PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Fuego Salsa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fred Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Salsa
vs
Stone

168 cm
25
152 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

175 cm
20
150 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fuego Salsa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fred Stone!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salsa on the wrong end of a nice hook.

It looks like Fuego Salsa has been cut.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Stone throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Salsa shoots in looking for a takedown. Stone tries to sprawl out of it but Salsa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stone manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Stone scores with a hook to the body. Salsa takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Salsa shoots for a takedown but Stone saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Salsa tries for a takedown but Stone sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fuego Salsa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some wild striking there from Stone.
Salsa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stone defends it nicely.
Salsa moves out of range of the leg kick from Stone.

Salsa shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Salsa is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Stone has managed to free his arm - good work.

Salsa is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Salsa is breathing heavily.

Salsa wants to work for an arm triangle but Stone is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone is looking to escape.
Salsa works his foot free and advances to mount.

Salsa looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Stone regains half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stone is looking to control Salsa's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stone avoid being mounted?

Salsa is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone is concentrating on defense, preventing Salsa from advancing position.
Stone is trying to get back to full guard.
Stone wants to get back to his feet.

Salsa is looking for a kimura but Stone is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Salsa to get the leverage.

Salsa is working for a kimura but Stone is defending it quite comfortably.
Stone wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Stone misses with the combination.

Salsa scores a takedown into full mount!

Salsa looking to secure an arm triangle but Stone defends it well.
Stone is working to get back to half guard.

Salsa goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Stone turns into him and now he's in Salsa's guard.
Stone distracts Salsa with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Stone postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stone trying to control the position from guard on top but Salsa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Salsa 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone passes Salsa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Stone winds up and cracks Salsa with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
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. Stone connects with a nice short shot to Salsa's temple.
Salsa gets full guard.
Stone wants to control from the top but Salsa keeps moving.
Stone wants to pass the guard but Salsa is keeping the position.

Salsa is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stone is aware though and is defending well.

Salsa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stone works over Salsa with some ground and pound from guard.

Salsa looking for a guillotine here but Stone defends easily.
Stone looking to pass the guard.
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 Fuego Salsa will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Fuego Salsa's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stone tests Salsa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Fuego Salsa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stone lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Stone misses with a body kick.
Stone scores with a nice right hand.
Stone stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stone wants it to stay on the feet.
Stone leaves Salsa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Stone throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Salsa takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Stone has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Nice takedown defense from Stone. No joy for Salsa on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fuego Salsa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stone tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Salsa is able to avoid easily.

Stone throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Salsa was covering up waiting for the punch and Stone finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Stone missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stone stands up over Salsa, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Stone not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stone in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salsa wants to stand but Stone is controlling the position.
Stone wants to control from the top but Salsa keeps moving.
Stone is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Salsa is looking for a triangle but Stone pushes his legs off easily.
Stone throws a big right hand that misses.

Salsa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stone defends well.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Stone's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Stone sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Salsa's guard.
Stone really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Salsa. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Stone not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Salsa regains full guard. Nicely done.

Stone avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Stone pushing down on Salsa's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stone seems to be working for a kimura but Salsa defends the submission attempt.

Salsa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Stone pulls his head out easily.
Salsa is trying to get back to full guard.

Salsa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Stone pulls his head out easily.
Salsa is looking to escape.
Stone is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Stone scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Stone is looking to take a break and control but Salsa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Stone is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Stone prevents Salsa from standing back up.
Stone is trying to control the action in half guard but Salsa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone wants to pass to mount but Salsa is defending the position.
Stone trying to control the action but Salsa is working from the bottom.
Stone thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Salsa won't allow Stone to pass to mount.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Salsa looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Stone!
Stone working to try and regain half guard.

Salsa looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Salsa moves to the back position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Stone fending off the submission attempt from Salsa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone is trying to break free.
Stone is trying to get back to his feet but Salsa has full control of the position and if anything, Stone has just worked his way into a worse spot.
I really don't envy Stone right now.
Stone wants to get back to his feet.
Stone trying to control but not successfully.

Salsa has got his arm under Stone's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Stone has spun round into Salsa's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Stone showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Fuego Salsa's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Salsa on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Salsa has his takedown stuffed

and Stone counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Stone avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Stone scoring with some ground and pound.
Salsa keeping moving, preventing Stone from controlling successfully.
Stone must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Stone wants to get up but he can't break Salsa's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Salsa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Stone trying to control but Salsa is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Salsa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Stone is working Salsa over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Salsa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stone trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Stone lands a couple of digs.
Salsa keeping moving, preventing Stone from controlling successfully.
Fuego Salsa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stone working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Stone wants to pass the guard but Salsa is keeping the position.

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

Salsa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stone doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stone manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Stone content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Stone gets to his feet. Salsa looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Stone shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Stone wants to take a breather but Salsa is having none of it.
Stone prevents Salsa from improving his position.

Salsa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Stone is looking to advance position but Salsa won't allow it.
Salsa is refusing to be controlled, as Stone sits in half guard.
Salsa tries to get to full guard but Stone has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone wants to pass to mount but Salsa is defending the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Salsa manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Stone pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Salsa is keeping the position for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Salsa with a lazy takedown attempt

and Stone counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Salsa's guard now.
Stone wants to get up but he can't break Salsa's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Salsa is looking for a triangle but Stone pushes his legs off easily.
Stone tries to free his leg and advance position but Salsa is retaining full guard.
Stone stands and throws Salsa's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Salsa is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Stone is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Salsa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Salsa sneaks out the side door and pushes Stone away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Stone's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Stone duly obliges.
Salsa misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Stone to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fuego Salsa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stone closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Salsa to the mat! Salsa manages to get full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salsa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Salsa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stone defends it easily.

Salsa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stone defends well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stone tries to free his leg and advance position but Salsa is retaining full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fred Stone comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stone has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

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