PBP Commentary

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

Cleveland
vs
Stocth

168 cm
18
151 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

161 cm
21
143 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Julius Cleveland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Butters Stocth!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Eliza Hachem and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Stocth looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cleveland thows a body shot but no joy.

Stocth shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Stocth seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Cleveland wants to get back to his feet.
Stocth looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Stocth wants to work for an arm triangle but Cleveland is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cleveland is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Stocth pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stocth prevents Cleveland from standing back up.
Stocth trying to control the action but Cleveland is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cleveland moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cleveland throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Stocth wants to control from the top but Cleveland keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Butters Stocth was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Stocth is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Stocth shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Stocth wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cleveland keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stocth seems to be working for a kimura but Cleveland defends the submission attempt.

Cleveland makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Cleveland closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cleveland lands in his opponent's guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Stocth has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Cleveland off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Stocth looks winded!
The fight stays on the outside here - Stocth looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stocth closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Cleveland tries to buck Stocth off but Stocth is having none of it.
Cleveland is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stocth is looking to take a break and control but Cleveland is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Butters Stocth dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stocth darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Stocth trying to mount his opponent but Cleveland defends it.
Butters Stocth has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stocth sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cleveland defending well though.
Cleveland is trying to stand back up but Stocth is controlling him
Stocth is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Cleveland manages to get to full guard.

Stocth drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Cleveland manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Stocth has Cleveland in his guard.
Stocth is trying to control the position but Cleveland postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cleveland trying to control but Stocth is working from the bottom.
Stocth trying to strike off his back.
Cleveland trying to control the position from guard on top but Stocth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stocth seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stocth wants to stand and escape but Cleveland is having none of it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Julius Cleveland wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Cleveland takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Cleveland misses with an attempted mid kick.

Stocth manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cleveland on his heels. He'll look to pass Cleveland's guard now, I'm sure.
Stocth is breathing heavily.

Stocth stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Stocth looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stocth wants to stand and escape but instead Cleveland has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Stocth looking to control but Cleveland passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cleveland lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Stocth looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cleveland blocks the strikes from Stocth.
Cleveland trying to control from half guard but Stocth is working away.

Cleveland seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stocth is trying to maintain the position but Cleveland is very close to passing his half guard.
Stocth is trying to control but Cleveland passes into side control!
Cleveland working away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stocth might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cleveland haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Butters Stocth showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Cleveland misses with a body punch
and Stocth cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Stocth closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cleveland to the mat! Cleveland manages to get full guard.
Stocth pushes down on Cleveland's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Stocth throws a strike but Cleveland avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Stocth is looking to pass into half guard but Cleveland pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Cleveland is in guard.
Cleveland stopping the sweep attempt from Stocth.

Cleveland drops back, looking for a kneebar! Stocth looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Stocth looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Stocth!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stocth wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cleveland keeps working.
Cleveland is trying to buck Stocth off.
Cleveland struggling a bit here.
Cleveland is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Stocth asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Cleveland's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cleveland is not content to let Stocth control the position.
Cleveland is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Stocth asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Cleveland parries the strikes from Stocth easily there. Stocth is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Cleveland to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cleveland is being controlled here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Stocth trying to control the position but Cleveland is working away.
Cleveland is trying to get back to his feet.

Stocth stands up.
Stocth wants to clinch

and Cleveland counters by clinching up.

Stocth manages to pull guard.
Stocth is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stocth looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stocth keeping moving, preventing Cleveland from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Stocth utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cleveland drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Stocth dives on top into guard.
Julius Cleveland has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Butters Stocth is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Cleveland has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Stocth is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Cleveland.

And that's the end of the fight!
Butters Stocth comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Stocth winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Darius Henderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Butters Stocth!