PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Reynolds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damon Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stone has chosen One Step Closer by Linkin Park as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Reynolds
vs
Stone

178 cm
23
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
20
180 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Marcus Reynolds!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Damon Stone!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stone fails with a takedown attempt.

Reynolds shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Stone manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stone is on top in guard.
Reynolds is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Reynolds preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Reynolds is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stone postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Reynolds working for a triangle but Stone defends it easily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Stone shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Reynolds manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Reynolds has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stone can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Stone throws a big right hand that misses.

Reynolds looking for a guillotine here but Stone defends easily.
Stone postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Reynolds utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Reynolds utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Reynolds working for a triangle but Stone defends it easily.
Reynolds is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Stone's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stone lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Stone throwing strikes from guard but Reynolds blocks nicely.
Reynolds pulls Stone in close to prevent any damage.
Reynolds on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Reynolds tries to get out of the position.

Reynolds is looking for a triangle but Stone pushes his legs off easily.
Reynolds wants to sweep here but Stone controlling him for the moment.
Stone tries to free his leg and advance position but Reynolds is retaining full guard.
Stone stopping the sweep attempt from Reynolds.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Reynolds is on top in guard.
Reynolds working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone looking for a sweep. Not yet Stone, not yet.
Reynolds looking to pass the guard.
Stone wants to stand up but Reynolds is controlling him.
Stone wants to sweep but no luck.
Reynolds working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Stone has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Stone is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Stone is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Reynolds defends well.
Stone looks gassed!

Reynolds thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Reynolds advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Stone tries to buck Reynolds off but Reynolds is having none of it.
Reynolds landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Reynolds scoring with punches and elbows.
Stone is looking for a sweep.
Stone sneaks back into half guard.

Reynolds is working for a kimura but Stone is defending it quite comfortably.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Reynolds lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Stone is trying to stand up here but Reynolds is controlling him well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stone is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Marcus Reynolds 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.

Stone misses with a takedown

and Reynolds counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Stone tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Reynolds scoring with punches to the head and body.

Stone looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Reynolds distracts Stone with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Reynolds landing with the ground and pound.
Reynolds has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Reynolds working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Reynolds chips away with some ground and pound.
Stone looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Reynolds loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Reynolds throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Reynolds throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stone works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stone lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Reynolds!
Stone is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reynolds tries to lock up and control but Stone gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Reynolds bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Reynolds lands a couple of elbows.
Stone avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stone preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Stone has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Reynolds off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Stone darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Reynolds tries to roll over but Stone keeps him under control.

Reynolds looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds is looking for a sweep. Stone is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Reynolds is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Stone's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Stone's back!
Stone is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Stone covering up well under a series of strikes from Reynolds.

Reynolds is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Stone is defending well though. Reynolds let's go of the attempt for now.
Stone tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Stone squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Reynolds putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Stone tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stone wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone working to try and regain half guard.
Reynolds breaks from Stone's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Stone taking shots to the head.
Reynolds with the ground and pound from mount.

Reynolds working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Reynolds landing strikes, looking to finish!
Reynolds lands a nice shot to the head.
Reynolds thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Marcus Reynolds overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stone can't escape the position.
Stone in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Reynolds with the ground and pound from mount.
Stone working to try and regain half guard.
Reynolds with the ground and pound from mount.

Reynolds goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Stone is on top in guard.

Reynolds escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stone gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Reynolds is trying to control the position but Stone postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stone advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Reynolds dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Reynolds misses the jab.
Stone doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Reynolds counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stone won't be happy with that.
Stone is looking to reverse the position.
Reynolds grinds an elbow into Stone's temple.
Stone takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Stone sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stone manages to get to full guard.
Reynolds works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Reynolds throwing shots but Stone is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reynolds missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Reynolds is working for a submission of some sort.
Reynolds throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Stone makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Reynolds will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stone misses with a takedown

and Reynolds decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Stone's guard.
Reynolds is working Stone over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Stone manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Reynolds tries to hold on but Stone pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds is desperately trying to improve his position but Stone has a good base and remains in mount.
Reynolds is working hard here to advance position.

Stone is working for a guillotine from mount but Reynolds frees his head quite easily.
Reynolds keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Reynolds tries to lock up and control but Stone gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Reynolds manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Stone prevents Reynolds from improving his position.
Reynolds moves into full guard.
Damon Stone has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stone scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stone drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Stone jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Stone is fighting to break Reynolds's control of his arms but Reynolds is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Stone working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Reynolds's head.

Reynolds escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stone gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Stone thows a big elbow that misses.
Stone works over Reynolds with some ground and pound from guard.
Stone working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Stone postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Stone throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Reynolds works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Reynolds working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Reynolds is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Stone's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Marcus Reynolds is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Stone drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Stone jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Stone preventing the sweep.
Reynolds has Stone pulled in close to control his posture.
Reynolds looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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

and Stone counters with a nice double leg into side control. Reynolds won't be happy with that.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Reynolds is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Reynolds's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Stone working the head and body with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Marcus Reynolds.
Well Reynolds 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Reynolds!