PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Angus Stone (ranked 4121 p4p, 4069 weight class) and Xzavier Gamble (ranked 0 p4p, 423 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Stone
vs
Gamble

180 cm
25
175
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
23
170
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Angus Stone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Xzavier Gamble!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Hugh Johnson and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stone shoots in looking for a takedown. Gamble tries to sprawl out of it but Stone keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gamble manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Stone closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Stone trying to pass the guard but Gamble defending well.
Gamble moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gamble is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Stone is controlling him.

Gamble has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Stone has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone is pressed up against the cage. Gamble has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Stone down to the mat. Stone avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Stone fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gamble sprawls well initially but Stone persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Gamble looks like he's trying to stand up.
Gamble wants to get back to full guard.
Stone is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Stone can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gamble is looking to escape.
Gamble can't escape the position.
Stone sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gamble tries to hold on but Stone pushes him away.
Gamble is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Stone is staying active.
Stone scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Stone scoring with strikes but Gamble is staying in there.
Gamble is bucking up trying to escape but Stone cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gamble working to try and regain half guard.
Gamble wants to hold on but Stone pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Stone looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Stone wants to finish this one by submission but Gamble is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Stone.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gamble takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Stone controlling the position easily from mount.
Stone fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone is landing with some decent strikes but Gamble is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Stone avoids the attempt from Gamble to control.
Stone breaks from Gamble's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Gamble is squirming around, avoiding Stone's attempts to control the action.
Stone avoids the attempt from Gamble to control.
Stone with the ground and pound from mount.
Gamble is squirming around, avoiding Stone's attempts to control the action.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Angus Stone dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

No joy there for Gamble, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stone half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Gamble tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stone swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Stone closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Gamble's guard.
Gamble is striking from the bottom but Stone uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Stone performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Gamble trying to control from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stone trying to control the action but Gamble is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gamble has his hands clasped together around Stone's back. He's all about the action.

Gamble kicks Stone off and gets back to his feet.
Gamble tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Angus Stone is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gamble has a takedown stuffed.
Stone tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gamble manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Xzavier Gamble seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gamble doesn't manage to clinch there - Stone circles away.
As Gamble looks to move away, Stone throws a big counter combo but Gamble just gets out of the way.
Gamble throws a series of punches but Stone avoids them all with ease.

Stone decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gamble is trying to break the clinch but Stone is controlling him.
Stone gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gamble.
Gamble is working for takedown but Stone is calmly controlling the position for now.
Angus Stone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xzavier Gamble.
Gamble is breathing heavily.
Stone is trying to drag Gamble to the mat but Gamble just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Gamble breaks the clinch.

Stone pushes Gamble up against the cage in a clinch.

Stone wants the takedown. Gamble is fighting it off but Stone persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Gamble's guard against the cage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gamble pulls Stone in to control the position.
Stone throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gamble works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gamble trying to keep a closed guard but Stone is proving a slippery customer.
Stone postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gamble keeping full guard, as Stone tries to pass.
Gamble has control of Stone's left arm, preventing Stone from doing any damage.
Gamble trying to strike off his back.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Gamble keeping full guard, as Stone tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Stone is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Stone rushes Gamble and presses him up against the cage.
Gamble is trying to force a seperation but Stone has the dominant position.

Stone's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gamble.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stone throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gamble.

Gamble clinches with his opponent.

Stone has picked Gamble up - he's going for a ride! Stone dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Angus Stone will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gamble drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gamble would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Gamble won't allow Stone to get back to his feet.
Stone is trying to control the position but Gamble postures up.
Stone is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gamble can do to turn this around?

Gamble got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stone has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gamble has managed to get both his arms back between Stone's legs - danger averted.

Stone is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gamble is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stone will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Stone wants to stand but Gamble is controlling the position.
Gamble is stalling in the full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone darts in looking for a takedown but Gamble gets double underhooks and turns Stone into the cage.

Gamble turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Gamble manages to end up in side control.
Gamble wants to control but Stone is keeping him busy.
Stone is looking for a sweep.

Gamble wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Stone, who protects the arm well.

Gamble decides to stand up, so the ref orders Stone to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gamble manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Stone on his heels. He'll look to pass Stone's guard now, I'm sure.
Gamble takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Stone is working an open guard so Gamble takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stone is defended easily by Gamble.
Stone misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Angus Stone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gamble fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stone keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gamble tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Stone defends well and Gamble ends up having to push Stone into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Gamble lands with a nice combination. Stone backs away looking to recover.

Stone has Gamble up against the cage in a clinch.
Gamble tries to pull guard but Stone forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Stone lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Gamble is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stone is defending well for now.

Stone manages to break the clinch.
Gamble dives in for a single leg takedown but Stone sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Stone closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gamble throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stone breaks from the clinch.
Gamble shoots in but no luck this time.
Gamble fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stone shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gamble as he avoids it easily.
Gamble fails with a takedown attempt.
Stone throws a big counter combination but Gamble scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Stone instigates a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Xzavier Gamble.
Well Stone has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Angus Stone!