PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Emre Polatkan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buck Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Polatkan
vs
Stevenson

180 cm
25
197 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

196 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Emre Polatkan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Buck Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Winston Howard and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevenson circles away from the clinch attempt.

Polatkan forces Stevenson back against the cage and clinches.
Polatkan leaning his opponent against the cage.
Stevenson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Polatkan pulls his leg out and moves away.
Horrible takedown by Stevenson or perhaps it was just good defense by Polatkan which made him look bad.
Stevenson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Polatkan.
Polatkan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Emre Polatkan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Buck Stevenson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevenson shoots in and drives through. Polatkan sprawls well.
Stevenson shoots in and drives through. Polatkan sprawls well.
Polatkan attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Polatkan slaps away a takedown attempt from Stevenson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Stevenson has a takedown stuffed.
Polatkan tries to close the distance and clinch but Stevenson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Polatkan misses with a low kick.
Polatkan drops his hands momentarily and Stevenson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A combination from Stevenson does no damage.
Stevenson scores with a three punch combo!
Polatkan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stevenson.
Stevenson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Polatkan wants to slow Stevenson down by chopping away at his legs.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Polatkan but Polatkan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Polatkan leaves Stevenson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Polatkan stuffs the takedown attempt from Stevenson. Stevenson gets slowly back to his feet.
Stevenson looks gassed!
Polatkan thows a left - swing and a miss!

Stevenson feints and as Polatkan raises his hands in defense, Stevenson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Polatkan controls Stevenson momentarily but Stevenson frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polatkan is really struggling to control Stevenson but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Polatkan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Polatkan wants to sweep here but Stevenson controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Polatkan trying to control the position.
Stevenson looking to pass the guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Polatkan sprawls well. Polatkan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stevenson gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stevenson.
Polatkan stuffs the takedown.
Stevenson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Polatkan circles away.

Polatkan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Knees in the clinch landing for Polatkan.
Polatkan gets through Stevenson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Polatkan stalls.
Knees in the clinch landing for Polatkan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Polatkan throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Polatkan tries to clinch up but Stevenson circles away and keeps his distance.
Stevenson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Stevenson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Polatkan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A big left from Polatkan misses.
Stevenson shoots in but no luck this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Stevenson checks a leg kick.
Stevenson is breathing heavily.
Stevenson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Polatkan avoids it really well and circles away.
Emre Polatkan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Buck Stevenson.
Stevenson looks for a takedown but Polatkan sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Polatkan but Polatkan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Polatkan tries to clinch but Stevenson is having none of it.
Stevenson closes the distance and clinches up with Polatkan, looking for a takedown. Stevenson pushes Polatkan against the cage but Polatkan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Polatkan loads up on a big right hand but Stevenson slips the punch.
Buck Stevenson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Polatkan tries to clinch but Stevenson moves out of range.
Stevenson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Polatkan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Stevenson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Polatkan.

That's two 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.

Polatkan clinches up against the cage.
Polatkan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Stalling in the clinch from Polatkan.
Polatkan with a knee to the head.
Polatkan is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Stevenson's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Polatkan connects with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Polatkan.
Polatkan working Stevenson over with knees to the body.
Polatkan stalling the fight.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Polatkan for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Emre Polatkan.
Stevenson misses with a takedown attempt - Polatkan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Buck Stevenson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Polatkan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Polatkan is looking to clinch.
Polatkan misses with a two punch combination.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Polatkan as he jumps to the side.
Stevenson looks for a takedown but Polatkan sprawls well.
Polatkan tries to clinch but Stevenson is having none of it.
Polatkan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Polatkan missing with a left hand there. Stevenson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stevenson checks the leg kick nicely there.
Polatkan moves out of range of the strikes.

Polatkan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Polatkan dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A knee to the head by Polatkan.
Stevenson being controlled against the cage.
Polatkan is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Polatkan keeps control of Stevenson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Polatkan unloads a knee to the mid-section. Stevenson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Stevenson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Polatkan pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Polatkan landing knees to the head.
Polatkan using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emre Polatkan dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Polatkan stuffs the takedown.
Stevenson lands a head shot.
Stevenson dives in and grabs Polatkan's left leg, looking for a takedown. Polatkan pushes down on Stevenson's head and hops out.
Stevenson throws a series of punches but Polatkan avoids them all with ease.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown but Polatkan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Emre Polatkan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Buck Stevenson.

Polatkan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Polatkan landing knees to the body.
Polatkan using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Polatkan is stalling here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson wants a takedown but no success here.
Polatkan scores a nice knee to the body.
Polatkan lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Polatkan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Polatkan scores a nice knee to the body.
Stevenson goes for a takedown attempt but Polatkan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Polatkan throws a low kick but Stevenson avoids it.
Polatkan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Stevenson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Stevenson trying to control from half guard but Polatkan is working away.
Stevenson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Stevenson is looking to advance position but Polatkan won't allow it.
Stevenson throwing shots but Polatkan is blocking nicely.
Polatkan is trying to control but can't.
Stevenson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Polatkan wants to control but Stevenson is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stevenson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Polatkan avoids it really well and circles away.
Polatkan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stevenson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polatkan fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Stevenson checks it well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stevenson.
Polatkan misses with an uppercut.
A nice combination there by Stevenson.
Stevenson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nice shot by Stevenson.
Polatkan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Buck Stevenson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Polatkan is looking to clinch.
No luck for Stevenson with that takedown attempt.
Polatkan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stevenson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stevenson swats away the attempt to clinch by Polatkan.
Polatkan tries to close the distance and clinch but Stevenson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stevenson shoots in looking for a takedown. Polatkan tries to sprawl out of it but Stevenson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Polatkan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Emre Polatkan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Polatkan throws a leg kick but Stevenson checks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emre Polatkan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Polatkan, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emre Polatkan!