PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocco Mcbride (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rico Stokes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Mcbride
vs
Stokes

217 cm
24
215 lbs
3 - 4 - 1

176 cm
21
206 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Rocco Mcbride!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rico Stokes!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Ron Honeybunn and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stokes closes the distance and clinches.

Stokes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stokes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mcbride paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stokes throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mcbride tries to close the distance and clinch but Stokes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mcbride throws a sloppy head kick and Stokes moves out of range easily.
Stokes changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Stokes dives in for a single leg takedown but Mcbride sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stokes.
Mcbride seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Stokes tries to clinch up but Mcbride circles away and keeps his distance.
Mcbride really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stokes fails with the takedown.
Rocco Mcbride has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rico Stokes.
A slapping leg kick lands for Mcbride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcbride with a lazy takedown attempt
and Stokes counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Stokes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mcbride sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stokes somewhat.

Mcbride shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Stokes manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Mcbride wants to stand but Stokes is controlling his posture from full guard.
Stokes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stokes has Mcbride pulled in close to control his posture.
Stokes is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mcbride throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stokes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stokes looking to control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Stokes looking for a guillotine here but Mcbride defends easily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Stokes moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcbride is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Stokes tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mcbride smiles and moves away.
Stokes throws a head kick that misses.
Mcbride seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Mcbride clinches with his opponent.
Stokes should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Stokes breaks the clinch.

Mcbride throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Stokes was covering up waiting for the punch and Mcbride finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Stokes looks winded!
Mcbride would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Mcbride with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stokes trying to control the position.
Stokes looking for a sweep. Not yet Stokes, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stokes is trying to keep Mcbride in close.
Mcbride missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mcbride lands a couple of digs.
Stokes wants to stand but Mcbride is controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mcbride tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stokes swivels and escapes.
Mcbride shoots for a takedown but Stokes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mcbride tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Stokes defends well and Mcbride ends up having to push Stokes into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Stokes swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Stokes throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mcbride's waist but Mcbride gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stokes off to one side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocco Mcbride dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rocco Mcbride's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Stokes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mcbride manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mcbride quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Stokes lands a head kick. Mcbride smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Stokes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mcbride counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Stokes is looking to clinch.
Mcbride doesn't manage to clinch there - Stokes circles away.

Stokes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stokes goes for a takedown attempt but Mcbride pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mcbride tries to clinch up.
Rico Stokes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stokes fails with a takedown attempt.
Rocco Mcbride has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rico Stokes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcbride swats away the attempt to clinch by Stokes.
Stokes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mcbride was well out of range. Poor timing from Stokes.
Mcbride doesn't manage to clinch there - Stokes circles away.
Stokes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mcbride is fending him off so far but Stokes persists. Nope, Mcbride circles away and we're back to standing.
Stokes is breathing heavily.
Stokes with a poor takedown

and Mcbride counters by moving into the clinch.
Mcbride taking a breather.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Stokes fails to pull guard.
Stokes tries to break free but Mcbride pushes him back against the cage.
Stokes misses with a knee to the head.
Mcbride is trying to force a seperation but Stokes has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mcbride taking a breather.
Stalling in the clinch from Mcbride.
Stokes is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Mcbride is stalling here.
Stokes looking to stall.

Mcbride pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stokes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mcbride throws a quick counter kick to the body but Stokes avoids it.
Mcbride looks for a takedown but Stokes sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stokes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mcbride manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stokes with a poor takedown
and Mcbride counters with a series of strikes. Stokes will be more careful next time no doubt.
Nice takedown defense from Mcbride. No joy for Stokes on that attempt.
Stokes has a takedown stuffed.
Mcbride is looking for a counter combo.
Mcbride shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stokes sprawls well. Stokes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mcbride gets slowly back to his feet.
Mcbride is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stokes can do to turn this around?
Stokes misses with a combination
and Mcbride counters with a one-two to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mcbride closes the distance and clinches.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Stokes jumps guard but Mcbride stands there with Stokes around his waist. Stokes gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stokes has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mcbride after a bit of a struggle.
Stokes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mcbride pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Stokes. No joy for Mcbride on that attempt.
Stokes displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mcbride.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocco Mcbride dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rocco Mcbride's cut.
That's time! Mcbride's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Stokes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stokes is looking to clinch.
Mcbride attempts a counter takedown but Stokes avoids it well and moves away.
Rocco Mcbride is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mcbride is defended easily by Stokes.
Mcbride avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stokes with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mcbride counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Stokes is lucky that one didn't land flush.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stokes is looking to clinch but Mcbride is avoiding it.
Stokes has a takedown stuffed.
Rocco Mcbride has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rico Stokes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stokes shoots in and drives through. Mcbride sprawls well.
Mcbride tries to counter by clinching up but Stokes breaks away and moves out of range.
Stokes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stokes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mcbride is fending him off so far but Stokes persists. Nope, Mcbride circles away and we're back to standing.
Mcbride tries to counter by clinching up but Stokes breaks away and moves out of range.
Mcbride looks for a takedown but Stokes sprawls well.

Mcbride gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Mcbride's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mcbride defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stokes.
Mcbride throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Stokes.
Mcbride keeps the fight on the outside.
It appears Mcbride was looking to counter with a kick there.
Mcbride is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stokes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stokes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mcbride paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mcbride throws a counter high kick but Stokes was just alert enough to avoid it.
Stokes goes for a double leg but Mcbride avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mcbride continues to drive forward.
Mcbride leaves Stokes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rico Stokes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mcbride.
Stokes feints the counter takedown.

Stokes gets a clinch.
Mcbride has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stokes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stokes throws a head kick but Mcbride moves out of range.
Stokes goes for a double leg but Mcbride avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mcbride continues to drive forward.

Mcbride fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Stokes to the ground. Mcbride is now in Stokes's guard.

Mcbride gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Stokes wants to clinch
and Mcbride connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Mcbride looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Stokes!

Mcbride tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Mcbride has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stokes is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Mcbride off and has taken his back!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stokes trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Mcbride trying to control the action but Stokes just sinks the hooks in.
Stokes missing with strikes.
Mcbride trying to control the hands but Stokes breaks the grip.
Mcbride wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rocco Mcbride showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mcbride has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocco Mcbride!