|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Eldridge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Stevens has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
 |
|
 |
| 193 cm
23
215 lbs
4 - 5 - 0 |
|
188 cm
23
220 lbs
1 - 1 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very strong |
|
BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful |
|
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Eldridge!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens fails with a takedown attempt.
Stevens shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Eldridge manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Eldridge is on top in guard.
Eldridge throwing strikes from guard but Stevens blocks nicely.
Stevens is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Eldridge wants to get up but he can't break Stevens's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
The ref stands the fighters back up. Michael Eldridge was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Stevens shoots in looking for a takedown. Eldridge tries to sprawl out of it but Stevens keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Eldridge manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Eldridge attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Eldridge tries to score with a low kick but Stevens moves his leg out of the way.
Stevens fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Eldridge avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's two 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.
Eldridge throws the kick towards the body but Stevens avoids it.
Eldridge has managed to clinch.
Eldridge tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stevens avoids it.
Stevens has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Eldridge is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Stevens takes an elbow to the temple.
Stevens tries for a takedown. No joy.
Eldridge is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Eldridge misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stevens.
Stevens is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Eldridge gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Stevens on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Come on Eldridge - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Stevens tries for a takedown but Eldridge manages to get underhooks.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Eldridge.
Eldridge avoiding damage.
Eldridge is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Stevens blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Eldridge prevents the takedown attempt.
Eldridge lands with a light punch inside.
Stevens looking for a takedown.
Eldridge is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
The referee is keeping an eye on Eldridge - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Michael Eldridge.
Eldridge ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Stevens gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Eldridge makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stevens is breathing heavily.
Eldridge throws a nice inside leg kick.
Stevens blocks a jab.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stevens.
Eldridge stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Eldridge misses with a wild body shot.
Stevens chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Eldridge can pounce on him.
Stevens instigates a clinch.
Eldridge dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
Stevens managing to block the knees to the body from Eldridge.
A short right from Eldridge on the inside.
Eldridge comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Eldridge looking to slow down the pace here.
Eldridge unloads a knee to the mid-section.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Michael Eldridge dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.
Eldridge throws a leg kick
and Stevens counters with a shoot takedown. Eldridge fights it but they end up in guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Stevens trying to control the position from guard on top but Eldridge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stevens passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Eldridge is not content to let Stevens control the position.
Eldridge wants to get back to his feet.
Stevens decides to stand back up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Eldridge paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Eldridge misses with a low kick as Stevens jumps back.
Stevens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Eldridge pinned against the cage. Eldridge gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Stevens takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Eldridge throws a low kick but Stevens avoids it.
Eldridge misses with a looping left.
Stevens moves into the clinch successfully.
Knees in the clinch landing for Eldridge.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Eldridge has Stevens pressed against the ropes.
Stevens can't get the takedown.
Eldridge manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Eldridge lands a nice elbow.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens can't break the clinch.
Eldridge taking a breather.
Eldridge is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stevens is defending well for now.
Stevens is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Eldridge gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Eldridge.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Eldridge creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Stevens's defenses.
Stevens has Eldridge pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Eldridge manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Eldridge landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Stevens managing to block the knees to the body from Eldridge.
Stevens being controlled against the ropes.
Eldridge makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eldridge lands an elbow inside.
Eldridge slowing the pace effectively.
Eldridge misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stevens.
Eldridge misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stevens.
Stevens letting Eldridge take a breather here.
Eldridge tries to stall but Stevens uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Eldridge lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Stevens is working for takedown but Eldridge is calmly controlling the position for now.
Stevens managing to block the knees to the body from Eldridge.
Eldridge stops a takedown attempt from Stevens.
Eldridge scores a nice knee to the body.
Eldridge tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stevens avoids it.
Stevens avoiding damage as Eldridge throws knees to the body.
Eldridge utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Eldridge manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eldridge lands an elbow inside that Stevens shrugs off.
Stevens managing to block the knees to the body from Eldridge.
Come on Eldridge - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Stevens tries for a takedown. No joy.
Eldridge taking a breather.
Stevens's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stevens feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Eldridge keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Eldridge wants to sweep here but Stevens controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Michael Eldridge showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!
Stevens closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Eldridge is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stevens is defending well for now.
Stevens goes for a takedown attempt but Eldridge pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Stevens scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Stevens shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Eldridge but Eldridge pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Stevens shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Eldridge's guard.
Stevens working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Eldridge keeping moving, preventing Stevens from controlling successfully.
Stevens stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Eldridge swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Eldridge keeps moving.
We're going to have a standup here because John Stevens wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Eldridge scores with the left hand. Stevens knows he should have avoided that one.
A bone on bone clash there as Stevens blocks the leg kick.
A cross from Eldridge lands.
Stevens fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Eldridge, pushing him back against the ropes.
Eldridge prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Eldridge avoiding damage.
Eldridge trying to land knees to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens is trying to break the clinch but Eldridge is controlling him.
A nice left hand lands by Eldridge.
Stevens changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Eldridge fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Stevens fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Eldridge throws a head kick but Stevens moves out of range.
Stevens misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Eldridge tried to score with a low kick but Stevens checks it.
Stevens shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Eldridge's guard.
Stevens content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Eldridge lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Stevens!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens is trying to stand up.
Eldridge controlling from the full mount.
Eldridge can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Stevens is looking to escape.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Eldridge controlling the position easily from mount.
Eldridge tries to control but Stevens wriggling away.
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 John Stevens.
I think Eldridge has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Eldridge!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
