PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Oliver Sarkic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and CJ Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sarkic kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Zeds Dead & Oliver Heldens - You Know. The key to victory for Oliver Sarkic has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Sarkic
vs
Stone

183 cm
19
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
26
135 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Oliver Sarkic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, CJ Stone!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Franklyn Lucas and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stone avoids the head kick by Sarkic.

Stone closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stone lands in his opponent's guard.
Stone stops Sarkic from standing up.
Stone engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stone's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Stone has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sarkic is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sarkic wants to stand up but Stone is controlling him.
Stone sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sarkic really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sarkic is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Stone shoots for a double leg takedown but Sarkic sprawls well. He's pushed Stone's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Stone closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sarkic circles away.
CJ Stone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sarkic pulls out of a head kick attempt.

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.

Stone fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sarkic sprawls well initially but Stone persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Sarkic kicks off Stone and gets to his feet.
Sarkic leaves Stone with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sarkic looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Oliver Sarkic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of CJ Stone.
Stone fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stone wants to clinch up but Sarkic keeps it at a distance.
As Stone tries to get set, Sarkic tries to push him back and clinch up but Stone manages to avoid the attempt.
Sarkic swats away the attempt to clinch by Stone.
Stone fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone is looking to clinch but Sarkic is avoiding it.
Sarkic thinks about countering with a head kick.

Stone pushes Sarkic up against the cage in a clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Stone.
Stone keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sarkic's efforts to push away.
Sarkic has had enough of the clinch but Stone keeps him there for the moment.
Stone has Sarkic pressed against the cage, preventing Sarkic from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sarkic is trying to break free.
Stone blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Sarkic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sarkic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stone shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sarkic defends it nicely.
Sarkic appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Sarkic.
Stone shoots in for a takedown but Sarkic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sarkic tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stone manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stone misses with a leg kick.
Sarkic lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Stone drives through with a takedown into guard.

Sarkic pushes Stone off and scrambles back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stone closes the distance but Sarkic moves to the side
and Sarkic counters with a big head kick but Stone shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oliver Sarkic 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 tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stone throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sarkic tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Stone manages to circle out of the way.
Stone shoots for a double leg takedown but Sarkic sprawls well. He's pushed Stone's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Stone fails with the takedown.

Stone closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sarkic is trying to push Stone away but Stone has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Sarkic manages to break the clinch.
Sarkic lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Stone shoots and misses
and Sarkic counters with a big head kick but Stone shrugs it off.
Oliver Sarkic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of CJ Stone.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone tries to clinch but Sarkic moves out of range.
Sarkic tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Stone manages to circle out of the way.
Stone shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sarkic pinned against the cage. Sarkic gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Stone just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromSarkic.
Stone fails with the takedown
and Sarkic counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Stone is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Stone blocks a head kick by Sarkic.
Stone looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Sarkic keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stone.
Sarkic looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Sarkic lands a high kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Sarkic. No joy for Stone on that attempt.
Sarkic throws a big counter combination but Stone scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Stone tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sarkic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stone tries for a takedown but Sarkic sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stone is defended easily by Sarkic.
Sarkic went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Stone is breathing heavily.
Stone shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sarkic pinned against the cage. Sarkic gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sarkic is looking to counter the offense by Stone and move into the clinch.
Oliver Sarkic is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Stone wants to land a leg kick but Sarkic is out of range.
Sarkic feinted with a counter takedown.
Sarkic lands a head kick!
Sarkic plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Sarkic tries to bum rush Stone with a series of wild strikes but Stone uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Stone rushes Sarkic and presses him up against the cage.
Stone wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Stone has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sarkic is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sarkic is trying to break the clinch but Stone is controlling him.

Sarkic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stone forces Sarkic back against the cage and clinches.

Sarkic manages to break the clinch.
Stone misses with a kick to the body
and Sarkic counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Stone is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Stone tries for a takedown but Sarkic circles away easily
and Stone takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sarkic stuffs the takedown attempt from Stone. Stone gets slowly back to his feet.
Sarkic appears to be looking for a big counter.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stone has a takedown stuffed.
Sarkic looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stone shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Stone was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sarkic pushes Stone away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Stone gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Sarkic bucks up and tries to throw Stone off but instead Stone has got his back!

Stone is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Sarkic taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Stone.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). CJ Stone!