PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Doctor Gonzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Stephenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gonzo
vs
Stephenson

189 cm
18
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
245 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Doctor Gonzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, George Stephenson!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Steven Brown and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stephenson drops Gonzo with a beautiful combination! Gonzo stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Stephenson is looking for the KO!

It looks like Doctor Gonzo has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Gonzo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Stephenson sprawls well initially but Gonzo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Gonzo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stephenson's head.
Gonzo prevents Stephenson from standing back up.

Stephenson makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Some wild striking there from Stephenson.

Stephenson scores a takedown into full mount!
Stephenson moves to back control.

Gonzo showing good submission defense here.

Stephenson looking for the choke but no joy.
Stephenson looks gassed!
Gonzo looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephenson is hanging on to Gonzo's back as he tries to escape.
Gonzo just trying to survive but Stephenson is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Gonzo is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Stephenson gets his way!

Stephenson working for the choke.
Gonzo is in bad spot here.
Stephenson avoiding Gonzo 's attempts to control his hands.

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.
Gonzo is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Stephenson lands punches and elbows.
Gonzo trying to control the position but Stephenson manages to sink in the hooks.

Stephenson is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Gonzo is defending well though. Stephenson let's go of the attempt for now.
Gonzo rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Gonzo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gonzo tries to get out of the position.
Gonzo is trying to control but can't.
It looks like Stephenson is going to stand back up.
Gonzo is trying to get back to full guard.
Stephenson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gonzo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson prevents Gonzo from improving his position.

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

Gonzo drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gonzo thows a big elbow that misses.
Gonzo thows a big elbow that misses.
Stephenson keeping moving, preventing Gonzo from controlling successfully.
Gonzo prevents Stephenson from getting back to his feet.
Stephenson can't keep his opponent in guard - Gonzo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Stephenson is not content to let Gonzo control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzo is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Gonzo really is a fat lump.
Gonzo working the head and body with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gonzo thows a huge punch but Stephenson dodges it nicely.
Gonzo trying to control from half guard but Stephenson is working away.
Gonzo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gonzo trying to mount his opponent but Stephenson defends it.
Stephenson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gonzo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Stephenson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Doctor Gonzo's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gonzo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Gonzo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gonzo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Stephenson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gonzo.
Gonzo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Stephenson is trying to stand.
Gonzo misses with a head shot. Stephenson uses the momentum to regain guard.
Gonzo wants to control from the top but Stephenson keeps moving.
Gonzo looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stephenson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stephenson is breathing heavily.
Gonzo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stephenson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gonzo throws a nice looking combination but Stephenson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Stephenson misses with a two punch combination.
Stephenson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Gonzo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gonzo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gonzo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gonzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Stephenson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson keeping full guard, as Gonzo tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gonzo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gonzo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Gonzo stands up and waves to Stephenson to follow him.
Stephenson tries for a takedown but Gonzo circles away easily

and Gonzo counters with a single leg into guard. Stephenson didn't expect that.
Gonzo throwing strikes from guard but Stephenson blocks nicely.
Gonzo wants to control from the top but Stephenson keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzo landing some decent shots from guard.
Stephenson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gonzo wants to control from the top but Stephenson keeps moving.
Gonzo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Stephenson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gonzo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gonzo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gonzo advances to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson is trying to stand back up but Gonzo is controlling him
Gonzo wants to take a breather but Stephenson is having none of it.
Gonzo stops Stephenson from getting back to his feet.
Stephenson tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Gonzo manages to move to mount!
Gonzo landing strikes, looking to finish!
Gonzo looking to control but Stephenson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gonzo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Doctor Gonzo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Doctor Gonzo's cut.
That's time! Gonzo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gonzo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Stephenson was covering up waiting for the punch and Gonzo finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Stephenson has his feet on Gonzo's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Stephenson tries for a takedown but Gonzo circles away easily

and Gonzo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gonzo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gonzo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gonzo prevents Stephenson from getting back to his feet.
Gonzo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stephenson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stephenson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stephenson keeping full guard, as Gonzo tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzo wants to control from the top but Stephenson keeps moving.
Gonzo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gonzo misses with the combination.
Stephenson with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gonzo counters with a single leg into guard. Stephenson didn't expect that.
Gonzo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stephenson's head.
Gonzo postures up in Stephenson's guard and throws a big left but Stephenson blocks it.
Gonzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Stephenson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gonzo postures up in Stephenson's guard and throws a big left but Stephenson blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson wants to stand and escape but Gonzo is having none of it.
Stephenson keeping moving, preventing Gonzo from controlling successfully.
Gonzo is working Stephenson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gonzo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gonzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Stephenson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Doctor Gonzo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gonzo with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stephenson is working an open guard so Gonzo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
George Stephenson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stephenson slips under a jab from Gonzo.

Gonzo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Stephenson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Gonzo.
Gonzo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stephenson keeps working.
The ground and pound from Gonzo seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Gonzo throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Gonzo landing a few strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzo sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Stephenson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Gonzo creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Stephenson sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Stephenson dodges the ground and pound from Gonzo.

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

Stephenson gets caught flat footed, as Gonzo shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gonzo won't allow Stephenson to get back to his feet.
Gonzo wants to control from the top but Stephenson keeps moving.
Gonzo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gonzo throws a big right hand that misses.
Gonzo with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gonzo chips away with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Doctor Gonzo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gonzo 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Doctor Gonzo!