PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Damir Stojnic (ranked 5001 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arslan Sonmez (ranked 5693 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Stojnic
vs
Sonmez

175 cm
25
156 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
156 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Damir Stojnic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Arslan Sonmez!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Reed Andrews and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stojnic takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Stojnic looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Stojnic dives in and grabs Sonmez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sonmez pushes down on Stojnic's head and hops out.
Stojnic sets himself, and Sonmez steps forward looking for the clinch! Stojnic avoids it this time.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stojnic.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damir Stojnic. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stojnic gets tackled into the cage by Sonmez. Sonmez maintains the clinch.
Stojnic tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Stojnic working hard to break the clinch.
Stojnic controlling the action here for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sonmez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Sonmez rushes Stojnic and presses him up against the cage.

Sonmez is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Stojnic can't fight it off and eventually Sonmez manages to take the fight to the floor. Stojnic looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonmez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Stojnic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sonmez 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.
Stojnic bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sonmez's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sonmez keeping moving, preventing Stojnic from controlling successfully.
Sonmez wants to sweep but no luck.
Sonmez is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Sonmez manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Sonmez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sonmez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stojnic is defending well for now.
Stojnic misses with a short punch on the inside.
Stojnic tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonmez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Stojnic to keep the fight standing.
Stojnic throws an elbow that misses.
Stojnic using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sonmez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Stojnic is trying to pull guard but Sonmez turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sonmez creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Sonmez.

Sonmez ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sonmez no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Sonmez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stojnic. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Stojnic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sonmez is keeping the position for now.
Sonmez pulls Stojnic in close to prevent any damage.
Stojnic works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stojnic lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Sonmez actively working from the bottom here.
Stojnic is keen to just control but Sonmez is a slippery customer.

Sonmez manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Stojnic keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Sonmez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stojnic misses with a shot to the body

and Sonmez moves into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sonmez fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Sonmez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stojnic fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arslan Sonmez dominated that round.
That's time! Stojnic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sonmez gets a double leg takedown into Stojnic's guard.

Stojnic kicks Sonmez off and gets to his feet.
Stojnic fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Stojnic with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sonmez counters with a shoot takedown. Stojnic fights it but they end up in guard.

Stojnic is looking for a triangle but Sonmez pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Sonmez stands up and waves to Stojnic to follow him.
Damir Stojnic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stojnic throws a series of strikes that have Sonmez backpedaling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stojnic on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Stojnic fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stojnic shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sonmez defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damir Stojnic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stojnic fails to land the takedown.
A little jabbing left from Sonmez on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sonmez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stojnic wants to clinch.
Sonmez follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.

Sonmez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Stojnic sneaks out the side door and pushes Sonmez away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stojnic fakes the leg kick and cracks Sonmez in the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sonmez tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Sonmez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sonmez staying calm.
Sonmez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stojnic keeps working.
Stojnic takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonmez wants to control but Stojnic is keeping him busy.
Sonmez is putting a hurting on Stojnic here, landing some big shots from side control.
Stojnic gets back to half guard.
Sonmez not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Sonmez stands up out of the half guard.

Sonmez moves into the clinch.

Sonmez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stojnic goes for a double leg but Sonmez avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sonmez continues to drive forward.

Sonmez has Stojnic up against the cage in a clinch.
Sonmez jumps guard but Stojnic stands there with Sonmez around his waist. Sonmez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stojnic has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sonmez after a bit of a struggle.
A shot in the inside from Sonmez.
Stojnic blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Sonmez has clasped his hands together around Stojnic's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Stojnic throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stojnic fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stojnic fails with a takedown attempt.
Stojnic moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromSonmez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Arslan Sonmez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sonmez moves into the clinch.

Sonmez jumps guard.
Stojnic advances position into side control!
Sonmez is looking for a sweep.
Arslan Sonmez has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonmez wants to get back to his feet.
Sonmez is trying to control Stojnic's posture but Stojnic avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stojnic gets to mount! Sonmez was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Stojnic can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sonmez is looking to escape.
Sonmez working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Stojnic trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sonmez wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Sonmez is trying to break free.
Stojnic trying to control.
Stojnic lands a shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stojnic gets his hands free as Sonmez looks to control.
Sonmez is keeping busy.
Sonmez wants to escape the position.

Sonmez showing good submission defense here.
Sonmez trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Stojnic trying to control.

Stojnic is persistently looking for the submission but Sonmez is defending it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sonmez can't escape the position.
Sonmez trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sonmez is trying to break free.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Damir Stojnic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Arslan Sonmez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Stojnic patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

And that's the end of the fight!
Damir Stojnic showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sonmez 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Arslan Sonmez!