PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Garry Stout (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and The Rock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Garry Stout has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Stout
vs
Rock

211 cm
23
215 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
18
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Garry Stout!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, The Rock!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Santiago Holmes and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stout defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rock.
Stout tries to bum rush Rock with a series of wild strikes but Rock uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rock is looking to clinch.
Stout dives in and grabs Rock's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rock pushes down on Stout's head and hops out.
Rock shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stout sprawls well. Stout wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rock gets slowly back to his feet.
Rock misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stout definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Garry Stout has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of The Rock.
Stout shoots in looking for a takedown but Rock manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Stout's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rock shoots in looking for a takedown. Stout tries to sprawl out of it but Rock keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stout manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rock 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.

Stout has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rock wants to get back to striking at distance but Stout won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stout escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stout takes a swing at Rock's ribcage but misses.
Rock dives in and grabs Stout's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stout pushes down on Rock's head and hops out.
Stout misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rock tries to clinch up but Stout circles away and keeps his distance.
Rock fails with the takedown.

Stout clinches.

Stout breaks from the clinch.
Stout misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stout scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rock lands a jab to Stout's midsection.
Rock stuffs the takedown.
Stout slaps away a takedown attempt from Rock, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Stout throws a combination. Rock tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Rock looks winded!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rock shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stout sprawls well. Stout wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rock gets slowly back to his feet.
Rock misses with a wild combination.
Stout lands a front kick.
Rock stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rock is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stout sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rock gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Stout counters with a nice body shot.
Stout lands with a good body shot.
Stout shoots for a takedown but Rock saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rock crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Stout - the referee stops the clock and Rock gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Stout. Rock manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stout.
Rock slaps away a takedown attempt from Stout, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Stout misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rock looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stout is fending him off so far but Rock persists. Nope, Stout circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stout looks for a takedown but Rock sprawls well.
Rock throws a nice looking combination but Stout bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rock fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stout tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rock swivels and escapes.
Rock fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stout avoids it really well and circles away.
Stout cracks Rock with an open hand slap.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stout shoots in for a double leg but Rock sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garry Stout dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stout leaves Rock with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Stout shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rock but Rock pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rock dives in and grabs Stout's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stout pushes down on Rock's head and hops out.
Stout looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rock looks to score with a jab to the body but Stout is just out of range.

Rock rushes Stout and presses him up against the cage.
Rock tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stout just stands there and leans against the cage.
Garry Stout has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of The Rock.
Rock is breathing heavily.
Stout jumps guard but Rock stands there with Stout around his waist. Stout gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Stout breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rock goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Rock tries for a takedown but Stout sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Stout misses with a takedown attempt - Rock sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stout fails to land with a series of punches.
Stout dodges the punch combination from Rock.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stout is defended easily by Rock.
Rock tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stout shoots in for a takedown but Rock shows good takedown defense.
Stout keeps the fight on the outside.
Rock shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rock shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stout defends it nicely.
Stout scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Stout shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rock but Rock pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Stout misses with a takedown attempt - Rock sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rock connects with a high kick.

Stout moves into the clinch.
Rock is trying to stall.

Stout escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rock is defended easily by Stout.
Stout is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rock sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Stout clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stout's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stout really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Stout stuffs the takedown attempt from Rock. Rock gets slowly back to his feet.
Stout shoots in for a double leg but Rock sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stout tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rock sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stout somewhat.
Rock tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stout swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stout misses with a takedown attempt - Rock sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stout keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rock.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but The Rock will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

A good leg kick by Rock.

Stout darts in and clinches Rock up against the cage.
Rock has Stout pushed against the cage.
Stout wants to take the fight to the mat but Rock manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rock is pressed up against the cage. Stout has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rock down to the mat. Rock avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rock is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stout sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Stout closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stout goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Stout's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Garry Stout is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rock slaps away a takedown attempt from Stout, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Garry Stout. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rock tries to bum rush Stout with a series of wild strikes but Stout uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rock fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Stout has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rock misses with a body kick.
Rock tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stout lands with a slapping head kick.
Rock looks to throw a body kick
and Stout counters with a big head kick but Rock shrugs it off.
Rock stuffs the takedown.
Rock is looking to land body kicks.
Rock tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stout sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rock somewhat.
Stout shoots in and drives through. Rock sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rock moves in looking to clinch but Stout pushes him off.

Rock feints and as Stout raises his hands in defense, Rock changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Stout throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Stout is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rock trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stout trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Stout has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stout trying to keep a closed guard but Rock is proving a slippery customer.

Stout uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Rock dives in for a single leg takedown but Stout sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Stout pulls guard successfully.
Stout wants to stand up but Rock is controlling him.
Rock controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rock trying to control the position from guard on top but Stout is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. The Rock wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rock defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stout.
Stout tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rock paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rock fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stout is defended easily by Rock.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stout leaves Rock with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Garry Stout.
I think Stout has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... The Rock!
The Rock took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.