PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joe Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alejandro Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stevenson comes to the cage accompanied by Lose Yourself. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Stevenson
vs
Gracie

175 cm
21
155 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

177 cm
20
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Stevenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alejandro Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Felipe Paraventi and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gracie keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gracie misses with a takedown

and Stevenson counters with a single leg into guard. Gracie didn't expect that.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stevenson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stevenson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevenson looking to pass the guard.
Stevenson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Stevenson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Stevenson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stevenson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gracie looks gassed!
Stevenson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Stevenson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Stevenson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Stevenson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gracie wants to improve his position but instead Stevenson has moved into half guard.
Stevenson lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is not content to let Stevenson control the position.
Stevenson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gracie tries to roll over but Stevenson keeps him under control.
Gracie wants to control but Stevenson is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Stevenson pulls his head out easily.
Stevenson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Stevenson winds up and cracks Gracie with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Stevenson working over Gracie with some ground and pound. Gracie looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Stevenson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Gracie looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Stevenson pushes past his half guard into mount!
Gracie taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Stevenson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Stevenson with a couple of short strikes.
Stevenson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Gracie tries to reverse the position but Stevenson maintains control.
Stevenson breaks from Gracie's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Stevenson content just to control the position here.
A nice elbow there by Stevenson.
Gracie taking shots to the head.
Stevenson lands a nice shot to the head.
Stevenson prevents Gracie from getting the reversal.
Gracie tries to hold on but Stevenson pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Gracie is wriggling around trying to escape.
Stevenson landing strikes from the mount.
Stevenson controlling from the full mount.
Gracie is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie is in a horrible position here. Stevenson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Stevenson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Stevenson fails with the takedown

and Gracie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Stevenson can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Stevenson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Stevenson gets back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stevenson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gracie is trying to hold Stevenson in close to prevent damage but Stevenson has managed to pass into half guard.
Stevenson working the head and body with strikes.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
Stevenson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gracie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
Stevenson is nestled in close to Gracie, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Stevenson lands with a punch from half guard.
Stevenson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Stevenson working Gracie over with strikes.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stevenson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gracie as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Stevenson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stevenson shoots and misses

and Gracie counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gracie.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Joe Stevenson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stevenson wants to stand and escape but Gracie is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Stevenson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gracie, into his guard.
Stevenson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gracie is proving hard to escape from.
Stevenson wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie has momentary wrist control but Stevenson slips an elbow through the middle.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Stevenson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stevenson is aware though and is defending well.

Stevenson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Gracie gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Stevenson counters with a shoot takedown. Gracie fights it but they end up in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Stevenson wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stevenson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alejandro Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Stevenson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Stevenson moves into range and clinches up with Gracie.
Gracie wants a takedown.

Stevenson has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Gracie regains guard immediately.
Stevenson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Stevenson thows a big elbow that misses.
Stevenson lands a couple of digs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Stevenson defends easily.
Stevenson lands a couple of digs.
Stevenson wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Stevenson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stevenson trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Stevenson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gracie's head.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Stevenson controlling him for the moment.
Stevenson lands a couple of elbows.
Stevenson landing with the ground and pound.

Gracie looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Stevenson has picked Gracie up and slammed him! Gracie can't keep hold of the triangle and Stevenson manages to pass to side control!
Gracie is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Stevenson off and has taken his back!
Stevenson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Stevenson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stevenson wants to control but Gracie is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie goes for an armbar but Stevenson turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Stevenson.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Gracie looking for subs off his back but Stevenson has passed one foot through into half guard.
Stevenson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Stevenson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gracie is trying to control but can't.
Gracie on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Stevenson works his foot free and advances to mount.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stevenson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gracie is looking to escape.
BOOM! Stevenson connects with a massive shot to the dome!

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Stevenson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Stevenson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Stevenson!