PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Caleb Herrera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tony Stone told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Herrera
vs
Stone

182 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Caleb Herrera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tony Stone!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Ben Hemmingworth and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Stone.

Stone clinches.
Stone prevents a takedown attempt there.
Stone lands a shot to the body.
Herrera tries to score a body lock takedown but Stone shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
We've been informed that Stone has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

Stone has clasped his hands together around Herrera's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Stone slows the pace down.
Herrera throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Stone throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Stone has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Stone has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Stone closes the distance and pushes Herrera back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stone breaks the clinch.

Stone moves into the clinch.

Stone pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stone plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Stone has Herrera up against the cage in a clinch.
Herrera is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Caleb Herrera. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stone drags the fight down to the ground.

Stone has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Herrera off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Stone steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Herrera.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stone instigates a clinch.

Stone's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stone slaps away a takedown attempt from Herrera, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Stone lands a body shot.

Stone pushes Herrera up against the cage in a clinch.

Stone breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Stone moves into range and clinches up with Herrera.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Stone.

Stone has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Herrera uses from the top position.
Stone trying to keep a closed guard but Herrera is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stone manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Stone looks winded!
Herrera has Stone pushed against the cage.
Herrera has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stone is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Herrera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stone.

Stone manages to break the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Stone. Those never looked like landing.

Stone closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stone lands in his opponent's guard.
Stone wants to control from the top but Herrera keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone advances to half guard.
Herrera wants to control but Stone is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Stone stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Herrera to get to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Stone moves into the clinch.

Stone's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Stone drives through with a takedown into guard.
Stone throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Stone dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Herrera shoots in looking for a takedown. Stone tries to sprawl out of it but Herrera keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stone manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Stone throws a head kick that half lands.
Herrera closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stone circles away.
Herrera shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Caleb Herrera. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stone fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Herrera sprawls well initially but Stone persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Stone looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Herrera really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Stone is breathing heavily.
Herrera tries to get to full guard but Stone has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herrera has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stone is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stone is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tony Stone was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Herrera shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stone defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stone closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Herrera's guard.

Stone stands and steps away. Herrera gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Herrera gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Herrera doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
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!
Herrera controls Stone momentarily but Stone frees himself.
Stone is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone prevents Herrera from getting back to his feet.
Stone slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Stone is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Herrera's shoulder. That is not cool.

Stone stands up and beckons Herrera to his feet.

Herrera gets tackled into the cage by Stone. Stone maintains the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herrera is looking to take this one to the mat.
Stone has Herrera pressed against the cage.

Stone breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Herrera slips a jab and a cross from Stone.
Stone with a jab.
Herrera throws a poor cross that misses
and Stone counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Stone takes the fight into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stone is pushing Herrera up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Stone showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Herrera's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Stone keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Herrera.
Stone has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Stone moves into range and clinches up with Herrera.
Stone is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Herrera is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Stone breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Stone scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Herrera trying to hold on to Stone's head to control him but Stone postures up.
Stone is controlling the pace.
Stone takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herrera wants to control but Stone is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stone wants to take a breather but Herrera is having none of it.

Stone stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Stone darts in and clinches Herrera up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stone breaks the clinch.

Stone clinches up against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Stone.
Herrera is trying to pull guard but Stone has him pressed against the cage.
Herrera trying to stall but Stone improves his position.

Stone has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Herrera clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Stone really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Herrera.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stone is not going to allow Herrera to sit and survive in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone has the hooks in. Herrera is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Herrera trying to control the position but Stone manages to sink in the hooks.
Stone missing with strikes from the back.

Herrera defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Stone is striking from the back but Herrera escapes and manages to recover to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone wants to free his trapped foot but Herrera is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Herrera trying to hold on to Stone's head to control him but Stone postures up.
Still in half guard, Stone seems content to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Herrera gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Stone to score an easy takedown into full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Stone comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stone 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Stone!