PBP Commentary

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

Stone
vs
Balisi

165 cm
18
151 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 Montreal, Luciano Stone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ambo Balisi!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Dillan Fox and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balisi throws a head kick that misses

and Stone counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Stone dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Balisi can't break the clinch.

Stone manages to pull guard.
Stone wants to stand but Balisi is controlling the position.
Balisi tries to free his leg and advance position but Stone is retaining full guard.
Stone wants to sweep here but Balisi controlling him for the moment.
Stone seems keen to control Balisi's posture.

Stone is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Balisi defends well.
Stone has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balisi stops Stone from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Balisi drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Stone manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Balisi has Stone in his guard.

Balisi looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Stone passes into half guard.

Balisi has one foot on Stone's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Balisi throws a head kick that misses.
It looked like Stone was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balisi with a poor takedown

and Stone decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Balisi's guard.
Balisi is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Stone dives into side control.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Balisi regains half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Stone stops Balisi from getting back to his feet.
Balisi tries to kick Stone off in order to stand up. Stone Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Balisi looks winded!
Stone in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Stone gets to mount! Balisi was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Balisi is looking to get to half guard.
Balisi's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone lands a nice shot to the head.
Balisi is in a horrible position here. Stone smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Balisi slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Stone seems to be looking for submissions.
Balisi scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Stone manages to mount him!
Balisi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Balisi is bucking up trying to escape but Stone cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Balisi tries to reverse the position but Stone maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone won't let Balisi get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Balisi working to try and regain half guard.
Stone scoring with strikes but Balisi is staying in there.
Balisi is in a horrible position here. Stone smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
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!
Balisi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The referee warns Balisi that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Stone cracks Balisi with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Stone lands a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stone moves into the clinch.
Balisi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Balisi is looking to break free of the clinch but Stone has double underhooks.
Balisi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
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.
Balisi drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stone taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Balisi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Stone ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Stone no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Stone 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.
Stone looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stone pulls Balisi in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balisi wants to pass the guard but Stone is keeping the position.
Balisi is still trying to improve position.
Balisi stops Stone from standing up.
Stone pulls Balisi in to control the position.
Balisi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Balisi postures up in Stone's guard and throws a big left but Stone blocks it.
Stone is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Luciano Stone overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stone wants to sweep here but Balisi controlling him for the moment.
Balisi with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stone avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stone has Balisi pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Balisi throws a head kick that Stone semi-blocks.

It looks like Luciano Stone has been cut.
Balisi is breathing heavily.
Balisi dives in for a single leg takedown but Stone sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A head kick by Balisi misses

and Stone decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Balisi's guard.
Stone is standing up over Balisi. Balisi looks to escape but Stone dives into side control.

Stone is looking to take a break and control but Balisi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Stone in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Stone tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balisi pushes Stone away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Stone gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Balisi is looking for a sweep.
Balisi tries to escape but Stone is in control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stone working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Stone working the head with strikes.
Stone is chipping away with strikes.
Balisi is trying to work for a sweep but Stone has mounted him!
Balisi slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Balisi wants to stand back up but Stone manages to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balisi is looking to get back to his feet here but Stone is keeping cool and he's managed to take Balisi's back.
Can Balisi hold on?! Stone is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.

Stone is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Stone is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Balisi can do to turn this around?

Stone is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Balisi knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Balisi for a finish.
Balisi tries to escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balisi keeps trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luciano Stone dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Luciano Stone's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Balisi moves away from the strike by Stone.
Balisi throws a sloppy head kick

and Stone counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Balisi!
Stone cracks Balisi with a big right hand but Balisi just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Balisi is trying to buck Stone off.
Balisi tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Stone lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stone patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Stone has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Balisi is trying to stand back up.
Balisi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stone lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balisi turns into Stone and is now in his guard.
Balisi tries to free his leg and advance position but Stone is retaining full guard.
Balisi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stone is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Balisi is controlling him.

Stone working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Balisi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Balisi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Balisi looking to pass the guard.
Stone controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balisi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stone manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Balisi manages to get himself to full guard.

Balisi looking for a guillotine here but Stone defends easily.
Stone lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Balisi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stone is one step ahead there.
Balisi has momentary wrist control but Stone slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balisi wants to hit a switch here but Stone passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Balisi there!
Balisi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Balisi tries to buck Stone off but he can't manage it.
Balisi working to try and regain half guard.
Stone landing shots from mount.
Ambo Balisi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balisi sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Stone in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Balisi tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Stone!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Luciano Stone!