PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Keith Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Baldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Stone
vs
Baldo

177 cm
18
148 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Keith Stone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Baldo!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baldo throws a front kick aimed at Stone's knee but Stone avoids it well.
Baldo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stone.
Baldo tries to close the distance and clinch but Stone swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stone has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Baldo takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Stone fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Baldo is out of range.
Baldo tries to close the distance and clinch but Stone swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Baldo needs to keep his hands up - Stone had a free shot at his head there.
Stone keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Stone connects with a good right hand that stumbles Baldo. Baldo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Baldo slips under a jab from Stone.
Baldo is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Baldo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Baldo gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Baldo moves to clinch but Stone breaks away
and Stone counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stone fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Baldo looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Baldo throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baldo tries to clinch there but Stone circles away.
Stone lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
No joy there for Stone, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Baldo fails to land with a series of punches.
Stone misses the jab.
Stone throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Baldo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Baldo tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Stone counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Baldo ducks right into an uppercut from Stone.
Stone misses with a leg kick
and Baldo counters with a one-two to the body.
Stone showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Baldo.
Stone avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Baldo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stone throws out the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baldo throws a sloppy head kick and Stone moves out of range easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stone throws a body punch but Baldo moves out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Baldo.
Good work by Baldo as he checks the leg kick.
Stone throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Baldo throws a fast counter high kick but Stone manages to duck under it in time.
Baldo fails in his attempt to clinch.
A quick step to the side and Stone tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stone throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Baldo drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Stone defends it well.
Stone lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Baldo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Baldo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stone throws out the jab.
Stone throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Baldo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Baldo defending well as Stone loads up on a big left hand.
Stone throws a jab when Baldo was well out of range.
Baldo misses with a combination
and Stone counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baldo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stone misses with a right hand
and Baldo counters with a nice leg kick.
Stone comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Baldo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Stone throws a body shot but no joy.
Stone throws out a loose jab but Baldo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stone dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Stone misses with a hook.
Stone scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Baldo doesn't seem bothered though.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Stone!
Stone wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Stone scores with a jab. Baldo acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baldo takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baldo tries to clinch up.
Stone ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Baldo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stone swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Baldo tries to clinch there but Stone circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Stone misses the target.
Baldo throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Baldo looks winded!
Baldo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stone throws out the jab.
Stone throws a big shot that misses.

Baldo closes the distance and clinches.
Stone manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Stone breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stone is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Baldo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Stone 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 hook. Baldo ducked under it nicely.
Baldo feints a counter leg kick.
Stone swats away the attempt to clinch by Baldo.
Baldo defending well as Stone loads up on a big left hand.
Stone has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Baldo takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Good leg kick by Baldo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Stone dodges the punch combination from Baldo.
The crowd cheers as Stone lands an impressive looking overhand right. Baldo doesn't seem phased though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baldo tries to clinch up but Stone circles away and keeps his distance.
Stone misses with a looping left.
Baldo takes a jab right on the kisser.
Stone just misses with a punch to the body.
Baldo fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good work by Baldo as he checks the leg kick.
Stone bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Baldo's head backwards.
Baldo is looking to clinch but Stone is avoiding it.
Stone connects with a looping right hand.
Baldo moves out of range as Stone strikes.
Stone wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Baldo tries to close the distance and clinch but Stone swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Baldo blocks a jab.
Stone takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Stone is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Baldo can do to turn this around?
Stone misses with a right hand
and Baldo counters with a series of strikes. Stone will be more careful next time no doubt.
Baldo lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Baldo tries to close the distance and clinch but Stone swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stone's jab looks to have found its range, popping Baldo under the eye.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stone looks to throw the jab but Baldo is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone throws a hook but Baldo avoids it easily.
Baldo tries to clinch but Stone moves away
and Stone counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Baldo wants to clinch.
Baldo feints a jab promting Stone to slip. Baldo then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Stone slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Stone misses with a leg kick.
A combination from Stone does no damage.
Stone with a hook.
Stone looks to land a left hand but Baldo moved out of range nicely.
Baldo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Baldo tries to clinch there but Stone circles away.
Stone was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone lunges at Baldo with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Baldo's hand.
Jab, jab by Stone - just one landing.
Baldo throws a nice looking combination but Stone bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Stone swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Baldo is breathing heavily.
Stone avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Baldo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Stone stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Stone drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stone jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Baldo walks away with a smile on his face. Stone gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Stone throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone lands a nice shot that snaps Baldo's head back.
Stone looks for the body kick but Baldo saw that one coming.
Baldo follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Stone keeps the fight on the outside.
Baldo throws out a leg kick but Stone moves out of range and Baldo only half commits.
Jose Baldo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stone slips a jab and a cross from Baldo.
Stone swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Stone throws a shot to the body.
Baldo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stone paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Baldo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Baldo tries to clinch there but Stone circles away.
Baldo has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
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!
Baldo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stone paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stone swats away the attempt to clinch by Baldo.
Baldo moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Stone dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Stone lands with a right hand.
Baldo tries to clinch but Stone is having none of it.
Baldo defending well as Stone loads up on a big left hand.
Baldo unleashes a big counter combination but Stone bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Stone throws a looping overhand right but Baldo ducks down to avoid it.
Baldo is looking for the big counter here.
Baldo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stone works the jab nicely.
Baldo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Baldo wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baldo moves in looking to clinch but Stone pushes him off.
Baldo ducks under a wild hook from Stone.
Stone fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Baldo manages to avoid it.
Baldo keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Baldo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stone manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Stone throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Stone keeps the fight on the outside.
Stone lands a slapping body shot.
Stone lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Baldo circles away quickly and effectively.
Baldo moves out of range as Stone strikes.
Baldo wants to clinch
and Stone counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Stone fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Baldo looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Stone connects with a crisp jab.
Baldo is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Baldo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stone misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone swats away the attempt to clinch by Baldo.
The fight stays on the outside here - Baldo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Baldo misses with a low kick.
Baldo tries to close the distance and clinch but Stone swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stone throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Baldo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Stone lands a really nice looking cross but Baldo seems unphased.
Baldo moves away from the strike by Stone.
Stone takes a swing at Baldo's ribcage but misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Baldo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baldo gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone works over Baldo's head and body with a nice combination.
Baldo wants to clinch.
Stone keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Baldo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Stone loads up on a big right hand but Baldo slips the punch.
Baldo tries to clinch but Stone is having none of it.
Stone was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Stone with a hook.
Stone throws a looping overhand right but Baldo ducks down to avoid it.
Baldo takes one on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baldo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Baldo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Keith Stone is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A big left from Stone misses.
Stone swats away the attempt to clinch by Baldo.
Stone is looking to counter punch.
Baldo moves out of range as Stone strikes.
Baldo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Baldo moves away from the strike by Stone.
Baldo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stone connects with a crisp jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keith Stone showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stone, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:26
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:26
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:26

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