PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between CJ Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nico Jermaine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Stone
vs
Jermaine

183 cm
27
135 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

173 cm
28
145 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, CJ Stone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nico Jermaine!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, David Schapiro and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jermaine shoots in looking for a takedown. Stone tries to sprawl out of it but Jermaine keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stone manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice sprawl there from Jermaine as Stone shoots in.
Stone doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Jermaine counters by clinching up.
Stone tries to break the clinch but Jermaine is controlling the position.
Stone tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for CJ Stone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jermaine is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Jermaine has Stone pressed against the cage, preventing Stone from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stone keeps control of Jermaine as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stone is trying to stall.
Stone goes for a takedown in the clinch but Jermaine prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nice body punch from Jermaine - that landed with a thud.
Stone is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Jermaine escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stone throws a combination that misses

and Jermaine counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stone won't be happy with that.
Jermaine is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Stone's shoulder. That is not cool.
Let's hope that Jermaine has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Stone is looking for a sweep.
Jermaine is staying tight to Stone's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Jermaine's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jermaine swings around for an armbar but Stone sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Jermaine's guard.
Jermaine lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jermaine seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Stone controls Jermaine momentarily but Jermaine frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jermaine stays in close to Stone's body and controls the position.
Jermaine looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Stone is looking to stand up but Jermaine isn't so interested in that idea.
Stone is trying to keep Jermaine in close.
Jermaine throws a big elbow that misses.
Jermaine is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four 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.
Stone looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Stone trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stone tries for a takedown but Jermaine circles away easily

and Jermaine counters by clinching up.
Stone misses with a body punch.
Stone really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Jermaine keeps control of Stone as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Jermaine jumps guard.
Stone tries to free his leg and advance position but Jermaine is retaining full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jermaine has his hands on Stone's head, controlling the position.

Jermaine had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stone defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nico Jermaine dominated that round.
That's time! Stone's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stone misses with a takedown attempt - Jermaine sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Jermaine is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Stone's half guard.

Jermaine stands up and beckons Stone to join him on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Jermaine as Stone shoots in.

Jermaine has taken the fight to the clinch.
Jermaine gets underhooks to prevent Stone's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for CJ Stone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jermaine wants the takedown. Stone is fighting it off but Jermaine persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Stone's guard against the cage.

Stone is working an open guard so Jermaine takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Jermaine has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stone falls off balance throwing a combination

and Jermaine counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jermaine throwing strikes from guard but Stone blocks nicely.
Jermaine is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Jermaine trying to move into half guard but instead Stone has managed to sweep!

Jermaine keeping moving, preventing Stone from controlling successfully.
Stone wants to stand but Jermaine has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Jermaine is pulling down on Stone's head. It's preventing any offense from Stone, at least for the moment.
Stone wants to control from the top but Jermaine keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Jermaine trying to control the position here.
Stone stands up over Jermaine, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jermaine throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Stone being controlled here momentarily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Jermaine tries a head kick but it misses.
Stone attempts a counter takedown but Jermaine avoids it well and moves away.

Jermaine throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Stone was covering up waiting for the punch and Jermaine finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Jermaine controls from within his opponent's guard.
Stone controls Jermaine momentarily but Jermaine frees himself.
Jermaine looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone wants to sweep but no luck.
Stone looking to control.
Stone working a defensive guard but Jermaine manages to pass into side control anyway.
Jermaine taking a breather here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jermaine misses with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nico Jermaine showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Jermaine moves into the clinch.

Jermaine has hold of one of Stone's legs. Stone is fighting the takedown attempt but Jermaine gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Stone trying to keep a closed guard but Jermaine is proving a slippery customer.

Jermaine gets to his feet. Stone looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Jermaine closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Stone quickly recovers to half guard.
Stone keeping hold of Jermaine's head, controlling as best he can.

Stone looking for submissions off his back.
Jermaine not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jermaine thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Jermaine is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Stone is just riding it out for now. Jermaine eventually gives up the hold.
Nico Jermaine has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jermaine is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Jermaine missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Stone trying to hold on to Jermaine's head to control him but Jermaine postures up.
Stone wants to improve his position but Jermaine is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jermaine content to control rather than advance.

Jermaine decides to return to a standing position.
Stone throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Stone looks to clinch
and Jermaine counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone wants to clinch

and Jermaine decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Stone's guard.
Stone is looking to stand back up but Jermaine counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Stone.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Jermaine is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Stone is trying to maintain the position but Jermaine is very close to passing his half guard.

Jermaine is looking for submissions but instead, Stone has regained full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jermaine got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stone has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Jermaine has managed to get both his arms back between Stone's legs - danger averted.
Stone being controlled here, momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Nico Jermaine comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Jermaine 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nico Jermaine!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Nico Jermaine waved his t-shirt featuring BlackStar Athletics 's logo in front of the cameras.