PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Don Stephenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pizzazz Longez (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.

Stephenson
vs
Longez

185 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Don Stephenson!
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, Pizzazz Longez!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Leandro Rodrigues and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stephenson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Longez as he jumps to the side.
Stephenson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Longez tries to clinch up.
Stephenson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stephenson fails with a takedown attempt.

Longez gets a clinch.

Longez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stephenson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Stephenson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Longez pinned against the cage. Longez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Don Stephenson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Longez rushes Stephenson and presses him up against the cage.
Longez wants to break the clinch but can't.

Longez manages to break the clinch.

Stephenson gets a takedown into half guard.
Longez pushes Stephenson off looking to stand but Stephenson dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephenson trying to control the pace.
Stephenson prevents Longez from standing back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stephenson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Longez wants to get back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Stephenson has managed to clinch.
Stephenson misses with a knee strike.

Stephenson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pizzazz Longez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Longez tries to clinch but Stephenson moves away

and Stephenson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Stephenson is tying to control. Longez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Longez wants to get back to his feet.
Stephenson has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Stephenson is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stephenson stands up from mount. Strange move.

Longez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Stephenson keeps control of Longez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Longez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Longez has closed the distance and engaged Stephenson in a clinch.
Longez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Longez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Stephenson has him pressed against the cage.

Stephenson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Longez clinches.

Stephenson drags the fight down to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Longez wants to stand and escape but instead Stephenson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Longez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Stephenson is controlling him.

Stephenson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Longez, up you get!

Longez moves into the clinch successfully.
Stephenson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Longez's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Stephenson.
Stephenson stalling in the clinch.
Stephenson keeps control of Longez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stephenson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Longez prevents it.
Stephenson prevents Longez from breaking the clinch.
Longez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Stephenson keeps control of Longez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stephenson looking to stall.
Stephenson keeps control of Longez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Stephenson pulls guard.
Stephenson pulls Longez in to control the position.
Longez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Stephenson's guard.
Stephenson is pulling down on Longez's head to control his posture.
Stephenson is trying to keep Longez in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stephenson punching from the bottom.
Stephenson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Longez's guard.
Stephenson trying to control but Longez is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Stephenson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Stephenson controlling from the top position.
Stephenson trying to control the position from guard on top but Longez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Longez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stephenson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Longez wants to get back to his feet but Stephenson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Stephenson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stephenson trying to control but Longez is working from the bottom.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Don Stephenson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Longez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Stephenson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Stephenson tries for a takedown but Longez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Longez lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Longez tries to clinch

and Stephenson counters with a single leg into guard. Longez didn't expect that.
Stephenson prevents Longez from getting back to his feet.

Stephenson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Longez tries to clinch but Stephenson moves away

and Stephenson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Stephenson.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stephenson is pushing down on Longez's leg trying to pass to half guard. Longez is fighting to maintain full guard but Stephenson has managed to sneak the leg through.

Longez makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Stephenson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Longez but Longez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Don Stephenson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Longez closes the distance looking to clinch

and Stephenson counters with a single leg into guard. Longez didn't expect that.
Longez wants to stand and escape but Stephenson is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephenson trying to control but Longez is working from the bottom.
Stephenson is really struggling to control Longez but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Stephenson won't allow Longez to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Longez wants to break free but Stephenson has control.
Longez stops a takedown attempt from Stephenson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Don Stephenson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stephenson jumps into guard, dragging Longez to the mat.
Longez postures up.
Stephenson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Stephenson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stephenson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stephenson content just to control the position here.
Stephenson won't let Longez get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Longez somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
No joy there for Longez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stephenson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Longez as he jumps to the side.
Longez wants to clinch up but Stephenson keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Longez.
Longez tries to clinch up but Stephenson circles away and keeps his distance.
Longez misses with a double jab.
Longez tries to clinch but Stephenson is having none of it.
Longez tries to clinch up.
A shot to de liver by Longez. Beautiful body shot.
Stephenson shoots for a takedown but Longez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Longez clinches up with Stephenson and pushes him back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Stephenson - that landed with a thud.

Stephenson breaks from the clinch.
Longez stuffs the takedown.
Stephenson misses with a takedown attempt - Longez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stephenson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Longez looks to land a combination but Stephenson avoids it well.
Stephenson shoots in looking for a takedown. Longez tries to sprawl out of it but Stephenson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Longez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Longez tries to clinch but Stephenson is having none of it.

Stephenson rushes Longez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Longez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stephenson tries to score a body lock takedown but Longez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Stephenson breaks the clinch.
Stephenson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stephenson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Longez but Longez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Longez closes the distance but Stephenson moves to the side

and Stephenson counters by moving into the clinch.
Stephenson tries to pull guard but Longez holds him up against the cage and eventually Stephenson drops back down to his feet.
Knees to the body from Stephenson.
Longez is trying to break free.
Longez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Stephenson.
Longez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Longez is trying to break free.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Longez lands a shoulder strike.
Longez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Stephenson works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Longez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Stephenson is controlling him.

Longez has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Stephenson off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Stephenson dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Longez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Stephenson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Longez!
Longez squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Longez has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Longez looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Longez is trying to break free.
Longez wants to get back to his feet.
Stephenson is working the ground and pound. Can Longez escape?
I would not like to be Longez right now.
Stephenson struggling to keep hold of the position.
Longez tries to escape the position.
Don Stephenson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stephenson is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Stephenson's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Longez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Longez is trying to get back to his feet but Stephenson has full control of the position and if anything, Longez has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Stephenson lands a shot to the head.
Longez turns into Stephenson and is now in his guard.
Stephenson controls Longez momentarily but Longez frees himself.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stephenson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Stephenson counters with a big head kick but Longez shrugs it off.
Stephenson fails with a takedown attempt.
Longez scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Stephenson looks for a takedown but Longez sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Longez closes the distance but Stephenson moves to the side
and Stephenson counters with a head kick. That will keep Longez thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Stephenson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Stephenson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Longez can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Stephenson lands a nice shot to the head.
Pizzazz Longez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Longez is desperately trying to improve his position but Stephenson has a good base and remains in mount.
Stephenson controlling from the full mount.
Longez wants to try and get back to his feet.

Stephenson stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Longez clinches but Stephenson breaks the clinch
and Stephenson counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Longez throws an overhand right that drops Stephenson like a sack of potatoes! Longez dives in to finish the fight with more strikes and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Pizzazz Longez!