PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Locke (ranked 3970 p4p, 3967 weight class) and TJ Stuber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Locke
vs
Stuber

176 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
145
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thomas Locke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, TJ Stuber!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Darius Henderson and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Locke has closed the distance and engaged Stuber in a clinch.
Locke is pushing Stuber up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Stuber will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Locke up against the cage.
Locke goes for a takedown attempt but Stuber pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some bone on bone action there as Locke checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Locke seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Locke stuffs the takedown.
Stuber is trying hard to land a takedown here. Locke sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Locke tries to clinch there but Stuber circles away.

Locke drives through and clinches with Stuber against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stuber jumps guard and drags Locke to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Stuber keeping moving, preventing Locke from controlling successfully.

Stuber looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Locke pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stuber is keeping the position for now.
Stuber throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stuber wants to sweep here but Locke controlling him for the moment.
Locke not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Locke looking to pass the guard.
Stuber 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.
Locke wants to control from the top but Stuber keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Stuber throws a push kick but Locke slaps the foot to one side.

Locke instigates a clinch.
Locke avoiding damage as Stuber throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stuber tries to circle away but Locke has him pinned against the cage.
Stuber pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Locke is stalling here.
Locke blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Stuber is trying to force a seperation but Locke has the dominant position.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Locke lands a left hand.
Stuber tries for a takedown. No joy.
Thomas Locke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of TJ Stuber.

That's four 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.
Locke is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Stuber pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Stuber working hard to break the clinch.
Locke effectively controlling the action here.
Locke avoiding damage.
Stuber is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Locke prevents a takedown attempt there.
Stuber fails to pull the fight into his guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Locke dominated that round.
That's time! Locke's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Locke clinches up against the cage.
Locke lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Locke keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stuber's efforts to push away.
Stuber misses with some punches.
Stuber is looking to take this one to the mat.
Locke looking for a takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee is keeping an eye on Locke - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Stuber content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stuber wants to break free but Locke has control.
Stuber is trying to maintain a safe position but Locke gets an underhook and turns Stuber into the cage.
Locke landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Thomas Locke has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Stuber turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Stuber manages to end up in side control.
Locke is looking to get back to his feet here but Stuber is keeping cool and he's managed to take Locke's back.
Locke is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Locke avoids the strikes from Stuber.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stuber lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Locke is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Stuber scores with punches and elbows.
Stuber throws strikes from the back but Locke rolls nicely and manages to end up in full guard. Nice work by Locke.
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!
Stuber slips nicely into half guard.

Stuber decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stuber looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Locke tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stuber paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Good leg kick by Stuber.

Locke gets a clinch.
Locke wants a takedown.
Stuber looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Stuber goes for a takedown in the clinch but Locke prevents it.
Thomas Locke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of TJ Stuber.
Stuber goes for a takedown attempt but Locke pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Locke clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stuber jumps guard and drags Locke to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Stuber keeping moving, preventing Locke from controlling successfully.
Stuber 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.
Locke tries to free his leg and advance position but Stuber is retaining full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Stuber looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Locke not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but TJ Stuber will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Locke shoots in for a takedown but Stuber shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Thomas Locke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stuber dives in for a single leg takedown but Locke sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stuber is defended easily by Locke.
Locke is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Stuber.
Stuber fails to land the takedown.
Thomas Locke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of TJ Stuber.

Locke rushes Stuber and presses him up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Locke has Stuber pressed against the cage.
Stuber tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Locke just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stuber landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Locke is working for takedown but Stuber is calmly controlling the position for now.
Locke lands an uppercut.
Stuber tries to stall but Locke uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Stuber gets control of Locke's arms and successfully pulls guard. Stuber will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Stuber kicks Locke off and gets to his feet.
Stuber stuffs the takedown attempt from Locke. Locke gets slowly back to his feet.
Locke fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stuber misses with a takedown attempt - Locke sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stuber takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Locke tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stuber manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stuber tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Locke tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stuber manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Locke looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Stuber steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Locke.
Stuber throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Locke's waist but Locke gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stuber off to one side.
Locke leaves Stuber with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Locke drives through and clinches with Stuber against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Locke is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Locke goes for a takedown attempt but Stuber pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Locke forces Stuber back against the cage and clinches.

Stuber pulls guard successfully.
Locke stops Stuber from standing up.
Locke stopping the sweep attempt from Stuber.
Locke wants to pass the guard but Stuber is keeping the position.
Stuber not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Locke pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stuber is keeping the position for now.
Locke throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Locke trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Locke prevents Stuber from getting back to his feet.
Locke is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Stuber misses with a head kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Locke is looking to clinch but Stuber is avoiding it.

Stuber fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Locke to the ground. Stuber is now in Locke's guard.
Locke wants to stand but Stuber is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to TJ Stuber.
I think Stuber has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... TJ Stuber!