PBP Commentary

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

Stokes
vs
Wittingham

151 cm
25
279 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

189 cm
24
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Can Moonwalk

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Francesco Stokes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Josh Wittingham!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Aafke Stam and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wittingham decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Stokes has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Wittingham is on him like a limpet, forcing Stokes back against the cage.
Stokes wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Wittingham manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Wittingham not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Stokes stands up from Wittingham's guard - Stokes perhaps looking for a knockout.

Wittingham moves into range and clinches up with Stokes.

Stokes jumps into guard, dragging Wittingham to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Wittingham got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stokes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Wittingham has managed to get both his arms back between Stokes's legs - danger averted.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stokes keeping moving, preventing Wittingham from controlling successfully.
Wittingham throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wittingham throws a big elbow that misses.
Stokes manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Wittingham is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Stokes working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Wittingham avoids a series of strikes thrown by Stokes.
Wittingham is working to get back to half guard.

Stokes has hold of Wittingham's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Wittingham manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Stokes scoring with strikes but Wittingham is staying in there.
Stokes has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wittingham is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Stokes working for a guillotine from mount but Wittingham is in no mood to give up.
Stokes can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Wittingham is looking to escape.

Stokes working for a guillotine from mount but Wittingham is in no mood to give up.
Wittingham can't escape the position.
Stokes controlling from mount.
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!

Stokes stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wittingham closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stokes jumps guard but Wittingham stands there with Stokes around his waist. Stokes gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stokes drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Wittingham gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Stokes blocks an elbow strike.
Stokes could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Stokes 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 Francesco Stokes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stokes jumps guard and drags Wittingham to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Stokes working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Wittingham has passed into half guard!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wittingham stalling.
Stokes keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wittingham passes to full mount!
Stokes is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Wittingham is working for a guillotine from mount but Stokes frees his head quite easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wittingham looking to control and managing it successfully.
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 Francesco Stokes will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Wittingham drives through and clinches with Stokes against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Stokes.
Stokes is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Stokes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Wittingham throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Stokes tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Wittingham is in Stokes's guard.
Stokes keeping moving, preventing Wittingham from controlling successfully.
Wittingham prevents Stokes from getting back to his feet.
Wittingham passes Stokes's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wittingham throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Wittingham trying to control the action but Stokes is working from the bottom.
Stokes throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Wittingham stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Stokes to get to his feet.

Wittingham looking to score a takedown here. Stokes is defending well but Wittingham drives through and ends up in Stokes's guard.

Stokes working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Wittingham doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Wittingham manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Stokes wants to stand and escape but Wittingham is having none of it.
Wittingham must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wittingham stands and throws Stokes's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Stokes gets back to half guard.
Wittingham trying to control the action but Stokes is working from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Wittingham stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
A head kick by Wittingham misses

and Stokes counters by moving into the clinch.

Wittingham has hold of one of Stokes's legs. Stokes is fighting the takedown attempt but Wittingham gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Wittingham stopping the sweep attempt from Stokes.
Wittingham slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Wittingham is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stokes is looking for a triangle but Wittingham pushes his legs off easily.

Stokes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stokes wants to stand but Wittingham is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wittingham stops Stokes from standing up.
Wittingham trying to control but Stokes is working from the bottom.
Wittingham is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Stokes has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Wittingham is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Stokes.
Wittingham remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wittingham misses with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Wittingham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Wittingham misses with a head kick.

Wittingham gets a double leg takedown into Stokes's guard.
Wittingham is looking to work some ground and pound but Stokes has wrist control.

Stokes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Wittingham defends well.
Stokes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Wittingham is controlling him.
Wittingham trying to control but Stokes is working from the bottom.
Wittingham sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Wittingham trying to control but Stokes is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stokes is looking for a triangle here but Wittingham uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Wittingham wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stokes keeps working.
Stokes defending against the ground and pound.
Stokes is looking to reverse the position.
Wittingham tries to advance to mount but can't.
Josh Wittingham has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wittingham trying to control the position but Stokes is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wittingham stands up.

Wittingham instigates a clinch.

Stokes manages to pull guard.

Stokes throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Wittingham wants to control from the top but Stokes keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stokes wants to stand and escape but Wittingham is having none of it.

Stokes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Wittingham defends it easily.

Stokes has an active guard here but Wittingham has managed to pass into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stokes is looking to get back to is feet but Wittingham passes into side control.
Wittingham wants to control but Stokes is keeping him busy.
Stokes gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Wittingham looking to control but Stokes is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wittingham looking to ground and pound but Stokes is blocking nicely.
Stokes is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Wittingham sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Wittingham sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Wittingham throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Stokes squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Wittingham comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Wittingham 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

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