PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pudsey Bear (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Stokoe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pudsey Bear has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Bear
vs
Stokoe

191 cm
19
191 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

210 cm
19
190 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Pudsey Bear!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Stokoe!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Donald Grub and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stokoe shoots for a takedown but Bear saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Bear shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Stokoe's guard.
Stokoe working a defensive guard here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stokoe is on top in guard.
Stokoe content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Stokoe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bear throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Bear looking to control.
Bear wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Stokoe is now in half guard.
Bear connecting with a few gentle strikes.
Stokoe thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bear's head.
Bear tries to roll over but Stokoe keeps him under control.
Stokoe wants to control but Bear is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bear misses with a body shot.
Bear tries to land a leg kick but Stokoe saw it coming and moves away.
Bear throws the left hand but Stokoe avoids the punch easily.
Bear tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Bear shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bear showed some decent athleticism there.
Stokoe trying to control from the bottom.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bear connects with a nice short shot to Stokoe's temple.
Bear missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stokoe regains full guard. Nicely done.
Bear is looking to work some ground and pound but Stokoe has wrist control.
Stokoe is looking to stand up but Bear isn't so interested in that idea.
Stokoe is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bear loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bear loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Bear postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Stokoe is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Bear, into his guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bear throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Stokoe trying to control the position from guard on top but Bear is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bear trying to strike off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stokoe would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Stokoe stands up over Bear, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Stokoe gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Stokoe gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Bear is breathing heavily.
Bear won't allow Stokoe to sweep him here.
Bear loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bear loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bear postures up.
Stokoe wants to get back to his feet but Bear is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bear has gone for a leg lock! Stokoe slips out almost immediately though and dives into Bear's guard.
Bear wants to sweep here but Stokoe controlling him for the moment.

Stokoe stands and steps away. Bear gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Bear looks to land a left hand but Stokoe moved out of range nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stokoe.
Pudsey Bear seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big left from Bear misses.
Bear pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bear misses with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pudsey Bear dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bear misses with an uppercut. Stokoe saw that one coming.
Bear misses the shot to the body.
Stokoe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stokoe wants it to stay on the feet.
Stokoe shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bear as he jumps to the side.
A combination from Bear does no damage.
Bear misses with the combination.
Bear is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stokoe sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bear circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stokoe throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Pudsey Bear has been cut.
Bear throws a head kick that misses
and Stokoe counters with a low kick, right behind Bear 's knee.
Bear swats away the attempt to clinch by Stokoe.
Stokoe misses with a takedown attempt - Bear sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Stokoe drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bear trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Stokoe stands up from Bear's guard - Stokoe perhaps looking for a knockout.
Stokoe thuds a left hand into Bear's body.
Stokoe shoots and misses

and Bear counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Pudsey Bear has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Stokoe.
Stokoe has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bear is working away from the top position though.
Stokoe pushes Bear off looking to stand but Bear dives back in and keeps control.
Stokoe on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Bear thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stokoe's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bear thows a huge punch but Stokoe dodges it nicely.
Bear not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bear is thwarting Stokoe's attempts to control the position.
Stokoe is pressing down on Bear's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Bear got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stokoe has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bear has managed to get both his arms back between Stokoe's legs - danger averted.
Bear throwing strikes but missing.
Stokoe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stokoe manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bear manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bear throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Stokoe pushes down on Bear's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Bear might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Stokoe trying to control from half guard but Bear is working away.
Bear wants to get back to full guard but Stokoe has mounted him!
Bear takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Stokoe lands a big shot there that rocks Bear but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Bear really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four 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.
Stokoe scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bear?
Bear on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bear tries to get out of the position.
BOOM! Stokoe connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stokoe controlling from the full mount.
Bear tries to reverse the position but Stokoe maintains control.
Bear knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Stokoe on the ground.
Bear is working hard here to advance position.

Stokoe is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Bear can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bear is trying to reverse the position but instead Stokoe has taken his back - oops!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Stokoe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Pudsey Bear's cut.
That's time! Bear's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Horrible takedown by Stokoe or perhaps it was just good defense by Bear which made him look bad.
Bear throws a leg kick
and Stokoe makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A head kick from Stokoe lands but Bear takes it in his stride.

Stokoe gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stokoe tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Stokoe prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bear goes for a takedown attempt but Stokoe pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A low kick from Bear is predictable there
and Stokoe counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bear throws a sloppy head kick
and Stokoe counters with a nice leg kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bear.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pudsey Bear. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A chopping leg kick lands by Stokoe.
Stokoe will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stokoe's corner calls for a 1-2. Stokoe obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stokoe looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Stokoe has a takedown stuffed.
A low kick from Bear is predictable there
and Stokoe counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Bear jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bear misses with a hook. Stokoe ducked under it nicely.
Stokoe uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bear.
Bear throws a big shot that misses.
Bear circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stokoe works over Bear's head and body with a nice combination.
Stokoe throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Stokoe looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Bear shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Stokoe's guard.
Stokoe looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stokoe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bear is one step ahead there.
Stokoe keeping moving, preventing Bear from controlling successfully.

Stokoe pushes Bear off and gets back to his feet.
Bear throws a hook but Stokoe avoids it easily.
Bear is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Stokoe's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
A head kick by Bear misses
and Stokoe counters with a right hand to the body.
Stokoe with a lazy takedown attempt

so Bear counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bear trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Bear got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stokoe has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bear has managed to get both his arms back between Stokoe's legs - danger averted.
Bear has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bear scoring with punches to the head and body.
Bear postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Stokoe throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Stokoe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pudsey Bear overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bear trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bear throws a strike but Stokoe rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bear is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stokoe pushing down on Bear's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Bear is trying to get back to full guard.
Stokoe trying to control the action but Bear is working from the bottom.
Bear wants to get back to full guard.
Stokoe blocks the strikes from Bear.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stokoe looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Alex Stokoe.
I think Stokoe 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 James Glass scores the fight 29:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!