PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Stokes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean West (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). West has chosen The Knife - You Take My Breath Away as his entrance music. Brandon Stokes has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Stokes
vs
West

172 cm
22
163 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

165 cm
25
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brandon Stokes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sean West!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Anthony Taglia and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
West throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

West closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - West lands in his opponent's guard.
West 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.
Stokes wants to sweep here but West controlling him for the moment.
Stokes keeping full guard, as West tries to pass.
West trying to control the position from guard on top but Stokes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
West with a flurry of punches that miss.
West is looking to work some ground and pound but Stokes has wrist control.
West slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
West working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Stokes trying to keep a closed guard but West is proving a slippery customer.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stokes thows a body shot but no joy.
West just misses with a punch to the body.
West misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stokes.
Stokes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by West.
Stokes tries to score with a low kick but West moves his leg out of the way.
West stuffs the takedown.
Stokes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

West darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
West scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Stokes wants to control but West is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stokes is concentrating on defense, preventing West from advancing position.
Stokes wants to improve his position but West is controlling well.
Stokes won't allow West to pass to mount.
Stokes is looking for a sweep. West is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
West controlling the pace.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
West trying to control the action but Stokes is working from the bottom.
West trying to mount his opponent but Stokes defends it.
Still in half guard, West seems content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Sean West.
Stokes looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stokes manages to avoid it.
West throws a series of punches but Stokes avoids them all with ease.
Stokes with a nice cross.
West steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Stokes. That one must have hurt.

Stokes shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches West napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Stokes takes a little break here. West wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Stokes blocks the strikes from West.
West tries to control but Stokes manages to take his back.
Stokes misses with a punch to the head.
West trying to control the position but Stokes manages to sink in the hooks.
Good control from Stokes.
Stokes lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can West hold on?!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stokes missing with punches from the back.
West is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Stokes patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
West trying to control the position but Stokes manages to sink in the hooks.
Stokes missing with strikes.
A lull in the action here.

West defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
West wants to control his opponent's hands but Stokes gets his hands free.
Stokes is working the ground and pound. Can West escape?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
West wants to escape the position but for the time being he's just trying to control the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Stokes dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

West throws a right and a left that Stokes avoids nicely.
West misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stokes.
West throws a right hand that Stokes ducks under and follows up with a left that Stokes also avoids with ease.
Stokes throws a jab but it's blocked by West.
Stokes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

West 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.
Stokes keeping moving, preventing West from controlling successfully.
West pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stokes is keeping the position for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stokes is on top in guard.
West bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stokes's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Stokes holds on and takes a little breather.
West looking to sit in guard and control but Stokes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stokes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
West throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Stokes controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
West controls Stokes momentarily but Stokes frees himself.
Stokes sitting in guard here, content to control.
Stokes preventing the sweep.

That's two 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.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Brandon Stokes wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A nice combination there by Stokes.
Stokes tries a low kick but West avoids it.
West tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stokes was well out of range. Poor timing from West.
West is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Stokes rather than just go for the knockout.
Stokes connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Stokes connects with a crisp jab.
West moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Stokes scores with a leg kick.
Nice body punch from Stokes.
West is breathing heavily.
Stokes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but West was well out of range. Poor timing from Stokes.
Stokes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. West tries to avoid it but Stokes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag West to the ground. West escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
West gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Stokes stuffs the takedown.
Stokes moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A telegraphed right hand from Stokes misses the target.
West lands a nice shot to the body.
West stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Stokes.

Stokes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stokes working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Stokes is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for West to work.
Stokes lands an elbow that stopped West in his tracks for a moment.
West is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Stokes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Stokes lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of West backwards.
West avoiding damage as Stokes throws knees to the body.
West has Stokes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stokes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Brandon Stokes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sean West.
A shot in the inside from Stokes.
Stokes softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Stokes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
West stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Stokes.
Stokes connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Stokes lands with a good body shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Stokes, right into the meat.
Stokes looks for a takedown but West sprawls well.
Stokes lands an overhand right.
Stokes smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
West takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Sean West seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stokes with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stokes shoots in and drives through. West sprawls well.
West just misses with a punch to the body.
Stokes tries to close the distance and clinch up but West swats him away and circles back towards the center.
West misses the body punch
and Stokes counters with an inside leg kick.
Stokes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stokes shoots in for a takedown but West shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

West scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Stokes wants to control but West is keeping busy and won't allow it.
West trying to control from half guard but Stokes is working away.
West seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Still in half guard, West seems content to control.
Stokes controlling the position well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Stokes dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

West thuds a left hand into Stokes's body.

West bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
West is looking to take a break and control but Stokes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
West throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
West trying to control the action but Stokes is working from the bottom.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
West is looking to take a break and control but Stokes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Stokes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Stokes is trying to get back to half guard.
Stokes being controlled for a moment.
Stokes is looking for a sweep.
Brandon Stokes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
West wants to control but Stokes is keeping him busy.
Stokes regains half guard, as West was trying to land strikes.
Stokes keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Stokes is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of West's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take West's back!
West is in bad spot here.
Stokes is not going to allow West to sit and survive in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stokes punishes West with strikes from the back mount.
West looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Stokes is hanging on to West's back as he tries to escape.
Stokes is working the ground and pound. Can West escape?
Stokes tries to get the hooks in deep but West pushed the leg off.
West is covering up but some of the strikes from Stokes are getting through and doing damage.
West rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
West trying to control but Stokes postures up.
West takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stokes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
West is holding on to half guard well.
West wants to get back to full guard.

Stokes is looking for a kimura but West is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Stokes to get the leverage.
Sean West has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stokes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Stokes not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Stokes working West over with strikes.
West is looking to control Stokes's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can West avoid being mounted?
Stokes trying to control the pace.
Stokes wants to take a breather but West is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brandon Stokes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Stokes has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brandon Stokes!