PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Robert Bardugo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Stoner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Bardugo
vs
Stoner

185 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

205 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Robert Bardugo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ben Stoner!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Steven Brown and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bardugo tries to clinch but Stoner moves out of range.
Stoner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stoner keeps the fight on the outside.
Stoner shoots in but no luck this time.
Stoner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bardugo gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Bardugo defending well as Stoner loads up on a big left hand.
Bardugo keeps the fight on the outside.

Stoner gets a clinch.

Stoner jumps guard and drags Bardugo to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Stoner manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bardugo manages to get himself to full guard.
Stoner has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bardugo is proving hard to escape from.
Bardugo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Stoner on the ground.
Stoner wants to control from the top but Bardugo keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stoner wants to stand but Bardugo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bardugo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bardugo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stoner wants to control from the top but Bardugo keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A combination from Stoner does no damage.
Nice sprawl there from Bardugo as Stoner shoots in.
Stoner looks gassed!
Bardugo wants to clinch

and Stoner counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bardugo is trying to break free.
Bardugo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Stoner prevents Bardugo from breaking the clinch.
Bardugo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bardugo looking for a takedown.
Bardugo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Stoner keeps control of Bardugo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bardugo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Stoner has him pressed against the cage.
Stoner drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bardugo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Robert Bardugo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Stoner.
Bardugo tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Stoner connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bardugo closes the distance looking to clinch

and Stoner counters by clinching up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stoner prevents Bardugo from breaking the clinch.
Stoner jumps guard but Bardugo stands there with Stoner around his waist. Stoner gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stoner wants to stall.
Bardugo is looking to break free of the clinch but Stoner has double underhooks.
Bardugo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Stoner keeps control of Bardugo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bardugo is trying to break the clinch but Stoner has him pressed against the cage.
Bardugo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bardugo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bardugo tries to break the clinch but Stoner is controlling the position.
Bardugo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bardugo is trying to break free.

Bardugo manages to break the clinch.

Bardugo forces Stoner back against the cage and clinches.
Bardugo stops a takedown attempt from Stoner.
Bardugo has had enough of the clinch but Stoner keeps him there for the moment.
A right hand to the body from Bardugo.

Stoner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bardugo wants to clinch but Stoner slips to the side

and Stoner counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Stoner.
Bardugo is trying to break free.
Bardugo tries to break the clinch but Stoner is controlling the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stoner can't get the takedown.
Bardugo stops a takedown attempt from Stoner.
Stoner pressing his opponent against the cage.
Bardugo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Stoner dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Stoner fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bardugo closes the distance but Stoner moves to the side

and Stoner holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Stoner has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bardugo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Stoner misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bardugo.
Bardugo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Stoner has him pressed against the cage.
Bardugo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Bardugo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stoner fails with the takedown.
Robert Bardugo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Stoner.
Stoner circles away from the clinch attempt

and Stoner counters by clinching up.
Bardugo is trying to break free.

Stoner has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Bardugo uses from the top position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stoner is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stoner prevents Bardugo from standing back up.
Stoner has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Bardugo is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Stoner throws some wild stikes that Bardugo manages to avoid easily.
Bardugo is trying to escape the mount.
Bardugo is trying to stand.

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.
Stoner throws some wild stikes that Bardugo manages to avoid easily.
Bardugo is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Bardugo really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Stoner is working for a guillotine from mount but Bardugo frees his head quite easily.
Bardugo is squirming around, avoiding Stoner's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bardugo tries to hold on but Stoner pushes him away.
Stoner thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Bardugo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bardugo tries to get out of the position.
Stoner wants to control the pace but Bardugo is squirming around nicely.
Stoner throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Stoner is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Stoner tries to control but Bardugo wriggling away.
Bardugo is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Stoner looking to control and managing it 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.
Bardugo tries to buck Stoner off but he can't manage it.
Stoner trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Stoner cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Stoner looking to control but Bardugo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Bardugo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Stoner with the ground and pound from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stoner lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Stoner cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Stoner has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Stoner takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Stoner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Stoner looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Bardugo wants to clinch but Stoner slips to the side
and Stoner counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Robert Bardugo has been cut.
Bardugo tries to clinch but Stoner moves away
and Stoner counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bardugo tries to clinch up

and Stoner counters by moving into the clinch.
Bardugo has had enough of the clinch but Stoner keeps him there for the moment.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Stoner.
Stoner jumps guard but Bardugo stands there with Stoner around his waist. Stoner gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stoner is working Bardugo over against the cage.
Bardugo is trying to break the clinch but Stoner has him pressed against the cage.
Stoner tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stoner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stoner fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Robert Bardugo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Stoner.
Bardugo clinches but Stoner breaks the clinch

and Stoner moves into the clinch.

Stoner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bardugo looks to clinch
and Stoner counters with a straight right hand.
Bardugo tries to clinch but Stoner moves away

and Stoner counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Stoner.

Stoner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stoner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bardugo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bardugo tries to clinch up
and Stoner counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bardugo tries to clinch

and Stoner counters with a single leg into guard. Bardugo didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bardugo wants to get back to his feet but Stoner is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Stoner postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bardugo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bardugo keeping moving, preventing Stoner from controlling successfully.
Stoner trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bardugo keeping moving, preventing Stoner from controlling successfully.
Stoner thows a big elbow that misses.
Stoner advances to half guard.
Stoner trying to control the action but Bardugo is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Bardugo tries to clinch up

and Stoner counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Bardugo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bardugo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Stoner is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Stoner drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bardugo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Bardugo is trying to stall.

Stoner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stoner shoots in looking for a takedown. Bardugo tries to sprawl out of it but Stoner keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bardugo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Stoner throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bardugo tries to clinch up

and Stoner holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Bardugo is trying to break free.
Bardugo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bardugo tries to break the clinch but Stoner is controlling the position.
Bardugo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bardugo is trying to break the clinch but Stoner has him pressed against the cage.
Stoner wants to break free but Bardugo has control.
Stoner keeps control of Bardugo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Robert Bardugo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bardugo is looking to break free of the clinch but Stoner has double underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Stoner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stoner 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 William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Stoner!