PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Ness (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ellis Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ness
vs
Stone

177 cm
22
184 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

180 cm
24
163 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Ness!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ellis Stone!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ness dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ness shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stone defends it nicely.
Ness keeps the fight on the outside.
Stone ducks under a wild hook from Ness.
A combination from Ness does no damage.
Ness misses with a few strikes there.

Stone clinches up against the cage.
Stone tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ness is working for takedown but Stone is calmly controlling the position for now.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Ness is trying to break the clinch but Stone has him pressed against the cage.
Ness goes for a takedown in the clinch but Stone prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Ness. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ness goes for a takedown in the clinch but Stone prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Ness tries for a takedown but Stone manages to get underhooks.
Stone pressing his opponent against the cage.
Ness wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ness is trying to break the clinch but Stone has him pressed against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Ness drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stone pulls his leg out and moves away.

Stone shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Stone showed some decent athleticism there.
Stone content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ness wants to control but Stone is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stone seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Ness gets full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ness is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone keeping full guard, as Ness tries to pass.
Ness missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ness stops Stone from standing up.
Ness postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stone wants to stand up but Ness is controlling him.
Ness lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Ness in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ness misses with a takedown

and Stone counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Stone wants to take a breather but Ness is having none of it.
Ness is trying to get back to full guard.
Stone controlling the action here.
Ness tries to get to full guard but Stone has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ellis Stone dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ness misses with a takedown attempt
and Stone counters with a three punch combo that has Ness backing up. Ness nods at Stone to acknowledge the strikes.
Stone tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ness paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stone fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stone throws a nice looking combination but Ness bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Stone fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ness sprawls well initially but Stone persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ness is looking to improve his position.
Ness is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Ness tries to roll over but Stone keeps him under control.
Stone looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Stone is keen to just control but Ness is a slippery customer.

That's two 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ness misses with a jab to the body
and Stone counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Stone wants to clinch up but Ness keeps it at a distance.
Ness throws a big shot that misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stone looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice defenses there by Stone.
Stone throws a series of punches but Ness avoids them all with ease.
Ness fails with the takedown

and Stone counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Stone.

Ness breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A jab from Ness misses.

Stone gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ness working hard to break the clinch.
Ness has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone tries for a takedown. No joy.
Stone can't find room to land a body shot as Ness controls the action.
Stone has Ness pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ness manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Ness is looking to break free of the clinch but Stone has double underhooks.

Ness lands a takedown into guard.
Ness wants to control from the top but Stone keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stone is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Stone is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Ness trying to control but Stone is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ness stops Stone from standing up.
Ness stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stone swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stone wants to sweep here but Ness controlling him for the moment.
Ness distracts Stone with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ness throws a big right hand that misses.
Ness trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ellis Stone showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ness shoots and misses
and Stone counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ness thows a left - swing and a miss!
A combination from Stone does no damage.
Stone tries to clinch up.
Ness fails with a takedown attempt.
Ness misses the shot to the body.
Stone tries to close the distance and clinch but Ness swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A jab from Ness misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stone is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ness sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ellis Stone is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ness throws out a loose jab but Stone uses good head movement to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Ness throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ness tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stone was well out of range. Poor timing from Ness.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ness misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stone moves into the clinch.

Ness has hold of one of Stone's legs. Stone is fighting the takedown attempt but Ness gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Stone is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Ness with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stone trying to keep a closed guard but Ness is proving a slippery customer.
Stone trying to control the position here.
Ness tries to free his leg and advance position but Stone is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ness stops Stone from standing up.
Ness throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stone works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Stone throws a right and a left that both miss.
Stone takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ness loads up on a big right hand but Stone slips the punch.
Stone moves away from the strike by Ness.
Ness misses with a jab to the body

and Stone counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone trying to control the position but instead, Ness has worked for underhooks and has pushed Stone into the cage.
Ness fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ness drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Ness. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ness is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Stone gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Stone. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Ness works on Stone's body with a couple of short punches.

Stone gets control of Ness's arms and successfully pulls guard. Stone will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Stone preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mike Ness has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ness tries to free his leg and advance position but Stone is retaining full guard.
Stone controls Ness momentarily but Ness frees himself.

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.
Stone wants to stand but Ness is controlling the position.
Ness throws a big right hand that misses.
Ellis Stone is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stone working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ness.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Stone fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ness, pushing him back against the cage.
Ness takes a shot to the head.
Ness misses with a body punch.
Ness tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ellis Stone.
I've got Stone winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

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