PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Robert Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Thiablo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stone comes into the arena with Chill Bill blaring out of the sound system. Robert Stone has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Stone
vs
Thiablo

175 cm
18
150 lbs
5 - 2 - 1

169 cm
25
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Robert Stone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thiago Thiablo!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Bruno Lombardi and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Stone as Thiablo shoots in.
A slapping body kick lands there for Stone.
Stone throws a low kick but it's checked well by Thiablo.
Stone takes a swing at Thiablo's ribcage but misses.
Stone lands with a thumping leg kick.
Thiablo is looking to clinch but Stone is avoiding it.

Stone takes the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thiablo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stone smiles and moves away.
Thiablo has his takedown stuffed

and Stone counters by clinching up.
Robert Stone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Thiablo.
Stone lands an elbow just above Thiablo 's eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone lands an elbow inside that Thiablo shrugs off.
Stone lands an elbow just above Thiablo 's eye.
Thiablo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Stone crunches a lovely knee into Thiablo's ribcage.
Thiablo fails to pull guard.
Stone creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Stone lands an elbow inside.

Stone breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thiablo tries for a takedown but Stone circles away easily
letting Stone counter with a right hand.
Thiablo blocks a head kick by Stone.
Good work by Thiablo as he checks the leg kick.
Stone connects with an inside leg kick.
Thiablo takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thiablo misses with a head kick.
Stone appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Stone throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stone is looking to score with low kicks.
Thiablo wants to counter the offense by Stone and move into the clinch position.
Thiablo throws a right hand that misses
and Stone counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Stone lands with a thumping leg kick.
Thiablo fails with the takedown
and Stone counters with a low kick, right behind Thiablo 's knee.
We've been told by Stone's head coaches at Heart Cave (8 elites, 4 double-elites, 1 triple) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Thiablo avoids the body shot from Stone.
Thiablo is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Thiablo has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stone's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thiablo shoots in and drives through. Stone sprawls well.
Thiablo gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Stone bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Crunch! Stone slams his shin into Thiablo's torso.
Thiablo on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Robert Stone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stone goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Thiablo tries to bum rush Stone with a series of wild strikes but Stone uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thiablo takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Stone throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone feints and then cracks Thiablo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Thiablo down.
Stone lands a head shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thiablo on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Stone - that will leave a mark!
Stone thuds his shin into the meat of Thiablo's side.
Thiablo tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
No luck for Thiablo with that takedown attempt.
Nice shot lands for Stone.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A thudding body kick lands there by Stone!
Stone jabs Thiablo to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Stone throws a push kick but Thiablo slaps the foot to one side.
Stone keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Stone is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thiablo can do to turn this around?
Stone throws a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stone fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Stone lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Thiablo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stone's waist but Stone gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thiablo off to one side.
Thiablo's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone scores with a jab.
Thiablo takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Stone throws a push kick but Thiablo slaps the foot to one side.
A decent looking cross lands there for Stone.
Stone throws a body shot but no joy.

Stone clinches with his opponent.
Thiablo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Robert Stone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Thiablo.
Stone is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Stone is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Thiablo is defending well for now.
Thiablo wants a takedown.

Stone breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone cracks Thiablo with a right hand to the side of the head.
Robert Stone is winning the standup battle so far.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thiablo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stone is looking to counter with a body kick.
Robert Stone is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thiablo moves out of range as Stone throws a body kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Stone.
Thiablo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Stone.
Stone lands a nice looking body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thiablo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stone defends it nicely.
Stone jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thiablo moves into range and clinches up with Stone.

Stone manages to break the clinch.
Stone lands a nice leg kick that just misses Thiablo's sensitive parts.
Thiablo shoots in for a takedown but Stone shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stone lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Stone is looking to wear down Thiablo with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Stone lands a jab.
Thiablo goes for a double leg but Stone avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Stone continues to drive forward.
Thiablo is breathing heavily.
An inside leg kick lands from Stone.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thiablo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stone as he avoids it easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Stone misses the target.
Thiablo closes the distance looking to clinch
and Stone counters with a leg kick.
Stone lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Stone thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Thiablo if he has to take too many more of those.
Stone lands a leg kick that knocks Thiablo off balance momentarily.
Stone lands a nice leg kick that just misses Thiablo's sensitive parts.
Stone throws a body kick, spinning off balance

so Thiablo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
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!
Thiablo postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stone bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Stone, right into the meat.
Stone explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Stone fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Thiablo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Stone buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Stone chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Stone throws a nice inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thiablo takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Stone throws a leg kick which misses Thiablo's front leg but catches the back leg as Thiablo tries to avoid it.
Thiablo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thiablo has a takedown stuffed.
Stone connects with a solid leg kick.
Stone connects with a leg kick. Thiablo looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Stone looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A chopping leg kick lands by Stone.
Nice takedown defense from Stone. No joy for Thiablo on that attempt.
Robert Stone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Thiablo.
Thiablo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Stone lands a nice looking body shot.
Thiablo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stone sprawls well. Stone wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Thiablo gets slowly back to his feet.
Thiablo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Stone.
Stone scores with the left hand. Thiablo knows he should have avoided that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thiablo shoots for a double leg takedown but Stone sprawls well. He's pushed Thiablo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Stone swings for the body but Thiablo moves out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Stone.
Thiablo misses with a takedown attempt
and Thiablo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A solid leg kick lands there for Stone.
Stone cracks Thiablo with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Robert Stone is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stone fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Stone lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Stone moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone lands a nice shot that snaps Thiablo's head back.
Thiablo ducks right into an uppercut from Stone.
Stone buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stone thumps Thiablo with a low kick.
Stone throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Thiablo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stone connects with a body shot.
A nice inside leg kick there by Stone. That's going to slow Thiablo down.
Thiago Thiablo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stone lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:25
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:25
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Stone!
Robert Stone decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Thiago Thiablo spoke after the fight, saying 'I do my best. Tonight, my opponent did better'.