PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Guy Blake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ross Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stevenson has chosen Make It Rain (Remix) as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Ross Stevenson was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Blake
vs
Stevenson

200 cm
19
260 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

191 cm
22
265 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Guy Blake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ross Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Steven Brown and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Blake but Blake pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Stevenson blocks a head kick by Blake.

Stevenson gets a takedown into half guard.
Blake is looking for a sweep. Stevenson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stevenson is looking to take a break and control but Blake is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blake won't allow Stevenson to pass to mount.
Stevenson wants to take a breather but Blake is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blake trying to control but Stevenson postures up.

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

Blake throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Stevenson was covering up waiting for the punch and Blake finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stevenson is on top in guard.
Stevenson preventing the sweep.
Stevenson trying to control the position from guard on top but Blake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stevenson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Stevenson looks gassed!
Stevenson trying to control the position from guard on top but Blake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stevenson won't allow Blake to sweep him here.
Blake has control of Stevenson's left arm, preventing Stevenson from doing any damage.
Blake tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stevenson trying to control the position from guard on top but Blake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

and Stevenson counters with a takedown into side control.
Stevenson in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Stevenson trying to control the action but Blake is working from the bottom.
Blake manages to work his way to half guard, despite Stevenson's best efforts.
Stevenson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Blake controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is thwarting Blake's attempts to control the position.
Blake moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Stevenson preventing the sweep.
Blake working a defensive guard here.

Blake is looking for a triangle but Stevenson pushes his legs off easily.
Blake is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Blake looking to control.

That's four 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.
Stevenson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Stevenson with a nice head shot there.
Stevenson wants to control from the top but Blake keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Stevenson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Blake scores with a takedown into Stevenson's guard.
Stevenson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Stevenson keeping moving, preventing Blake from controlling successfully.

Stevenson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Blake doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Blake manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Stevenson trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ross Stevenson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Blake closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Blake is looking to take a break and control but Stevenson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blake slows the pace down.
Stevenson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Blake wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Blake trying to control the action but Stevenson is working from the bottom.
Stevenson can't do much from the bottom here.
Stevenson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blake in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Blake working away.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Stevenson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Blake has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Blake advances to half guard.
Blake working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Stevenson's thigh. Stevenson counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Blake looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blake's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Guy Blake overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Stevenson pushes Blake off and gets back to his feet.
A slapping leg kick lands for Blake.

Blake changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Stevenson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Blake working away.
Blake moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Blake trying to control the position but Stevenson is working away.
Blake taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson manages to work his way to half guard, despite Blake's best efforts.
Stevenson is trying to get back to full guard.
Blake is looking to take a break and control but Stevenson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blake wants to get back to his feet.
Blake trying to control the action but Stevenson is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Still in half guard, Blake seems content to control.
Blake wants to take a breather but Stevenson is having none of it.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Guy Blake just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Blake changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Stevenson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Stevenson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Blake wants to control but Stevenson is keeping him busy.
Stevenson wants to get back to his feet.
Blake is trying to control the action in half guard but Stevenson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Stevenson wants to get back to full guard.
Blake trying to control the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guy Blake dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Stevenson tries for a takedown but Blake circles away easily

and Blake counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stevenson won't be happy with that.
Blake wants to control but Stevenson is keeping him busy.
Stevenson is looking for a sweep.
Blake moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Blake advances to mount.
Blake sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Stevenson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson wants to control but Blake is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blake working the ground and pound effectively.
Blake sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Blake'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.
Stevenson is squirming around, avoiding Blake's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blake controlling his opponent.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Guy Blake just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Blake tries for a takedown but Stevenson circles away easily

and Stevenson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Blake looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stevenson trying to control the position from guard on top but Blake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blake working a defensive guard here.
Stevenson wants to control from the top but Blake keeps moving.
Stevenson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson throws a big right hand that misses.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Blake tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stevenson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Blake gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Stevenson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Stevenson.
Blake preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stevenson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stevenson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stevenson wants to control from the top but Blake keeps moving.
Blake looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blake wants to sweep but no luck.
Blake is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Blake is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Stevenson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Blake counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stevenson won't be happy with that.
Stevenson is trying to get back to half guard.
Stevenson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blake working away.
Stevenson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Blake wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Guy Blake.
Well Blake 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Guy Blake!