PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brett Stone (ranked 1354 p4p, 4098 weight class) and Rocco Damato (ranked 154 p4p, 367 weight class). Damato has chosen Thunderstruck as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Stone
vs
Damato

178 cm
26
152
15 - 14 - 0

170 cm
26
150
10 - 19 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 15 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Brett Stone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rocco Damato!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paul Aken and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stone has taken the fight to the clinch.
Damato lands a shot to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Stone.
Stone creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Damato misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Damato stops a takedown attempt from Stone.
Damato throws a head punch that misses.

Stone has Damato pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Stone pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Damato tumbling to the mat - Stone dives into Damato's guard.
Stone is in close to Damato's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Stone is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Sprawl & Brawl that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Stone stands up over Damato, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Damato is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Damato is looking for a triangle here but Stone uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Stone is putting a hurting on Damato here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Damato taking punishment in the form of punches.
A lull in the action here.

Stone is trying to get an arm triangle but Damato is defending well.

Stone is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Damato has escaped the position, nice work there.
Damato is looking to regain half guard here but Stone keeps moving and retains side control.
Stone controls the position from side control.

Stone working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Damato's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Check out the look on Stone's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Damato is trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stone working the ground and pound.
Damato is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone controls the position from side control.

Stone tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Stone works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Damato is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Stone's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Stone is trying to control the action in half guard but Damato is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Damato looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Damato trying to control but Stone postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Damato tries to kick Stone off but Stone keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Stone connects with a nice short shot to Damato's temple.
Stone looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Stone is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Damato doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Stone.
Stone with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Stone is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Damato is just riding it out for now. Stone eventually gives up the hold.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stone working over Damato with some ground and pound. Damato looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

A combination from Damato does no damage.
Stone keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Damato.

Stone drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Damato pushes Stone off and gets back to his feet.
Stone is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Damato can do to turn this around?
Stone throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Damato tries to close the distance and clinch but Stone swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Stone fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Damato to the ground. Stone is now in Damato's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Damato is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stone wants to control from the top but Damato keeps moving.

Damato manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Stone gets a clinch.
Damato with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stone throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Damato blocks it with crossed arms.
Stone fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Damato breaks the clinch.
Damato paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Stone darts in looking for a takedown but Damato gets double underhooks and turns Stone into the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Damato just misses with a elbow thrown towards Stone's brow.
Stone landing knees to the body.
Damato blocks an elbow strike from Stone.
Damato lands a hook to the side of the head.
Damato throws a head punch that misses.
Stone blocks an elbow strike from Damato.
Stone prevents a body shot from Damato.
Stone is looking for a takedown.
Stone wants to take the fight to the mat but Damato manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brett Stone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stone wants a takedown but no success here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Damato has had enough of the clinch but Stone keeps him there for the moment.
Stone blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Stone trying to land knees to the body.
Stone misses with an elbow over the top.
A head punch on the inside from Stone fails to land.
Stone with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stone misses with a punch to the body.
Stone can't find room to land a body shot as Damato controls the action.
A body shot lands from Stone.
Stone wants a takedown.
This has been an exciting period of action!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Damato.
Damato has had enough of the clinch but Stone keeps him there for the moment.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Stone.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Damato using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stone has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Stone turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Stone manages to end up in side control.
Damato is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Damato taking a bit of punishment here - Stone scoring with strikes.
Damato manages to work his way to half guard, despite Stone's best efforts.
Damato trying to get back to full guard but Stone takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Stone dominating with strikes here.
Damato is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Stone pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Stone raining down hammerfists from mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Stone moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Damato has worked his arm free - good work by Damato!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone prevents Damato from escaping the position.
Brett Stone overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stone grinds an elbow into Damato's temple.
Stone landing a few strikes.
Stone in side control lands a decent elbow.
Damato is pushing Stone's head away, looking to escape. Stone manages to hold on to the position though.
Damato is trying to control Stone's posture but Stone avoids it.
Stone cracks Damato with a big right hand but Damato just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Stone is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Damato has escaped the position, nice work there.
Damato tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Brett Stone will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Stone walks into a stiff left hand from Damato.
Damato is looking to clinch.

Stone drives through and clinches with Damato against the cage.
Stone is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Stone tries for a takedown but Damato manages to get underhooks.
Stone swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Stone tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stone lands a left hand that snaps the head of Damato backwards.
Damato is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Stone.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stone with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A shot in the inside from Stone.
Damato tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stone smiles and moves away.

Damato clinches up with Stone and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Damato throws a head punch that misses.
Stone throws a punch but it's blocked by Damato.
Damato is trying to pull guard but Stone has him pressed against the cage.
Damato lands an uppercut.
Stone blocks an elbow strike.
Stone with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Damato tries to circle away but Stone has him pinned against the cage.
Damato misses with some punches.
Damato throws a punch but it's blocked by Stone.
Brett Stone has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Stone swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Stone trying to land knees to the body.
Stone can't find room to land a body shot as Damato controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone looking for a takedown.
Stone looking to throw knees to the head but Damato is blocking nicely.
Damato tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Damato stops a takedown attempt from Stone.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brett Stone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short right from Damato on the inside.
Damato scores with a shot to the side of Stone's head.
Damato scores with a shot to the side of Stone's head.
Damato dodges an elbow strike from Stone.
Damato blocks an elbow strike from Stone.
Damato misses with a short punch on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Damato avoids the elbow strike from Stone, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Stone fails to land.
Stone swings wildly with an uppercut but Damato uses good head movement to avoid it.
Brett Stone is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone blocking some punches.
Stone is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Damato is defending well.
Damato lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Damato is trying to force a seperation but Stone has the dominant position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Stone as Damato tries to tie him up.
Damato is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Damato throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Damato fails to land.
Damato misses with the head strike.
Rocco Damato has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stone blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Damato working aggressively here.
Stone blocks a body shot from Damato.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rocco Damato.
I think Stone 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brett Stone!
Brett Stone thanked the fans post fight for their support.