PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Wilkerson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Josh Stone has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Wilkerson
vs
Stone

195 cm
23
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Wilkerson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Josh Stone!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stone fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Wilkerson.
Stone fails with a takedown attempt.
Stone doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Wilkerson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Stone closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Stone escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wilkerson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
John Wilkerson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Stone.
Stone swats away the attempt to clinch by Wilkerson.
Nice sprawl there from Wilkerson as Stone shoots in.
Stone avoids a punch combination nicely.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Stone.
Wilkerson is breathing heavily.
Nice defenses there by Wilkerson.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Knees to the body from Stone.

Stone breaks the clinch.
Wilkerson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stone sprawls well. Stone wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Wilkerson gets slowly back to his feet.
Stone will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Stone moves into the clinch.
Wilkerson is trying to drag Stone to the mat but Stone just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A nice left hand lands by Stone.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stone breaks from the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Wilkerson. No joy for Stone on that attempt.

Stone drives through and clinches with Wilkerson against the cage.
Stone works on Wilkerson's body with a couple of short punches.

Stone escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Stone clinches.
Wilkerson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Stone tries a body shot but Wilkerson blocks it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Stone manages to break the clinch.
Stone checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Stone gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stone manages to break the clinch.

Stone has Wilkerson up against the cage in a clinch.
Stone has Wilkerson pushed against the cage.
Wilkerson fails to pull guard.
Stone slows down the pace here.
Stone connects with a nasty looking knee right to Wilkerson's face.
Stone wants a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stone manages to break the clinch.
Stone shoots in for a double leg but Wilkerson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stone throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Stone shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Wilkerson defends it nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stone.
Wilkerson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stone swivels and escapes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stone lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Stone fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Stone dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Stone misses with an attempted mid kick.
Stone shoots in for a double leg but Wilkerson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Wilkerson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wilkerson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Stone.
John Wilkerson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stone closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wilkerson circles away.
Wilkerson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Wilkerson just misses with a punch to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stone fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
John Wilkerson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Stone.
Stone bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Wilkerson's head.
Wilkerson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone shoots in but Wilkerson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Stone stuffs the takedown.
Wilkerson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Stone can pounce on him.

Stone has managed to clinch.
Stone tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Wilkerson just stands there and leans against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Wilkerson's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Stone breaks from the clinch.

Stone moves into the clinch.
Stone is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

Stone breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stone keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Stone scores with a jab.
Stone lands a head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stone moves into the clinch.

Stone manages to break the clinch.

Stone has closed the distance and engaged Wilkerson in a clinch.

Stone's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wilkerson shoots for a double leg takedown but Stone sprawls well. He's pushed Wilkerson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Wilkerson stuffs the takedown attempt from Stone. Stone gets slowly back to his feet.
Wilkerson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Stone swats away the attempt to clinch by Wilkerson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Stone.
Stone shoots in looking for a takedown. Wilkerson tries to sprawl out of it but Stone keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Wilkerson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Wilkerson gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Stone counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Stone shoots in for a double leg but Wilkerson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stone swats away the attempt to clinch by Wilkerson.
Stone fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stone.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Stone showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Wilkerson slaps away a takedown attempt from Stone, before circling back to the center of the mat.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Stone enables Wilkerson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Stone manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Wilkerson prevents Stone from getting back to his feet.
Stone trying to control the position.
Stone wants to sweep here but Wilkerson controlling him for the moment.
Stone is pulling down on Wilkerson's head. It's preventing any offense from Wilkerson, at least for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wilkerson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stone swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Josh Stone hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Stone forces Wilkerson back against the cage and clinches.
Stone can't get the takedown.
Stone prevents the takedown attempt.
Stone holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A short right from Stone.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone taking a breather.

Stone breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Stone. No joy for Wilkerson on that attempt.
Josh Stone seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stone shoots in for a takedown but Wilkerson shows good takedown defense.
John Wilkerson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Stone.
Wilkerson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stone fails to land the takedown.

Wilkerson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Stone controlling Wilkerson's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone is trying to keep Wilkerson in close.
Stone wants to sweep but no luck.
Stone is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Josh Stone hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Wilkerson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stone sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Stone with that takedown attempt.

Stone changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Wilkerson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Stone is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Wilkerson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Wilkerson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stone tries to pass the half guard into mount. Wilkerson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
John Wilkerson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Josh Stone is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Wilkerson looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

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