PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stone Gossard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Stiching (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gossard
vs
Stiching

190 cm
21
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
23
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Hell's Balls Recovery

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Stone Gossard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, John Stiching!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, William Gold and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stiching drives through with a takedown into guard.
Stiching slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gossard is trying to keep Stiching in close.

Gossard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Stiching 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gossard is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stiching is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gossard trying to keep a closed guard but Stiching is proving a slippery customer.

Stiching got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gossard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stiching has managed to get both his arms back between Gossard's legs - danger averted.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Stiching is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Gossard tries to move into full mount but can't pass Stiching's legs.
Gossard trying to control the action but Stiching is working from the bottom.
Gossard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Stiching keeping his opponent close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gossard throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Gossard laying and praying for a moment but Stiching takes advantage and regains half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stiching can do anything to dispel that myth.
Stiching trying to control from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Stiching circles away from the clinch attempt.

Stiching drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gossard wants to control but Stiching postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stiching stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Gossard tries for a takedown but Stiching circles away easily

and Stiching counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Stiching.
Stiching controlling from the top position.
Stiching looks gassed!
Stiching postures up.
Gossard can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Stiching controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Stiching dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stiching.
Stiching blocks the strikes from Gossard.
Gossard tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Stiching wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Stiching takes a little break here. Gossard wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Gossard is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gossard is not content to let Stiching control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stiching has control of an arm but Gossard manages to advance to Stiching's back!
Stiching manages to scramble and ends up in full guard, under a barage of strikes . Great composure from Stiching.
Gossard with a flurry of punches that miss.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Stiching throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gossard was covering up waiting for the punch and Stiching finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Stiching is breathing heavily.
Gossard has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Stiching sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gossard looking to control.
Stiching must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Gossard had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stiching defends it easily.
Stiching works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Stiching is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Stiching is working for a submission of some sort.
Gossard is looking to escape.
Gossard wants to get back to full guard.

That's four 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.
Stiching not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gossard trying to control but Stiching postures up.
Gossard misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Stiching seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gossard does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stiching circles away from the clinch attempt

and Stiching counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Gossard tries to circle away but Stiching has him pinned against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gossard misses with an elbow strike.
Stiching stops a takedown attempt from Gossard.
Gossard looking to stall.

Stiching jumps into guard, dragging Gossard to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Stiching showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Gossard tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Stiching counters by clinching up.

Stiching has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gossard uses from the top position.
Gossard trying to control the position from guard on top but Stiching is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gossard wants to stand but Stiching has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Gossard trying to control but Stiching is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gossard slips nicely into half guard.
Stiching punching from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gossard not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Gossard decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Gossard misses with a takedown attempt

and Stiching counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Stiching takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gossard tries to kick Stiching off but Stiching keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Gossard is trying to maintain the position but Stiching is very close to passing his half guard.
Gossard wants to improve his position but Stiching is controlling well.
Stiching is looking to advance position but Gossard won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gossard wants to control but Stiching is keeping busy.

Stiching stands up and beckons Gossard to join him on the feet.
Gossard wants to clinch

and Stiching counters with a takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gossard is looking to reverse the position.
Gossard regains half guard.
Gossard punching from the bottom.
Gossard is pressing down on Stiching's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gossard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gossard trying to keep a closed guard but Stiching is proving a slippery customer.
Gossard is looking to stand up but Stiching isn't so interested in that idea.
Gossard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stiching manages to get himself to full guard.
Stiching working a defensive guard here.
Stiching keeping moving, preventing Gossard from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Stiching really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gossard. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Stiching working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gossard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gossard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Stiching comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stiching has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Stiching!