stapleton sees it coming and defends easily.

Lovato is working for an americana but Stapleton has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Lovato was thinking about the submission.

Stapleton is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lovato defends well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Stapleton is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lovato is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lovato trying to control the position from guard on top but Stapleton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lovato wants to pass the guard but Stapleton is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stapleton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Stapleton is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Stapleton tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Lovato stands up from Stapleton's guard - Lovato perhaps looking for a knockout.
Jeremy Stapleton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lovato tries to clinch but Stapleton moves out of range.
Lovato throws a shot to the body.

Lovato clinches.
A short right from Stapleton.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stapleton ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Stapleton no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Stapleton keeping moving, preventing Lovato from controlling successfully.
Stapleton trying to keep a closed guard but Lovato is proving a slippery customer.

Lovato decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Lovato closes the distance but Stapleton moves to the side
and Stapleton counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Stapleton throws a series of strikes that have Lovato backpedaling.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lovato walks into a left hand.
Stapleton misses with a looping right.

Stapleton closes the distance and clinches.

Stapleton pulls guard successfully.
Lovato trying to control but Stapleton is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeremy Stapleton dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stapleton looks to land a right hand but Lovato moved out of range.
Stapleton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lovato can do to turn this around?
Stapleton looks to score with a jab to the body but Lovato is just out of range.
Lovato fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stapleton lands with a slapping head kick.
Nice body kick from Stapleton.

Lovato gets tackled into the cage by Stapleton. Stapleton maintains the clinch.
Stapleton misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lovato has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Stapleton avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Stapleton is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lovato is looking for a takedown.
Still in the clinch, Stapleton scores with a nice short uppercut.
Lovato blocks a body shot from Stapleton.
Stapleton is trying to maintain a safe position but Lovato gets an underhook and turns Stapleton into the cage.
Stapleton misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stapleton misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lovato changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Stapleton fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Jeremy Stapleton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paulo Lovato.
Stapleton ducks under a wild hook from Lovato.
Lovato closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Stapleton throws a sloppy head kick and Lovato moves out of range easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A lazy left from Stapleton finds it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stapleton throws a head kick that misses.
Lovato moves out of range of the body kick from Stapleton.
Stapleton swats away the attempt to clinch by Lovato.
Stapleton darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Stapleton throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Stapleton throws a nice looking combination but Lovato bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lovato doesn't manage to clinch there - Stapleton circles away.
Paulo Lovato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stapleton tries to close the distance and clinch but Lovato swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Lovato tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stapleton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lovato moves out of range as Stapleton strikes.
Stapleton fails to land with a series of punches.

Lovato forces Stapleton back against the cage and clinches.
Stapleton is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Lovato gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Stapleton has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lovato is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Lovato wants to take the fight to the mat but Stapleton manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Stapleton has Lovato pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lovato manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Stapleton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lovato avoids the body shot from Stapleton.
Nice defenses there by Stapleton.
Stapleton swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Paulo Lovato is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lovato tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lovato wants to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stapleton avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Stapleton has managed to clinch.
Stapleton drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lovato gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Stapleton has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lovato avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lovato is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Stapleton lands a right hand.
Lovato can't get the takedown.
Stapleton prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lovato tries to pull guard but Stapleton holds him up against the cage and eventually Lovato drops back down to his feet.
Stapleton is pressed up against the cage. Lovato has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Stapleton down to the mat. Stapleton avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stapleton fakes the leg kick and cracks Lovato in the body.
A jab from Stapleton finds it's way through Lovato's defenses.
Stapleton throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Lovato stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Lovato is breathing heavily.
Lovato shoots for a takedown but Stapleton saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Stapleton lands a big head kick that sends Lovato tumbling to the mat! Stapleton takes a step backwards and waves Lovato back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Lovato is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stapleton connects with a left and a right that sees a clearly hurt Lovato covering up! Stapleton comes in with a big uppercut and Lovato goes doooown! He's slumped up against the cage, eyes staring blankly into space.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Jeremy Stapleton!
Jeremy Stapleton seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.