PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between China O Maha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stone comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Pantera 5 Minutes Alone kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

O Maha
vs
Stone

189 cm
19
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
225 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, China O Maha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steve Stone!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
O Maha shoots in for a takedown but Stone shows good takedown defense.
O Maha misses with a takedown attempt - Stone sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
O Maha throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stone's waist but Stone gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing O Maha off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for China O Maha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stone misses with a two punch combination.
Stone fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
No luck for O Maha with that takedown attempt.
Stone connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Stone misses with a two punch combination.

Stone moves into the clinch successfully.
O Maha tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stone smiles and moves away.
O Maha fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
O Maha looks for a takedown but Stone sprawls well.
O Maha shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stone as he avoids it easily.

Stone instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stone manages to break the clinch.
Stone fails in his attempt to clinch.

Stone looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Stone throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as O Maha works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
O Maha has a closed guard, preventing Stone from standing up.
O Maha looking for a sweep. Not yet O Maha, not yet.
O Maha is breathing heavily.

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

Stone darts in and clinches O Maha up against the cage.
Stone wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Stone wants to get back to striking at distance but O Maha won't allow it.

O Maha escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Stone scores with a takedown into O Maha's guard.
Stone postures up in O Maha's guard and throws a big left but O Maha blocks it.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stone gets a takedown into half guard.
O Maha trying to control here.

Stone decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
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!
Stone lunges at O Maha with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by O Maha's hand.

Stone instigates a clinch.
O Maha jumps guard but Stone stands there with O Maha around his waist. O Maha gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Stone breaks from the clinch.
Stone tries to clinch up but O Maha circles away and keeps his distance.
Stone tries to close the distance and clinch but O Maha swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
O Maha dodges the punch combination from Stone.
Stone displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Maha misses with a takedown

and Stone counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Stone.
O Maha not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Stone working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
O Maha will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Stone distracts O Maha with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Stone postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Stone trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

O Maha looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
O Maha looking to control.
Stone would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Stone stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Maha misses with a takedown attempt

and Stone counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for O Maha!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Stone working for a guillotine from mount but O Maha is in no mood to give up.
Stone fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
O Maha is looking to get to half guard.
Stone putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
O Maha working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Stone working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

O Maha thuds his shin into the meat of Stone's side.
Nice takedown defense from Stone. No joy for O Maha on that attempt.
Stone scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Stone throws a series of punches but O Maha moves out of range.
Stone throws a series of strikes that have O Maha backpedaling.
O Maha misses with a takedown
and Stone makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
China O Maha is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
O Maha showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stone.
Stone changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
O Maha takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Stone lands a jab-cross combination.

Stone closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stone lands in his opponent's guard.
Stone must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Stone lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone lands a couple of decent looking shots.
O Maha will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
O Maha is trying to control the position from the bottom.

O Maha has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stone can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Stone decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
O Maha darts in trying to clinch
and Stone counters with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Stone cracks O Maha with a right hand to the side of the head.

Stone scores a takedown into full mount!
The referee warns O Maha that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Steve Stone has got the better of the ground game so far.
O Maha takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
O Maha throwing hammer fists to the chest of Stone. What's that going to do exactly?
Stone fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
O Maha regains half guard.
Stone thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed O Maha's head.

Stone stands up from half guard.
Stone keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Maha shoots and misses

and Stone counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for China O Maha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stone throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
O Maha is trying to get back to full guard.
O Maha is looking to escape.
Nice strikes from Stone there.
Stone drops an elbow to the side of O Maha's head.
Stone missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Stone stands up from half guard.
O Maha tries to clinch there but Stone circles away.

Stone shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Stone showed some decent athleticism there.
Stone lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone thows a huge punch but O Maha dodges it nicely.
Stone throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Stone seems to be looking for submissions.
O Maha regains full guard. Nicely done.

Stone avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Stone chips away with some ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stone postures up in O Maha's guard and throws a big left but O Maha blocks it.
Stone is in close to O Maha's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Stone showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

O Maha throws a series of strikes that have Stone backpedaling.
O Maha circles away from the clinch attempt
and O Maha counters with a body kick that stops Stone in his tracks momentarily.
O Maha feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Stone's calf.
O Maha doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Stone to counter with a crisp jab.
O Maha lands a nice leg kick that just misses Stone's sensitive parts.
O Maha darts in trying to clinch

so Stone counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Stone won't allow O Maha to get back to his feet.
Stone passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Stone has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stone grinds an elbow into O Maha's temple.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Stone scoring with punches and elbows.
O Maha is trying to get back to his feet.
Stone lands a nice forearm strike.
O Maha sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Stone seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
O Maha keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
O Maha is looking to improve his position.
Stone takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
O Maha has hold of Stone's hands but Stone slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Stone working O Maha over with strikes.
Stone working the head and body with strikes.
O Maha trying to control but Stone postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
O Maha tries to clinch there but Stone circles away.
Steve Stone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stone scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Stone closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stone lands in his opponent's guard.

Stone decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
O Maha with a poor takedown

and Stone counters with a single leg into guard. O Maha didn't expect that.
Stone missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stone postures up in O Maha's guard and throws a big left but O Maha blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Maha manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stone manages to get himself to full guard.
O Maha loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
O Maha advances to half guard.

O Maha gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Stone closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stone lands in his opponent's guard.
Stone throwing strikes from guard but O Maha blocks nicely.
O Maha trying to control the position.

Stone decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and O Maha counters with a head kick. That will keep Stone thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Stone scores with a takedown into O Maha's guard.
Stone works over O Maha with some ground and pound from guard.

O Maha has his foot on Stone's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stone works his way back into a safe position though.
O Maha trying to keep a closed guard but Stone is proving a slippery customer.
Stone prevents O Maha from getting back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Stone stands up and waves to O Maha to follow him.
O Maha staying out of range there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 26:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 26:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 26:30

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