PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Stonedberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niten Dōraku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dōraku comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Ides Of Light - Jucifer kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Stonedberg
vs
Dōraku

197 cm
38
200 lbs
28 - 18 - 0

190 cm
34
201 lbs
21 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Perkele!
Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Michael Stonedberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Niten Dōraku!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dōraku takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like Niten Dōraku has been cut.
Dōraku misses with a few strikes there.
Stonedberg seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Stonedberg tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stonedberg throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Stonedberg enables Dōraku to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Stonedberg manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Dōraku postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dōraku in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stonedberg is looking to sweep but instead, Dōraku has passed into half guard.
Stonedberg tries to get to full guard but Dōraku has control of the leg.
Dōraku lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Dōraku wants to take a breather but Stonedberg is having none of it.
Stonedberg is looking to improve his position.
Stonedberg avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dōraku.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stonedberg is looking to escape.
Dōraku looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Dōraku not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dōraku landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Stonedberg on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Dōraku is looking to take a break and control but Stonedberg is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Stonedberg holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Stonedberg wants to control but Dōraku is keeping busy.
Stonedberg wants to improve his position but Dōraku is controlling well.
Dōraku throws a strike but Stonedberg avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Dōraku passes Stonedberg's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Dōraku working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stonedberg keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dōraku is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Dōraku there.
Dōraku seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Stonedberg is trying to stand.
Stonedberg on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stonedberg is trying to control but can't.
Stonedberg has hold of Dōraku's hands but Dōraku slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Stonedberg is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Dōraku lands a nice short elbow.
Stonedberg is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Dōraku scores with a couple of nice shots.
Dōraku scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Dōraku landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dōraku working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stonedberg has hold of Dōraku's hands but Dōraku slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Stonedberg blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dōraku.
Dōraku drops an elbow to the side of Stonedberg's head.
Stonedberg avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dōraku.
Dōraku lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Stonedberg is rocked!
Dōraku throws a strike but Stonedberg avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Dōraku stopping the sweep attempt from Stonedberg.
Dōraku looking to sit in guard and control but Stonedberg gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Stonedberg preventing the sweep.
Dōraku controls Stonedberg momentarily but Stonedberg frees himself.
Dōraku has control of Stonedberg's left arm, preventing Stonedberg from doing any damage.
Dōraku trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dōraku manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stonedberg manages to get himself to full guard.

Dōraku scoring with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dōraku missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dōraku throws a big right hand that misses.
Dōraku with a nice head shot there.
Dōraku trying to control the position from guard on top but Stonedberg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dōraku working some strikes from top position.
Stonedberg is looking to stand up but Dōraku isn't so interested in that idea.
Dōraku chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niten Dōraku dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Niten Dōraku's cut.
That's time! Stonedberg's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stonedberg misses the body punch
and Dōraku counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Stonedberg cracks Dōraku with an open hand slap.
Dōraku tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stonedberg misses with a jab to the body
and Dōraku counters with a stiff right hand.
Dōraku throws a leg kick
enabling Stonedberg to counter with a crisp jab.
Dōraku misses with a few strikes there.
Stonedberg walks into a straight right hand from Dōraku.
Stonedberg loads up on a big right hand but Dōraku slips the punch.
Dōraku has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nice body kick there by Stonedberg.
Stonedberg throws a jab but it's blocked by Dōraku.
Michael Stonedberg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stonedberg lands with a hook. Dōraku tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dōraku fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Stonedberg rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Dōraku counters with a straight right hand.
Stonedberg throws a head kick that misses.
Michael Stonedberg is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Dōraku lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Stonedberg has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Stonedberg and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A leg kick checked by Dōraku.
Stonedberg throws a head kick that misses
and Dōraku connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Stonedberg lands a jab.
Stonedberg misses with a right hand
and Dōraku counters with a solid body kick.
Dōraku moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Dōraku has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Stonedberg.
Stonedberg jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Dōraku lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Stonedberg misses with a few strikes there.
A jab from Dōraku does it's job there.
A telegraphed right hand from Dōraku misses the target.
Michael Stonedberg is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dōraku misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stonedberg throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Dōraku on the side of the head.
Dōraku shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stonedberg as he jumps to the side.
Stonedberg scores with the left hand. Dōraku knows he should have avoided that one.
Stonedberg misses with a body kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dōraku looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stonedberg connects with a looping right hand.
Stonedberg misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dōraku throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Stonedberg stuns Dōraku with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Dōraku uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stonedberg.

Dōraku shoots in and bounces Stonedberg off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Dōraku stopping the sweep attempt from Stonedberg.
Dōraku working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Dōraku landing some decent shots from guard.
Dōraku with a nice head shot there.
Stonedberg looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dōraku is one step ahead there.
Dōraku content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Oh Stonedberg is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dōraku landing with the ground and pound.
Stonedberg preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stonedberg seems to have got his legs back now.

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

Dōraku is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Stonedberg presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
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!
Dōraku misses with a short punch on the inside.

Stonedberg is fighting off a takedown attempt but Dōraku is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Stonedberg to the mat. Stonedberg regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Stonedberg wriggles free and stands up.
Stonedberg throws a lazy head kick
and Dōraku counters with a three punch combo that has Stonedberg backing up. Stonedberg nods at Dōraku to acknowledge the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Niten Dōraku will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Niten Dōraku's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Dōraku walks into a straight right hand from Stonedberg.
A big left from Stonedberg misses.
Dōraku feints the counter takedown.
Stonedberg ducks under a wild hook from Dōraku.
Dōraku bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A big right from Stonedberg misses.
Dōraku walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Stonedberg throws a combination. Dōraku tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Stonedberg gets tackled into the cage by Dōraku. Dōraku maintains the clinch.
Dōraku lands an uppercut.
Stonedberg tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dōraku's elbow.
Stonedberg tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stonedberg lands a body punch.

Dōraku has hold of one of Stonedberg's legs. Stonedberg is fighting the takedown attempt but Dōraku gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dōraku working some strikes from top position.
Stonedberg controls Dōraku momentarily but Dōraku frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dōraku with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Stonedberg tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dōraku is in close to Stonedberg's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dōraku stops Stonedberg from standing up.
Dōraku won't allow Stonedberg to sweep him here.
Dōraku content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Dōraku showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Stonedberg looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dōraku pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stonedberg is keeping the position for now.
Stonedberg looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Dōraku lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Stonedberg tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dōraku trying to control the position from guard on top but Stonedberg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dōraku is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Dōraku lands a couple of digs.
Michael Stonedberg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stonedberg tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dōraku sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Stonedberg's guard.
Dōraku lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Dōraku scores with a big shot! Stonedberg's head bounced off the canvas with a huge thud! More strikes land and the referee has jumped in to save Stonedberg! He was hurt real bad - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Niten Dōraku!
Niten Dōraku thanked the fans post fight for their support.