PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between LeBron Stankovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Popeye Orion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). LeBron Stankovic is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Stankovic
vs
Orion

182 cm
23
175 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
170 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, LeBron Stankovic!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Popeye Orion!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stankovic walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Orion checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Stankovic scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Stankovic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Some bone on bone action there as Orion checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Orion lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
LeBron Stankovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A clash of legs there as Orion blocks the low kick.
Orion pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Orion bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Stankovic throws a jab when Orion was well out of range.
Orion doesn't manage to clinch there - Stankovic circles away.
Stankovic throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Orion counters with a left and a right that stings Stankovic.

Orion pushes Stankovic up against the cage in a clinch.
Orion lands a nice shot to the body.

Orion gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
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!
Orion showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Orion trying to control the position from guard on top but Stankovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stankovic can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Orion controls the pace.
Orion throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stankovic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Orion is one step ahead there.
Orion stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stankovic swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stankovic looking for a sweep. Not yet Stankovic, not yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Stankovic gets caught flat footed, as Orion shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orion trying to control the position from guard on top but Stankovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Orion has gone for a leg lock! Stankovic slips out almost immediately though and dives into Orion's guard.
Stankovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Orion is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stankovic 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.
Orion manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Stankovic is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Orion looking to control but Stankovic is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orion might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Stankovic kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Stankovic keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Orion controlling from the full mount.
Orion wants to control the pace but Stankovic is squirming around nicely.
Orion looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Stankovic wants to hold on but Orion pushes him away.
Orion can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Stankovic is looking to escape.

Despite being in the dominant position, Popeye Orion just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Orion displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stankovic throws out the jab.
Stankovic misses with a jab, cross combination.
Orion is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A low kick from Stankovic is predictable there

and Orion counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Stankovic!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stankovic is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Popeye Orion 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.

Orion lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Stankovic shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Left hook, right uppercut from Orion.
Stankovic avoids the head kick by Orion.
Orion tries to clinch but Stankovic is having none of it.

Orion changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Stankovic looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Stankovic is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Orion wants to control but Stankovic is keeping him busy.
Stankovic throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Stankovic looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Stankovic wants to get back to full guard but Orion has passed into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Orion takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orion trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Orion controlling the position easily from mount.
Orion tries to control but Stankovic wriggling away.
Stankovic really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Orion throws some wild stikes that Stankovic manages to avoid easily.
Orion looking to control but Stankovic is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Stankovic is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Orion looking to control and managing it successfully.
Orion pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Orion can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Stankovic is looking to escape.
Stankovic sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stankovic tries to roll over but Orion keeps him under control.
Orion not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Orion stalling away here and it's allowed Stankovic to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Orion won't allow Stankovic to sweep him here.

Stankovic working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Orion doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Orion manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Orion stays in close to Stankovic's body and controls the position.
Orion looking to sit in guard and control but Stankovic gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Despite being in the dominant position, Popeye Orion just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Orion misses with a takedown attempt - Stankovic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stankovic tries a low kick but Orion avoids it.
Stankovic throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Orion counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Stankovic!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stankovic sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Orion wants to control but Stankovic is keeping him busy.
Stankovic wants to control but Orion is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Orion is controlling the pace.
Orion is trying to control the action in half guard but Stankovic is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Popeye Orion showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stankovic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Orion doesn't manage to clinch there - Stankovic circles away.
Stankovic tries a head kick but it misses.
Stankovic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
LeBron Stankovic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Orion chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Stankovic misses with a body kick.

Orion shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Orion wants to control from the top but Stankovic keeps moving.
Orion pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stankovic is keeping the position for now.
Orion is stalling in the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Stankovic escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Orion gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orion's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Orion trying to control but Stankovic is working from the bottom.
Popeye Orion has got the better of the ground game so far.
Orion showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Orion tries to free his leg and advance position but Stankovic is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Orion preventing the sweep.
Orion stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stankovic swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Orion is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stankovic misses with a combination

and Orion counters by clinching up.
Orion drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Stankovic manages to break the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Orion.
Stankovic looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stankovic misses with a takedown attempt
and Orion counters with a left and a right that stings Stankovic.
Orion misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stankovic misses with a double jab

and Orion counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Stankovic!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orion controlling his opponent.
Orion tries to control but Stankovic wriggling away.
Stankovic is in all sorts of trouble here.
Orion looking to control and managing it successfully.
Orion trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Stankovic tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stankovic wants to hold on but Orion pushes him away.
Stankovic working to try and regain half guard.
Stankovic tries to hold on but Orion pushes him away.
Orion takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Stankovic in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stankovic keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Orion controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Popeye Orion really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Orion fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stankovic throws a combination that misses

and Orion counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Orion prevents Stankovic from breaking the clinch.
Orion tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stankovic smiles and moves away.
Stankovic throws a left and a right that both miss
and Orion counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Stankovic uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Orion has time to react.
Orion scoring well with a low kick there.
A solid leg kick lands there for Orion.
A low kick from Stankovic misses
and Orion counters with a good low kick that Stankovic was not able to check.
Orion lands a front kick.

Orion scores with a takedown into Stankovic's guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Orion thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orion looking to sit in guard and control but Stankovic gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Stankovic controlling from the top position.
Stankovic trying to control but Orion is working from the bottom.
Stankovic is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Stankovic with a flurry of punches that miss.
Orion looking for a sweep. Not yet Orion, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Orion pulls Stankovic in close to prevent any damage.

Orion looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Orion is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stankovic throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Orion counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Stankovic can't break the clinch.

Stankovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stankovic throws a right hand that Orion ducks under and follows up with a left that Orion also avoids with ease.
Orion wants to clinch up but Stankovic keeps it at a distance.

Stankovic shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Orion tries to lock up and control but Stankovic gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Stankovic prevents Orion from getting the reversal.
Orion wants to hold on but Stankovic pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orion is trying to escape the mount but Stankovic keeps good control and instead manages to take Orion's back.

Stankovic looking to break Orion's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Orion remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Stankovic will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Orion holding both Stankovic 's hands and preventing any damage.
Orion looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Stankovic scores with punches to the body.
Orion grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Orion wants to control his opponent's hands but Stankovic gets his hands free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Orion is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Stankovic gets his way!
Orion turns into Stankovic and is now in his guard.
Stankovic keeping moving, preventing Orion from controlling successfully.
Stankovic pulls Orion in close to prevent any damage.
Stankovic wants to sweep here but Orion controlling him for the moment.
Stankovic avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

LeBron Stankovic had his way with Popeye Orion in that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Orion bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Stankovic's head.
Stankovic throws a right hand that Orion ducks under and follows up with a left that Orion also avoids with ease.
Stankovic scores with a three punch combo!

Orion closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Orion using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Stankovic as Orion tries to tie him up.

Orion manages to break the clinch.
Stankovic avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stankovic misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Orion.
Orion lands a jab-cross combination.
Orion tries to clinch up.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

Orion shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Orion trying to control the position from guard on top but Stankovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stankovic looking to control.
Orion trying to control the position from guard on top but Stankovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Orion slips nicely into half guard.
Orion prevents Stankovic from improving his position.

Stankovic looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Orion has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stankovic wants to break the clinch but can't.

Orion's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Orion throws a head kick but Stankovic moves out of range.
Stankovic throws a front kick aimed at Orion's knee but Orion avoids it well.
Orion tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stankovic misses with a double jab

and Orion holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Orion breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stankovic pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Orion wants to clinch up but Stankovic keeps it at a distance.
Stankovic misses with a leg kick
and Orion counters with a thumping low kick.

Orion drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Orion drops back, looking for a kneebar! Stankovic looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Stankovic looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Stankovic!
Stankovic working away.
Stankovic scoring with punches from side control.
Stankovic working away.
Orion has one of Stankovic's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Orion is trying to control Stankovic's posture but Stankovic avoids it.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Orion controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Orion trying to control the position from guard on top but Stankovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Orion postures up.
Orion controls from within his opponent's guard.
Orion tries to free his leg and advance position but Stankovic is retaining full guard.
LeBron Stankovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Orion trying to control the position from guard on top but Stankovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Popeye Orion comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Orion has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 46:49
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 46:49
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Popeye Orion!
Popeye Orion is the new welterweight champion!