PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rory Markman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oliver Stoned (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stoned has chosen Dr. Dre - The Watcher as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Markman
vs
Stoned

178 cm
36
186 lbs
24 - 22 - 0

177 cm
30
176 lbs
18 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 22 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rory Markman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Oliver Stoned!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Joseph Jones and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stoned loads up on a big right hand but Markman slips the punch.
Stoned misses with a wild combination.
Markman is looking to land body kicks.

Stoned drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Markman is trying to improve his position.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Markman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stoned working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markman prevents Stoned from improving position.
Markman is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Stoned throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Stoned trying to control the position but Markman is working away.
Stoned misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Stoned trying to control the position but Markman is working away.
Markman manages to work his way to half guard, despite Stoned's best efforts.
Markman trying to control but Stoned postures up.
Stoned wants to pass to mount but Markman is defending the position.
My spies in Nelson Fight Camp inform me that Stoned has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Stoned seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Markman does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Stoned is looking to stall here but Markman recovers full guard.
Markman is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stoned loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Stoned with a lazy takedown attempt

and Markman decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Stoned's guard.

Stoned escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Markman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Stoned is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Stoned avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Markman working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stoned's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markman is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Markman won't allow Stoned to sweep him here.
Markman looking to sit in guard and control but Stoned gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Stoned trying to control but Markman is working from the bottom.
Markman can't keep his opponent in guard - Stoned advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Markman trying to control from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stoned prevents Markman from improving his position.
Markman trying to hold on to Stoned's head to control him but Stoned postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oliver Stoned dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stoned misses with a leg kick

so Markman counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Stoned has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Markman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Stoned working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Markman.
Oliver Stoned has got the better of the ground game so far.

Stoned working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Markman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Markman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Markman scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Markman is looking to work some ground and pound but Stoned has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stoned looking for a guillotine here but Markman defends easily.
Markman passes Stoned's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markman seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stoned does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Markman lands strikes from half guard.
Stoned is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Markman scores with a couple of nice shots.
Markman thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stoned wants to improve his position but Markman is controlling well.
Stoned is not content to let Markman control the position.

Markman is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Markman is trying to work for a kimura but Stoned is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markman prevents Stoned from improving his position.
Markman is nestled in close to Stoned, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Markman wants to control but Stoned is keeping him busy.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Markman lands a nice short elbow.
Markman is looking to take a break and control but Stoned is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Markman connects with a nice short shot to Stoned's temple.
Markman is keen to just control but Stoned is a slippery customer.
Stoned works his way to full guard. Good work.
Markman trying to control the position from guard on top but Stoned is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've been hearing that Markman has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Markman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Markman is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Stoned is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markman is working Stoned over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Markman wants to pass the guard but Stoned is keeping the position.
Stoned not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Markman throws a big elbow that misses.
Stoned seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Stoned misses with a body punch
and Markman counters with a body kick that stops Stoned in his tracks momentarily.
Stoned lands a nice shot that snaps Markman's head back.
Stoned pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Stoned throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Markman blocks the low kick.
Stoned falls off balance throwing a combination
and Markman counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stoned misses with a leg kick.
Stoned throws a poor cross that misses
and Markman counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Some wild striking there from Stoned.
Stoned throws a leg kick that is checked

and Markman counters with a shoot takedown. Stoned fights it but they end up in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stoned has momentary wrist control but Markman slips an elbow through the middle.
Markman landing with the ground and pound.

Stoned is looking for a triangle but Markman pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rory Markman dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Stoned will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stoned shoots in for a double leg but Markman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stoned swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Markman displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stoned throws out the jab.
Markman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stoned.
Oliver Stoned seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Markman blocks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stoned leaves Markman with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Markman stuns Stoned with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stoned swings widly with a right hand
and Stoned takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stoned throws a right hand that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Stoned throws a leg kick but Markman sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Stoned getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

It looks like Rory Markman has been cut.
Stoned throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Markman counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Stoned!
Stoned is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Stoned gets back to half guard.
Stoned is looking for a sweep. Markman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Markman stalling away here and it's allowed Stoned to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Markman lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Markman postures up and lands a big shot to Stoned's brow.

Stoned is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Markman postures up.
Markman content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Stoned tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Markman content to stall in guard here.
Stoned working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Markman.
Markman keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stoned's head.
Markman landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markman controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Markman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stoned can do to turn this around?
Markman looking to pass the guard.
Markman with a nice head shot there.
Markman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stoned working a defensive guard here.
Stoned wants to sweep here but Markman controlling him for the moment.
Markman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Markman 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.
A low kick from Stoned is predictable there
and Markman counters with a big head kick but Stoned shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markman moves out of range as Stoned strikes.
Markman ducks under a wild hook from Stoned.
Stoned swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stoned throws a jab when Markman was well out of range.
Stoned throws a jab when Markman was well out of range.
Good leg kick by Stoned there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stoned pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Markman back to the cage. Stoned follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Stoned misses with a hook
and Markman counters with a nice body shot.
Stoned throws a leg kick
and Markman counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rory Markman showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Markman has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rory Markman!