PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Taio Odts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rhys Stockton (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.

Odts
vs
Stockton

163 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Taio Odts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rhys Stockton!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Daniel Bishop and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stockton keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Stockton tries to clinch up.
Stockton fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Odts on the side of the head.

Odts moves into the clinch successfully.

Odts breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stockton is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Odts fails with the takedown.
Odts wants to clinch up but Stockton keeps it at a distance.
Stockton is looking to clinch.

Stockton feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Stockton wants to control from the top but Odts keeps moving.
Odts might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Odts trying to control the position.
Stockton trying to control the position from guard on top but Odts is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stockton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Odts is keeping the position for now.
Stockton wants to control from the top but Odts keeps moving.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rhys Stockton hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Odts defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stockton.
Stockton tries to clinch but Odts is having none of it.
Odts throws a body kick that misses.
Stockton stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stockton wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taio Odts. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Odts shoots in for a double leg but Stockton sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stockton moves in looking to clinch but Odts pushes him off.
Odts fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Odts displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stockton.
Nice sprawl there from Odts as Stockton shoots in.

Stockton looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Stockton keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Odts is looking to escape.
Odts trying to control but Stockton postures up.
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!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stockton throwing shots but Odts is blocking nicely.

Odts kicks Stockton off and gets back to his feet.
Odts fails to land the takedown.
Odts is breathing heavily.
Odts tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stockton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stockton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Odts misses with a head kick.
Odts tries to clinch but Stockton is having none of it.
Stockton misses with a takedown attempt - Odts sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nice takedown defense from Odts. No joy for Stockton on that attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Stockton there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Stockton tries for a takedown but Odts sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Stockton tries a low kick but Odts avoids it.
Odts dives in and grabs Stockton's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stockton pushes down on Odts's head and hops out.
Stockton shoots for a takedown but Odts saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Odts changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stockton tries to avoid it but Odts manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stockton to the ground. Stockton escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Stockton is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A slapping leg kick lands for Odts.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Stockton bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Odts is trying to control Stockton's posture but Stockton avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rhys Stockton 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.

Odts scores with a one two! Stockton had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
No luck for Stockton with that takedown attempt.
Stockton stuffs the takedown attempt from Odts. Odts gets slowly back to his feet.

Odts closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Stockton throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Odts with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Odts postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Stockton to stand up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stockton pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Odts gets a clinch.
Stockton tries to pull guard but Odts holds him up against the cage and eventually Stockton drops back down to his feet.
Odts unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Odts prevents the takedown attempt.
Taio Odts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rhys Stockton.

Odts breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Odts shoots and misses
and Stockton counters with a big head kick but Odts shrugs it off.

Stockton darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Odts controlling the position well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Odts is trying to control but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stockton is working for a submission of some sort.
Stockton stops Odts from getting back to his feet.
Stockton wants to stand up but Odts is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odts has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stockton is working away from the top position though.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Odts keeping control of the position.
Odts is trying to maintain the position but Stockton is very close to passing his half guard.

Taio Odts has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Odts shoots in for a double leg but Stockton sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Odts fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stockton looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Odts looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stockton is fending him off so far but Odts persists. Nope, Stockton circles away and we're back to standing.
Stockton tries to score a power double leg takedown but Odts sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stockton somewhat.
Taio Odts is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stockton tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Odts swivels and escapes.
Odts shoots in for a takedown but Stockton shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stockton shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Odts as he jumps to the side.
Odts misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taio Odts dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Stockton fails to land the takedown.

Stockton tries to keep at a distance but Odts has taken the fight into the clinch.

Odts pulls Stockton into guard.
Stockton throwing strikes but missing.
Stockton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stockton is looking to stand up but Odts won't let him.
Stockton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stockton missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stockton trying to control but Odts is working from the bottom.
Stockton scoring with punches to the head and body.
Odts is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stockton preventing the sweep.

Odts has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stockton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Odts looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Odts avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Odts looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Stockton must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Stockton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stockton would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Odts keeping moving, preventing Stockton from controlling successfully.
Stockton stopping the sweep attempt from Odts.
Rhys Stockton has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stockton lands a couple of digs.
Odts looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Odts has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stockton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Stockton wants to control from the top but Odts keeps moving.
Stockton postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Odts looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Stockton slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Stockton trying to control the position but Odts is working away.
Stockton in side control lands a decent elbow.
Odts is trying to control Stockton's posture but Stockton avoids it.
Stockton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Odts keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rhys Stockton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Stockton has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rhys Stockton!