PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royce Rousey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Stone has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Stone
vs
Rousey

185 cm
25
187 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Stone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Royce Rousey!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stone doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rousey counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stone won't be happy with that.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rousey cracks Stone with a big right hand but Stone just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Stone is looking to reverse the position.
Rousey trying to control the position but Stone is working away.
Rousey tries to move into full mount but can't pass Stone's legs.
Rousey controlling the position from side mount.
Rousey passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Stone!
Stone is wriggling around trying to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rousey is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Stone can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rousey fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stone is desperately trying to improve his position but Rousey has a good base and remains in mount.
Rousey tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Stone sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Rousey scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rousey content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Stone wants to get back to full guard.
Stone is trying to stand up here but Rousey is controlling him well.
Rousey wants to control but Stone is keeping him busy.

Stone is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rousey pulls his head out easily.

Stone looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rousey sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Stone looking for submissions off his back.
Rousey controlling the pace.
Stone on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rousey looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Stone is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rousey pulls his head out easily.
Rousey looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rousey is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Stone!
Rousey controlling from the full mount.
Stone wants to hold on but Rousey pushes him away.
Stone in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Rousey in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Stone tries to reverse the position but Rousey maintains control.
Stone is breathing heavily.

Rousey jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Stone manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Rousey trying to control the position but Stone is working away.
Rousey taking a breather here.
Stone is not content to let Rousey control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone is looking to reverse the position.
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!
Rousey moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Stone is trying to improve his position.
Rousey landing strikes.
You can see the frustration on Stone's face as Rousey controls the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stone is looking to reverse the position.
Stone is trying to get back to his feet.
Rousey should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Rousey wants to control but Stone is keeping him busy.
Stone tries to bench press Rousey off him but Rousey keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Rousey dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Stone tries for a takedown but Rousey circles away easily

and Rousey holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rousey is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Stone pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Stone stops a takedown attempt from Rousey.
Rousey is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Stone is defending well.
Michael Stone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Royce Rousey.

Rousey gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Stone is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rousey is working Stone over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Stone had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rousey defends it easily.
Stone is trying to control the position but Rousey postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rousey stays in close to Stone's body and controls the position.
Rousey with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stone looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rousey is one step ahead there.
Rousey wants to control from the top but Stone keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rousey 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 calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Royce Rousey wasn't active enough on the ground.
Stone shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rousey counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rousey scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rousey slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stone looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Stone will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rousey 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.
Rousey trying to control but Stone is working from the bottom.
Rousey controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Royce Rousey was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Stone doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rousey counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rousey with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Stone looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rousey is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stone looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Stone wants to control but Rousey is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rousey not doing much here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Royce Rousey wasn't active enough on the ground.
Stone shoots and misses

and Rousey counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rousey performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Stone is refusing to be controlled, as Rousey sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rousey stalling.
Rousey wants to control but Stone is keeping him busy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Royce Rousey wasn't active enough on the ground.
Stone misses with a takedown attempt

and Rousey counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rousey controlling from the top position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Rousey showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Stone tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rousey swivels and escapes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stone.
Stone tries for a takedown but Rousey sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Stone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stone uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rousey.
Stone gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rousey decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Stone's guard.
Rousey controls from within his opponent's guard.

Rousey is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Royce Rousey has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rousey stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stone swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stone has his foot on Rousey's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rousey works his way back into a safe position though.
Rousey lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rousey tries to free his leg and advance position but Stone is retaining full guard.
Rousey content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rousey is stalling in the full guard.
Stone is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rousey content to stall in guard here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rousey is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Royce Rousey hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Stone misses with a takedown

and Rousey counters by clinching up.
Rousey taking a breather.
Stone is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rousey gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rousey has Stone pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stone manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rousey taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rousey prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rousey gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Stone regains guard.
Rousey working some strikes from top position.
Rousey is stalling in the full guard.
Stone keeping moving, preventing Rousey from controlling successfully.

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

The ref stands the fighters back up. Royce Rousey was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Stone tries for a takedown but Rousey circles away easily

and Rousey decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Stone's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rousey not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rousey postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Royce Rousey has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Rousey punishes Stone's body with a nice straight punch.
Stone wants to land a leg kick but Rousey is out of range.
Michael Stone has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Royce Rousey is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Stone motions for Rousey to come forward. Stone throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Royce Rousey comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rousey winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Royce Rousey!