PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Leo Stokes (ranked 23581 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igi Peterson (ranked 5417 p4p, 0 weight class). Igi Peterson has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Leo Stokes's chin.

Stokes
vs
Peterson

199 cm
19
193 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

182 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Leo Stokes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Igi Peterson!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Ben Hemmingworth and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stokes is defended easily by Peterson.
Stokes shoots in for a takedown but Peterson shows good takedown defense.
Peterson misses with the combination.

Peterson gets a clinch.

Stokes breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Peterson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Stokes manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Stokes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Peterson is one step ahead there.
Stokes looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peterson won't allow Stokes to sweep him here.
Peterson throws a strike but Stokes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Stokes with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Stokes has gone for a leg lock! Peterson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Stokes's guard.

Peterson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Peterson prevents Stokes from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peterson content to stall in guard here.
Peterson passes Stokes's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Peterson tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Peterson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stokes's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Peterson stalling.

Peterson wants to work for an arm triangle but Stokes is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stokes wants to control but Peterson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Peterson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Stokes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Peterson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Peterson tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stokes is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Igi Peterson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Peterson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Stokes's guard.

Stokes kicks Peterson off and gets to his feet.

Peterson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Stokes to the ground. Peterson is now in Stokes's guard.
Peterson sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
It looks like Peterson might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Peterson trying to control but Stokes is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igi Peterson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Peterson rushes Stokes and presses him up against the cage.
Stokes jumps guard but Peterson stands there with Stokes around his waist. Stokes gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Peterson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Stokes is looking for a takedown.

Peterson has hold of one of Stokes's legs. Stokes is fighting the takedown attempt but Peterson gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Stokes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stokes trying to keep a closed guard but Peterson is proving a slippery customer.
Peterson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Peterson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Peterson advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stokes tries to bench press Peterson off him but Peterson keeps the position.

Peterson stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Stokes takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Peterson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Stokes's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Peterson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stokes throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Peterson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stokes is keeping the position for now.
Peterson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Let's hope that Peterson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stokes pulls Peterson in close to prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stokes walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Peterson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Peterson lands in his opponent's guard.
Stokes looking for a sweep. Not yet Stokes, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stokes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Peterson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Stokes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Peterson forces his way into half guard.
Peterson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stokes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Peterson is thwarting Stokes's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igi Peterson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Stokes decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Peterson makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Peterson rushes Stokes and presses him up against the cage.
Stokes is trying to pull guard but Peterson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Stokes looking to slow down the pace here.

Peterson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Stokes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Peterson has control of Stokes's left arm, preventing Stokes from doing any damage.
Peterson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stokes drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Peterson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Stokes has Peterson in his guard.

Peterson gets to his feet - Stokes follows without any prompting.
Stokes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stokes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Peterson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Stokes napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stokes is letting Peterson control him for a moment.
Stokes wants to control but Peterson postures up.
Peterson advances nicely into full mount.
Stokes bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Peterson has Stokes pulled in close to control his posture.

Stokes is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Peterson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Peterson has escaped and now he's on top!

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Peterson passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peterson stalling.
Peterson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Stokes knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Peterson 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.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Still in half guard, Peterson seems content to control.
Peterson with the ground and pound but Stokes uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Peterson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stokes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stokes working a defensive guard here.
Peterson looking to pass the guard.
Peterson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Peterson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Leo Stokes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Igi Peterson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Peterson 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igi Peterson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Peterson 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Igi Peterson!