PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tycho Branco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Knuckle Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Branco comes to the cage accompanied by Feel Happiness. Stone has chosen Gimme Shelter as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Branco
vs
Stone

170 cm
29
141 lbs
13 - 5 - 1

166 cm
29
147 lbs
18 - 11 - 2

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 1, fighting out of London, Tycho Branco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 2, fighting out of London, Knuckle Stone!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Andrew Berry and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stone with a hook.
Branco throws a lazy right hand but Stone sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Branco jabs Stone to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Branco is looking to clinch but Stone is avoiding it.
Nice body punch from Stone.
Stone throws a chopping leg kick but Branco manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Stone tries to work over Branco's front leg with a kick but Branco checks it.
A left and a right from Stone both land. Nice combination.
Some bone on bone action there as Stone checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Stone jabs Branco right on the nose. Branco blinks but takes it well.

It looks like Tycho Branco has been cut.
Branco steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stone.
Branco fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Branco is looking to chop away at Stone's legs.
Stone connects with a solid leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branco tries to clinch but Stone is having none of it.
Stone misses with an uppercut
and Branco counters with a straight right hand.
Branco swings for the body but Stone moves out of range.
Stone blocks a head kick by Branco.
Stone fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Branco has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Stone blocks a head kick by Branco.
A nice inside leg kick there by Stone. That's going to slow Branco down.
Branco misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stone.
A combination from Stone does no damage.
An inside leg kick from Branco misses.
Stone misses with a hook
and Branco counters with a nice body kick.
Stone thows a body shot but no joy.
Branco closes the distance looking to clinch
and Stone makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branco tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Branco fails in his attempt to clinch.
Branco pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Stone cracks the inside of Branco's front leg.
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 uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Branco.
Branco throws a good cross that connects.
Branco throws a leg kick
enabling Stone to counter with a crisp jab.
Branco throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stone fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branco throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Stone stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Decent striking displayed by Stone there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Branco looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stone lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Stone checks a low kick from Branco.
Branco tries to clinch but Stone moves out of range.
Branco slips under a jab from Stone.
Stone moves away from the strike by Branco.
Stone throws the left hand but Branco avoids the punch easily.
Stone connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Stone scores with a sloppy right hand. Branco should have avoided that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branco's corner calls for a 1-2. Branco obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Stone swats away the attempt to clinch by Branco.
Stone cracks the inside of Branco's front leg.
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!
Branco misses with a body shot
and Stone counters with a straight right hand.
Branco ducks under a wild hook from Stone.
Branco goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Branco shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Tycho Branco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Branco tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Branco ducks under a wild hook from Stone.
Stone rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Branco moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Decent striking displayed by Stone there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Knuckle Stone dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tycho Branco's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Stone swats away the attempt to clinch by Branco.
Knuckle Stone seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stone ducks under a wild hook from Branco.
Branco works Stone's body with a nice hook.
Branco swinging wildly here.
Branco doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Stone lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Branco misses with a body kick.
A leg kick checked by Stone.
Branco takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Branco is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Branco misses with an uppercut. Stone saw that one coming.
Stone ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Branco moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branco closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Branco paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Branco moves in looking to clinch but Stone pushes him off.
Stone cracks Branco with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Stone changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Branco throws a head kick but Stone moves out of range.
Branco throws a nice outside leg kick.
Branco drops his hands momentarily and Stone takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Branco keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stone.
Branco moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Branco has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Stone.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Branco tries to clinch there but Stone circles away.
Stone uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Branco.
A jab from Stone does it's job there.
A nice leg kick lands there from Branco.
Stone misses the shot to the body.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Branco, as that shot connected.
A clash of legs there as Stone blocks the low kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Stone lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Branco has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Branco and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Stone takes a jab right on the kisser.
Branco misses with an attempted mid kick.
Branco misses with a wild body shot.
A slapping leg kick lands for Stone.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone lands with a shot to the body.
Branco moves out of range as Stone strikes.

Branco clinches.

Stone breaks from the clinch.
Stone throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Branco shoots in but Stone avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Stone throws an overhand right that lands on Branco's shoulder, as Branco tries to avoid the shot.
Branco throws a shot to the body.
Stone lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Branco avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Stone throws a leg kick that is checked
and Branco counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Branco.
Branco ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stone moves away.
Branco throws a head kick but Stone moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Branco.
Stone moves into range and connects with a jab.
Stone fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Branco.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Branco throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A leg kick checked by Stone.
No joy there for Stone, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Branco thumps Stone with a low kick.
Branco tests Stone's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Branco moves away from the strike by Stone.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Knuckle Stone will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tycho Branco's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Branco misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Branco lands with a thumping leg kick.
Branco lands a jab to the nose.
Stone throws a poor cross that misses
and Branco counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A nice leg kick lands there from Stone.
Branco checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Stone bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Branco's head.
Stone avoids a kick to the body.
Stone lands a jab to the head.
Stone takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Branco lands with a straight right. Stone didn't see that one coming.
Stone throws a right hand that Branco ducks under and follows up with a left that Branco also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branco connects with a good right hand that stumbles Stone. Stone circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Stone misses with a hook
and Branco counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Stone thinking.
Stone lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Good work by Branco as he checks the leg kick.
Branco throws a body kick that misses.
Branco avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Branco has managed to clinch.
Branco working aggressively here.
Stone tries to circle away but Branco has him pinned against the cage.
Branco lands a body shot in the clinch.
Branco lands a body punch in the clinch.

Stone breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A clash of legs there as Branco blocks the low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone looks to land a right hand but Branco moved out of range.
Stone tries to bum rush Branco with a series of wild strikes but Branco uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
That kick from Branco tenderised Stone's leg. Stone is trying to keep his angry face on.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stone wants to land a leg kick but Branco is out of range.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Stone buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Stone circles away from the clinch attempt.
A jab from Branco does it's job there.
Stone misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Branco throws a head kick that misses
and Stone counters with a nice leg kick.
Branco fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stone manages to avoid it.
Stone takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Nice defenses there by Branco.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Branco.
Stone blocks a jab.
Stone throws a leg kick that is checked
and Branco counters with a good low kick that Stone was not able to check.
Branco throws a lazy uppercut
and Stone counters with a stiff right hand.
Branco tries to clinch but Stone moves away
and Stone counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Branco looks to land a combination. Stone sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A nice leg kick lands there from Stone.
Stone throws a low kick but Branco avoids it.
Branco throws the left hand but Stone avoids the punch easily.
Branco looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Branco looks to land a right hand but Stone moved out of range.
Stone tries to bum rush Branco with a series of wild strikes but Branco uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Knuckle Stone is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branco looks to score with a jab to the body but Stone is just out of range.
Stone moves out of range of the body kick.
Stone blocks a head kick by Branco.
A telegraphed right hand from Branco misses the target.
Stone throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Branco misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stone.
Tycho Branco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stone cracks Branco with a right hand to the side of the head.
Branco wants to clinch up but Stone keeps it at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Branco drops his hands momentarily and Stone takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stone takes a body punch but keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tycho Branco showed his dominance in that final round.
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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Knuckle Stone!
A relieved looking Knuckle Stone thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.