PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Barney Stokes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bjorn Gunvaldsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Bjorn Gunvaldsson was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Stokes
vs
Gunvaldsson

170 cm
19
346 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

225 cm
25
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Barney Stokes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bjorn Gunvaldsson!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stokes swings for the body but Gunvaldsson moves out of range.
Gunvaldsson wants to clinch up but Stokes keeps it at a distance.

Gunvaldsson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Stokes is trying to defend but Gunvaldsson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Stokes moves into full guard.
Gunvaldsson postures up in Stokes's guard and throws a big left but Stokes blocks it.
Stokes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gunvaldsson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Stokes is trying to control the position but Gunvaldsson postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gunvaldsson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gunvaldsson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gunvaldsson preventing the sweep.
Gunvaldsson postures up.
Gunvaldsson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gunvaldsson is looking to work some ground and pound but Stokes has wrist control.
Stokes wants to sweep but no luck.

Stokes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gunvaldsson defends well.
Stokes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gunvaldsson misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Gunvaldsson is looking to control Stokes's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gunvaldsson avoid being mounted?
Gunvaldsson is positioning himself well to prevent Stokes advancing to mount.
Stokes is trying to control. Gunvaldsson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stokes seems to be looking for submissions.
Stokes really is a fat lump.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gunvaldsson is positioning himself well to prevent Stokes advancing to mount.
Stokes prevents Gunvaldsson from improving his position.
Gunvaldsson looks like he's trying to stand up.
Gunvaldsson is trying to maintain the position but Stokes is very close to passing his half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Stokes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gunvaldsson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gunvaldsson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Gunvaldsson is defending against the submission attempts here by Stokes.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Gunvaldsson gets a takedown into half guard.
Stokes is breathing heavily.
Gunvaldsson lands strikes from half guard.

It looks like Barney Stokes has been cut.
Ground and pound from Gunvaldsson.

Stokes is rocked!
Gunvaldsson lands a big elbow from half guard. That looks like it's hurt Stokes quite badly. Stokes pulls Gunvaldsson in close trying to recover. Gunvaldsson postures up and lands two really hard shots that put Stokes on queer street! The ref takes a look and decides to call an end to the fight! Possibly an early stoppage but Stokes doesn't seem to be complaining too much.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bjorn Gunvaldsson!