PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Coby Esch (ranked 1635 p4p, 1070 weight class) and Richard Stone (ranked 217 p4p, 145 weight class). Richard Stone has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Esch
vs
Stone

195 cm
26
190
4 - 2 - 0

186 cm
27
188
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Coby Esch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Richard Stone!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Winston Alpacca and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esch scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A lazy left from Stone finds it's target.
Stone takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A telegraphed right hand from Stone misses the target.
Stone throws out a loose jab but Esch uses good head movement to avoid it.
Esch tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Esch throws out a powerful jab.
Esch takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Stone throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Esch on the side of the head.
Esch bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Esch throws a right hand that misses
and Esch takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Esch catches Stone with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Esch lands with a cross.
Nice body punch from Esch.
Coby Esch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stone loads up on a big right hand but Esch slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esch takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Esch has managed to clinch.
A short right from Stone on the inside.
Esch throws a punch but it's blocked by Stone.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Esch.
Esch misses with a punch to the body.
Stone's coach down at Gladius Elite Facilities was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Stone's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Esch tries a body shot but Stone blocks it.
Esch is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Stone misses with a punch on the inside.
Esch misses with a body punch.
Stone misses with a punch on the inside.
Esch misses with a punch to the body.
Stone misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stone.
Esch tries to work over Stone's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Stone misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Esch fails to land.
Esch blocking some punches.
Stone blocks a body shot from Esch.
Esch has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stone is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Stone misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Stone lands a left hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short left from Stone.
Stone presses Esch against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Esch blocking some punches.
Esch misses with the head strike.
Stone lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Esch backwards.
Esch prevents a body shot from Stone.
Esch lands a shoulder strike.
Esch misses with a hook from the clinch.
Esch doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Esch misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Stone lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Stone prevents a body shot from Esch.
Esch misses with some punches.
Good body shot from Esch.
Stone misses with a short punch on the inside.
Stone blocks an uppercut.
Good body shot from Stone.
Stone tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Esch's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone lands a right hand that snaps the head of Esch backwards.
Stone misses with a short punch on the inside.
Esch is looking for a takedown.
Stone swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Esch.
Stone blocking some punches.
Stone struggles to land a body shot inside as Esch controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Stone fails to land.
A nice right hand lands inside from Stone.
Esch misses with a punch to the body.
Esch tries to work over Stone's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A nice left hand lands by Esch.
Stone blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Esch.
Esch works on Stone's body with a couple of short punches.
Stone lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Stone tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stone works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Nice body punch from Stone - that landed with a thud.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stone lands a left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Stone.
Stone lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Esch blocking some punches.
Esch scores with a hook to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Stone.
Stone lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Stone.
Esch blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Stone lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A body shot lands from Stone.
Stone misses with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Stone creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A short right from Stone on the inside.
Esch working aggressively here.
A short right from Stone on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Esch working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Esch presses Stone against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Stone lands a body shot in the clinch.
Esch misses with a hook from the clinch.
Esch working aggressively here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Stone dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nice defenses there by Esch.
Stone ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Esch with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Stone takes a swing at Esch's ribcage but misses.
Esch misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stone.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Stone! But no joy.
Esch seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Stone misses with a looping right.
Esch keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stone.
Esch moves in looking to clinch but Stone pushes him off.
Stone swings for the body but Esch moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esch misses the shot to the body.
Stone takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Esch rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Stone counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Esch swings widly with a right hand
enabling Stone to counter with a crisp jab.
Stone has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esch ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stone moves away.
Esch throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stone keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Esch displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stone throws out the jab.
Esch just misses with a punch to the body.
Stone looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Esch fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stone appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Esch changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Stone looks to land a left hand but Esch moved out of range nicely.
Esch seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Esch swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stone misses with a hook. Esch ducked under it nicely.
Esch has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
A jab from Esch misses.
Esch rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Stone counters with a stiff right hand.

Esch rushes Stone and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esch misses with a punch to the body.
Stone softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Esch is rocked!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Stone creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Oh Esch is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Stone lands an uppercut.
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!
Esch can't find room to land a body shot as Stone controls the action.
Stone unloads with a big right hand that wobbles Esch! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but Stone is unloading with more strikes now! Esch drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Richard Stone!
A relieved looking Richard Stone thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.