PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hercule Poirot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andy Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Poirot's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Poirot Theme. The crowd seem to be enjoying Stone's choice of entrance music: I stand alone - Godsmack. Andy Stone will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Poirot
vs
Stone

167 cm
26
162 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

180 cm
22
170 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Great low kicks
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hercule Poirot!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Andy Stone!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poirot pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Poirot throws a leg kick but Stone sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Poirot throws out a leg kick but Stone moves out of range and Poirot only half commits.
Stone on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Poirot. Poirot obviously looking to wear him down.
Poirot tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Poirot misses with an attempted mid kick.
Stone throws a series of strikes that have Poirot backpedaling.
Poirot explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Poirot throws the kick towards the body but Stone avoids it.
Stone works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Stone stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stone wants it to stay on the feet.
Poirot tries to land a front kick but Stone steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Poirot tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stone swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poirot misses with a head kick.
Poirot looks to land a body kick but Stone moved away.
Poirot throws a wild body kick that Stone sees coming a mile off.
Poirot shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stone as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hercule Poirot. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Poirot throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Stone was covering up waiting for the punch and Poirot finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Poirot stands and throws Stone's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Stone tries to improve position but can't.
Poirot working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone prevents Poirot from improving position.
Stone tries to bench press Poirot off him but Poirot keeps the position.

Poirot is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Stone knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
You can see the frustration on Stone's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Poirot looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Stone!
Stone slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone is refusing to be controlled, as Poirot sits in half guard.
Poirot is pressing down on Stone's thigh, looking to free his foot. Stone is holding on for now.
Stone wants to improve his position but Poirot is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stone wants to control but Poirot is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Poirot perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Poirot has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Stone wants to improve his position but Poirot is controlling well.
Poirot is keen to just control but Stone is a slippery customer.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Poirot pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Stone stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Poirot.
Stone blocks the body kick.
Poirot throws a solid leg kick but Stone takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Poirot.
Poirot walks into a straight right hand from Stone.
Stone has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Poirot.
Stone stuffs the takedown.
Jab, jab by Stone - just one landing.
Poirot delivers a nice body kick.
Stone looks gassed!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Poirot misses with a kick to the body.
Stone throws a hook but Poirot avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hercule Poirot will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Poirot tried to score with a low kick but Stone checks it.
Hercule Poirot is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Poirot misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Poirot looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Poirot shoots in for a double leg but Stone sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Poirot scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Poirot. That's going to slow Stone down.
Poirot pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stone stuffs the takedown attempt from Poirot. Poirot gets slowly back to his feet.
Poirot throws a push kick but Stone slaps the foot to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poirot pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Poirot misses with a low kick.
Poirot throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Some bone on bone action there as Stone checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Poirot fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hercule Poirot. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Poirot tries to work over Stone's front leg with a kick but Stone checks it.
Poirot tries a head kick but it misses.
Poirot throws a sloppy head kick and Stone moves out of range easily.
Poirot throws a head kick but Stone moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Poirot throws a head kick but Stone moves out of range.
Poirot throws a front kick aimed at Stone's knee but Stone avoids it well.
Stone jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Poirot misses with a head kick.
Poirot throws a leg kick but Stone sees it coming and moves out of range.
Stone is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Stone misses with a hook. Poirot ducked under it nicely.
Poirot throws a wild body kick that Stone sees coming a mile off.
Poirot throws a solid leg kick but Stone takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Poirot.
Poirot throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Poirot throws a push kick but Stone slaps the foot to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poirot staying out of range there.
Stone scoring well with a low kick there.
Poirot looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Poirot checks the leg kick nicely there.
Stone swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Poirot.
The fighters circling - Stone throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Stone throws a hook but Poirot avoids it easily.
Stone connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Poirot takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone misses with an uppercut.
Poirot throws a leg kick that is checked
and Stone connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Poirot throws a head kick that misses.
Poirot shoots in but no luck this time.
Poirot tries for a takedown but Stone circles away easily
enabling Stone to counter with a crisp jab.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stone avoids the head kick by Poirot.
Hercule Poirot seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stone throws a leg kick but Poirot sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Poirot throws a head kick that misses.
Stone takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Stone showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Poirot moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Poirot throws a head kick but Stone moves out of range.
Poirot throws a sloppy head kick
and Stone counters with a right hand to the body.
Poirot fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stone avoids it really well and circles away.
A big right from Stone misses.
Poirot throws a leg kick that is checked
and Stone connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Stone avoids the head kick by Poirot.
Andy Stone seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stone lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone throws a big shot that misses.
Poirot bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Stone takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Poirot on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Poirot throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Stone counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Poirot misses with a takedown
and Stone counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stone feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Poirot's calf.
A head kick by Poirot misses
and Stone counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Andy Stone is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Poirot throws a sloppy head kick
and Stone counters with a nice leg kick.
Stone jabs at Poirot's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Poirot.
Poirot takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stone stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stone wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hercule Poirot. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Poirot misses with a leg kick
and Stone counters with a straight right hand.
Poirot throws a leg kick
and Stone counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stone lands with a thumping leg kick.
Poirot throws a body kick the misses
and Stone counters with a left and a right that stings Poirot.
Stone connects with a solid leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Poirot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poirot shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Stone counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Stone connects with a good right hand that stumbles Poirot. Poirot circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Jab by Stone.
Stone scores with a nice head shot.
Poirot throws a leg kick that is checked
and Stone counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Poirot throws a lazy head kick
and Stone counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Poirot misses with a kick to the body
and Stone counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Poirot looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Poirot attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone lands with a hook. Poirot tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Poirot looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Poirot tries to land a body kick
and Stone cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Poirot misses with a kick to the body
enabling Stone to counter with a crisp jab.
Poirot misses with a leg kick
letting Stone counter with a right hand.
Poirot does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Stone crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Poirot - the referee stops the clock and Stone gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Poirot. Stone manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Poirot shoots in but no luck this time.
Poirot shoots for a takedown but Stone saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andy Stone comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Stone 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29

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