PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Edmond Honda (ranked 1380 p4p, 159 weight class) and Norman Stebson (ranked 4353 p4p, 466 weight class). Honda comes into the arena with E. Honda Stage Theme Extended blaring out of the sound system. Edmond Honda has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Honda
vs
Stebson

186 cm
22
265 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

189 cm
22
235 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 180$)
Mockstar Energy Drinks 160Q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Edmond Honda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Norman Stebson!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Dean Styles and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stebson lands a head shot.

It looks like Edmond Honda has been cut.

Honda decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Stebson tries to get to full guard but Honda has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Stebson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Stebson controls Honda momentarily but Honda frees himself.
Honda in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stebson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stebson is continuing to stall.
Honda content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Honda trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Honda lands a couple of elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stebson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Honda trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stebson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Honda throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Honda in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Honda throwing strikes from guard but Stebson blocks nicely.
Stebson pulls Honda in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Honda throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stebson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stebson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stebson seems keen to control Honda's posture.
Stebson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Honda.
Honda has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stebson pulls Honda in close to his closed guard and prevents Honda from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Honda is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Stebson's half guard.
Stebson desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Honda is nestled in close to Stebson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Stebson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Honda scores with a couple of nice shots.
Stebson trying to control but Honda postures up.
Honda landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fighters are battling for position here. Stebson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stebson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Stebson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Honda missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stebson pulls Honda in close to prevent any damage.
Honda is looking to work some ground and pound but Stebson has wrist control.
Honda scoring with punches to the head and body.
Honda trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Honda with a nice head shot there.
Honda throws a big elbow that misses.
Honda throws a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Honda accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Honda with a nice head shot there.
Honda working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Honda loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edmond Honda dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Edmond Honda's cut.
That's time! Honda's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Honda closes the distance and clinches up with Stebson, looking for a takedown. Honda pushes Stebson against the cage but Stebson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Stebson throws a nice looking combination but Honda bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Honda shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Stebson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Honda keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stebson's head.
Stebson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stebson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stebson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Honda.
Honda lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Honda is looking to work some ground and pound but Stebson has wrist control.
Stebson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Stebson holds on and takes a little breather.
Stebson is trying to control the position but Honda postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Honda loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Honda working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Honda postures up in Stebson's guard and throws a big left but Stebson blocks it.
Stebson working a defensive guard but Honda passes into half guard.
Edmond Honda overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stebson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Honda.
Honda is thwarting Stebson's attempts to control the position.
Honda misses with a head shot. Stebson uses the momentum to regain guard.
Stebson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stebson is trying to control the position but Honda postures up.
Honda postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stebson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Honda.
Honda missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Honda trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stebson controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Left hook, right uppercut from Stebson.
Honda seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Stebson stuffs the takedown attempt from Honda. Honda gets slowly back to his feet.
Honda with a poor takedown
and Stebson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edmond Honda. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stebson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Honda.
Honda stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Stebson.
Norman Stebson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Honda fails with a takedown attempt.
Stebson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Honda's head backwards.
Stebson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stebson wants it to stay on the feet.
That kick from Stebson tenderised Honda's leg. Honda is trying to keep his angry face on.
Honda fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Honda with that takedown attempt.
A nice side step and Stebson releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Honda shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Stebson counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stebson throws a nice looking combination but Honda bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Honda fails to land the takedown.
Stebson connects with a nice looking jab.
Honda fails with a takedown attempt.
Stebson is looking to land body kicks.
Honda jabbing away but nothing is landing.
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!
Stebson with a nice cross.
Stebson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Norman Stebson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stebson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Honda was well out of range. Poor timing from Stebson.
Honda tries a low kick but Stebson avoids it.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Stebson - that will leave a mark!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norman Stebson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Edmond Honda's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Honda throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Stebson to counter with a crisp jab.
Honda misses with a looping left.
Stebson feints and then cracks Honda's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Honda down.
Stebson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stebson throws a jab but it's blocked by Honda.
Honda walks into a left hand.
Honda throws a right hand that misses
and Stebson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Honda thinking.
Stebson throws a hook but Honda avoids it easily.
A big right from Honda misses.
A little jabbing left from Stebson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Stebson digs a good body shot into Honda's ribs.
Honda shoots in for a double leg but Stebson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Honda with a lazy takedown attempt
and Stebson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Honda.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edmond Honda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stebson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Honda.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Honda jabs Stebson right on the nose. Stebson blinks but takes it well.
Stebson cracks Honda with a good jab.
Stebson scores with a spinning back kick!
Honda throws an overhand right that lands on Stebson's shoulder, as Stebson tries to avoid the shot.
Stebson loads up on a big right hand but Honda slips the punch.
Honda misses with a leg kick.
Honda shoots in and drives through. Stebson sprawls well.
Honda fails with the takedown
and Stebson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Honda thinking.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stebson dips to his left and cracks Honda with an uppercut!
Honda shoots in for a takedown but Stebson shows good takedown defense.
Stebson takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Edmond Honda's cut is getting worse.
Stebson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Honda on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Stebson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stebson wants it to stay on the feet.
Stebson throws a fast counter high kick but Honda manages to duck under it in time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice takedown defense from Stebson. No joy for Honda on that attempt.
Stebson scores with a sloppy right hand. Honda should have avoided that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stebson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Honda's calf.
Well,Honda is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
Stebson staying out of range there.
Stebson misses with a straight left.
Honda shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stebson connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Honda misses with a lunging right hand
and Stebson counters with a nice uppercut.
Honda has his takedown stuffed
letting Stebson counter with a right hand.

Edmond Honda's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Stebson throws a nice outside leg kick.

Honda shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Stebson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Stebson is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Honda presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Honda tries for a takedown. No joy.
Stebson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hondas head.
Stebson prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Honda has Stebson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stebson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Honda breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Honda takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Honda fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Stebson is out of range.
Stebson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Stebson cracks the inside of Honda's front leg.
Stebson throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Stebson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Honda backs up against the cage.
A jab from Stebson finds it's way through Honda's defenses.

Jeez, Edmond Honda's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Edmond Honda's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Norman Stebson!
Norman Stebson thanked the fans post fight for their support.
In defeat, Edmond Honda stepped up to the mic, saying 'You must defeat Sheng Long to stand a chance!'.