PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Stonehouse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Didier Drogba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Drogba comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Mama Said Knock You Out kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Stonehouse
vs
Drogba

190 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Stonehouse!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Didier Drogba!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Donald Grub and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drogba doesn't manage to clinch there - Stonehouse circles away.
Stonehouse throws a right and a left that Drogba avoids nicely.
Drogba shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stonehouse defends it nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Drogba looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A nice inside leg kick there by Drogba. That's going to slow Stonehouse down.

Stonehouse clinches.
Stonehouse lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Drogba backwards.
Drogba takes an elbow to the temple.
Stonehouse blocks an elbow strike from Drogba.
Drogba managing to block the knees to the body from Stonehouse.
Drogba pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Stonehouse tries a body shot but Drogba blocks it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Stonehouse just misses with a elbow thrown towards Drogba's brow.
Drogba with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Drogba drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stonehouse gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Drogba.
Drogba looking to throw knees to the head but Stonehouse is blocking nicely.
Stonehouse drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Drogba gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Drogba breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stonehouse looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Stonehouse is looking for a kimura here.
Drogba is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Stonehouse's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Stonehouse's back!
Drogba misses with punches from the back.

Stonehouse defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Drogba working for a choke but Stonehouse is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stonehouse trying to get back to his feet but Drogba is in full control for now.
A lull in the action here.
Stonehouse trying to control the position but Drogba manages to sink in the hooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drogba throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Drogba wants to control but Stonehouse is keeping busy.
Stonehouse avoids the strikes from Drogba.
Drogba is hanging on to Stonehouse's back as he tries to escape.
Stonehouse is breathing heavily.
Drogba trying to control momentarily.
Stonehouse trying to control the hands but Drogba breaks the grip.
Drogba missing with punches from the back.
Drogba tries to keep control of the position but Stonehouse is staying busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Drogba trying to control momentarily.
What can Stonehouse do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Drogba wants to control but Stonehouse is keeping busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Drogba misses with punches from the back.
Drogba tries to get the hooks in deep but Stonehouse pushed the leg off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Paul Stonehouse will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Drogba wants to clinch

and Stonehouse moves into the clinch.
Drogba tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Stonehouse fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Drogba tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stonehouse smiles and moves away.
Drogba closes the distance looking to clinch

and Stonehouse counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Drogba tries a knee to the head but Stonehouse blocks it.
Stonehouse wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Stonehouse looking to stall.
Drogba is trying to stall.
Drogba misses with an elbow strike.
Stonehouse is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Drogba gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Stonehouse jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Drogba walks away with a smile on his face. Stonehouse gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Stonehouse. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drogba tries to clinch up

and Stonehouse counters by clinching up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Drogba tries to land a knee to the head but Stonehouse blocks with his arms.
Stonehouse dodges an elbow strike from Drogba.
Stonehouse missing with knees to the body.
Stonehouse wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Drogba gets underhooks to prevent Stonehouse's takedown attempt.
Drogba with a knee to the head.
Stonehouse has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Drogba connects with a nasty looking knee right to Stonehouse's face.
Stonehouse prevents Drogba from breaking the clinch.
Stonehouse avoids the elbow strike from Drogba, against the cage.
Drogba stalling in the clinch but Stonehouse improves position.
Stonehouse using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Drogba has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A knee to the head by Drogba.
Drogba tries a knee to the head but Stonehouse blocks it.
Drogba jumps guard but Stonehouse stands there with Drogba around his waist. Drogba gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Drogba landing knees to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drogba trying to stall but Stonehouse improves his position.
Stonehouse is trying to force a seperation but Drogba has the dominant position.
Drogba with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Drogba is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Stonehouse gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Stonehouse is trying to break free.

Drogba gets control of Stonehouse's arms and successfully pulls guard. Drogba will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Stonehouse stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Drogba swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Drogba working a defensive guard here.
Stonehouse thows a big elbow that misses.
Drogba is trying to control the position but Stonehouse postures up.
Stonehouse passes Drogba's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drogba trying to control but Stonehouse postures up.
Drogba slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Stonehouse advances position into side control!
Stonehouse takes a little break here. Drogba wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Drogba sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drogba is looking to control Stonehouse's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Drogba avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drogba gets full guard.
Drogba is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Drogba looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stonehouse is one step ahead there.
Drogba is trying to control the position but Stonehouse postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stonehouse trying to control but Drogba is working from the bottom.
Drogba is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
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 Paul Stonehouse will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Drogba closes the distance looking to clinch
and Stonehouse counters with a thumping low kick.
Stonehouse misses with the combination.
Drogba closes the distance looking to clinch

and Stonehouse counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Stonehouse lands an elbow inside that Drogba shrugs off.
Drogba with a knee to the head.
Drogba throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stonehouse blocks it with crossed arms.

Stonehouse drags the fight down to the ground.
Stonehouse keeping moving, preventing Drogba from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Drogba looking to sit in guard and control but Stonehouse gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Stonehouse tries to free his leg and advance position but Drogba is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drogba not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Drogba might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Stonehouse kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Stonehouse postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Drogba is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Stonehouse, into his guard.
Stonehouse seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Drogba trying to control but Stonehouse is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Drogba looking to pass the guard.
Drogba must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Drogba tries to stand but Stonehouse is controlling from the bottom.
Drogba postures up in Stonehouse's guard and throws a big left but Stonehouse blocks it.
Drogba wants to pass the guard but Stonehouse is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drogba wants to control from the top but Stonehouse keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Drogba walks into a left hand.
Drogba lands a two punch combo.
Drogba darts in trying to clinch

and Stonehouse counters by moving into the clinch.
Drogba tries to score a body lock takedown but Stonehouse shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Drogba breaks from the clinch.
Stonehouse blocks a head kick by Drogba.
Drogba wants to clinch
and Stonehouse counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drogba tries to clinch up

and Stonehouse counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Stonehouse tries to free his leg and advance position but Drogba is retaining full guard.

Drogba looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Paul Stonehouse is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Drogba looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stonehouse wants to control from the top but Drogba keeps moving.
Drogba wants to sweep here but Stonehouse controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Stonehouse showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stonehouse, 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

The fight is ruled a draw!