PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anthony J (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

J
vs
Stone

150 cm
22
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
21
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Lightning Fight Gear
Wellness Policy Muscle

Attliction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony J!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Thomas Stone!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Ackerman and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Stone - that will leave a mark!

J looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Stone wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

J seems to be working for a kimura but Stone defends the submission attempt.
J not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Stone is refusing to be controlled, as J sits in half guard.
Stone looks like he's trying to stand up.
Stone is not content to let J control the position.

J looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stone tries to clinch there but J circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
J moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Stone throws a jab when J was well out of range.
J stuffs the takedown.
Stone loads up on a big right hand but J slips the punch.
J tries for a takedown but Stone sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

J feints and as Stone raises his hands in defense, J changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
J slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
J is breathing heavily.
Stone wants to get back to his feet but J is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Stone is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and J dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone is trying to buck J off.
J wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stone keeps working.
Stone wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Stone trying to control but J flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Stone looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Stone is in bad spot here.

J patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Stone breaks J's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
J preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stone landing some decent shots from guard.
J has a closed guard, preventing Stone from standing up.
Stone throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone tries to stand but J is controlling from the bottom.

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 would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stone tries to clinch but J moves out of range.
Stone tries for a takedown but J circles away easily

and J counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Stone makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
J could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
J wants to clinch but Stone slips to the side

and Stone counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
J is trying to control but Stone passes into side control!
J sneaks back into half guard.
J holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
J might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Stone prevents J from improving his position.
J on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if J tries to get out of the position.
J makes his way to full guard. A much better position for J.

J pushes Stone off and scrambles back to his feet.

J clinches up with Stone and pushes him back against the cage.

Stone is fighting off a takedown attempt but J is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Stone to the mat. Stone regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
J trying to control but Stone is working from the bottom.
J lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
J works over Stone with some ground and pound from guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
J pushes down on Stone's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
J trying to control the pace.
Stone is staying active underneath J, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony J dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

J gets the takedown into side control.
J landing a few strikes.
J trying to control the position but Stone is working away.
Stone wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Stone manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Stone trying to control from half guard but J is working away.
J regains full guard. Nicely done.

Stone decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on J, up you get!
J fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

J closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - J lands in his opponent's guard.
Anthony J overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stone is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
J slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
J trying to control the position from guard on top but Stone is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stone wants to stand and escape but J is having none of it.
J wanted to stand there but Stone had control of the position.
J stops Stone from standing up.
J thows a big elbow that misses.
J wants to control from the top but Stone keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Stone has his takedown stuffed

and J decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Stone's guard.
Stone wants to stand up but J is controlling him.
J in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stone is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
J trying to control but Stone is working from the bottom.

J stands and steps away. Stone gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Stone tries to clinch but J moves away

so J counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

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

J instigates a clinch.

J breaks from the clinch.

Stone gets caught flat footed, as J shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Stone can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as J controls the pace.
Stone is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Stone 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.
Stone wants to stand but J is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone tries to strike from the bottom.
Stone looking to hit a scissor sweep but J is one step ahead there.

Stone has his feet on J's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Stone tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so J counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
J passes into half guard.
J controlling the pace.
J frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
J landing shots from mount.

Stone is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stone is wriggling around trying to escape.
Stone is still in real trouble! Can J finish him?

J has hold of Stone's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Stone manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
J prevents Stone from getting the reversal.
Stone seems to have recovered his senses.
J tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Stone trying desperately to get to his feet.
Stone is trying desperately to improve position.
Stone wants to try and get back to his feet.
J looking to finish with strikes here!
Stone is looking to improve his position but J isn't that keen on the idea.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stone tries to buck J off but he can't manage it.
Stone wants to hold on but J pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony J dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Stone shoots in for a double leg but J sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
J moves away from the strike by Stone.
Stone slips a jab from J.

Stone bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Stone decides to stand back up.
J misses with a double jab

and Stone counters with a single leg into guard. J didn't expect that.
Stone wanted to stand there but J had control of the position.
Stone makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Stone decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Stone connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
J looks to land a combination but Stone avoids it well.
Anthony J is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - J looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
J fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from J misses
and Stone counters with a good, hard body kick but J shrugs it off.
J uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stone.
J doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Stone counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stone wants to control from the top but J keeps moving.
Stone tries to stand but J is controlling from the bottom.
Stone stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. J swivels though and keeps the full guard.
J utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stone tries to stand but J is controlling from the bottom.
J wants to sweep here but Stone controlling him for the moment.
Stone wants to control from the top but J keeps moving.
J has a closed guard, preventing Stone from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Stone clinches up with J and pushes him back against the cage.

Stone breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

J closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - J lands in his opponent's guard.

Stone is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
J passes into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with J in particular looking to stall.
J seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stone does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
J is looking to advance position but Stone won't allow it.
J passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone tries to strike from the bottom but he's left himself exposed and J has taken his back.
J is working the ground and pound. Can Stone escape?

Stone defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Stone is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - J's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
J has the hooks in. Stone is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Stone is trying to stand back up.
J scores with punches to the body.
Thomas Stone has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
J gets his hands free as Stone looks to control.

Stone is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
Stone scores with a sloppy right hand. J should have avoided that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from J. No joy for Stone on that attempt.
Stone lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Stone misses with a wild body shot.

Stone clinches.
Stone misses with an elbow strike.
Stone scores with a nice hook to the head.
Stone scores with a hook to the body.
J tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony J. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stone swings wildly with an uppercut but J uses good head movement to avoid it.

Stone escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stone connects with a jab.
Stone wants to clinch.
Stone looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

J closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Stone actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Stone comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think J has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony J!