PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Josh Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tae Bo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Stone
vs
Bo

174 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
20
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Josh Stone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tae Bo!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Illya Tyunina and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stone swivels and escapes.
Bo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stone swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stone.
Bo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Stone decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bo's guard.
Stone 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.
Bo controlling Stone's posture.
Stone slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bo is keeping the position for now.
Stone advances position into side control!

Stone tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Stone remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bo tries to buck Stone off but Stone is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stone in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Stone throws an elbow but Bo slips to the side and avoids it well.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bo manages to get back to half guard.
Bo is trying to stand back up but Stone is controlling him
Bo wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stone slows the pace down in half guard.
Stone is trying to control. Bo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Josh Stone just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Bo tries to bum rush Stone with a series of wild strikes but Stone uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stone misses with a takedown attempt - Bo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stone is breathing heavily.
Bo connects with a high kick.

Stone changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Bo is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Stone off and has taken his back!
Bo missing with strikes.
Bo trying to control momentarily.
Stone rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Stone dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Stone moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Bo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Stone shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Stone is trying to control. Bo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stone sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Stone is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bo sees it coming and defends easily.
Stone prevents Bo from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bo defending well though.
Bo is refusing to be controlled, as Stone sits in half guard.
Bo tries to get to full guard but Stone has control of the leg.
Stone lands strikes from half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stone fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Stone shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bo but Bo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bo is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bo scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A combination from Bo does no damage.
Bo misses with a double jab.

Stone feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Stone trying to control the position from guard on top but Bo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stone stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stone 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone looking to pass the guard.
Stone wants to control from the top but Bo keeps moving.
Stone looking to sit in guard and control but Bo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Stone being controlled here, momentarily.
Bo won't allow Stone to sweep him here.
Bo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
You can see the frustration on Stone's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Josh Stone will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Bo plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Stone misses with a takedown
and Bo counters with a head kick.
Bo getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Bo throws a head kick that Stone semi-blocks.
Bo scores with a head kick.
Josh Stone is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Stone drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Stone stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stone might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stone wants to control from the top but Bo keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Stone prevents Bo from getting back to his feet.
Stone is looking to work some ground and pound but Bo has wrist control.
Stone wants to control from the top but Bo keeps moving.
Stone passes into half guard.
Bo is trying to stand back up but Stone is controlling him

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.
Stone trying to control the pace.
Bo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bo looking to control.
Stone controlling from the top position.

Stone decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bo misses with a wild body shot.
Stone shoots in but Bo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bo throws a head kick that Stone semi-blocks.
Stone blocks a head kick by Bo.

Stone scores a takedown into full mount!
Bo working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bo is squirming around, avoiding Stone's attempts to control the action.
Stone tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Bo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Stone scoring with strikes but Bo is staying in there.
Tae Bo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Josh Stone is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stone can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bo is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Josh Stone.
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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

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