PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Sliva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sliva
vs
Stevenson

200 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Anderson Sliva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matthew Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Paul Tew and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sliva gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stevenson looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Sliva jumps into guard, dragging Stevenson to the mat.
Sliva has his hands on Stevenson's head, controlling the position.
Stevenson looking to sit in guard and control but Sliva gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Stevenson being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Anderson Sliva just wasn't active enough.
A bone on bone clash there as Sliva blocks the leg kick.

Sliva gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Sliva breaks from the clinch.
Matthew Stevenson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Sliva has closed the distance and engaged Stevenson in a clinch.
Stevenson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Sliva gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Sliva throwing shots but Stevenson is blocking nicely.

Sliva decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Sliva.

Sliva closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Stevenson quickly recovers to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sliva is taking a breather. Stevenson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Sliva decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Sliva fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Stevenson sprawls well initially but Sliva persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Sliva wants to stand but Stevenson has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Sliva is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stevenson defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sliva scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sliva looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Sliva is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Stevenson is just riding it out for now. Sliva eventually gives up the hold.

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.
Sliva is pressing down on Stevenson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Stevenson is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Sliva 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.

Sliva clinches with his opponent.
Stevenson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Sliva decides to pull guard.
Sliva lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Sliva is adopting a defensive guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sliva is on top in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sliva wants to stand but Stevenson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sliva accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stevenson is breathing heavily.
Sliva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stevenson is keeping the position for now.
Sliva is working hard here to advance position.
Sliva 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Sliva tries to free his leg and advance position but Stevenson is retaining full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Anderson Sliva wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Sliva rushes Stevenson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Sliva pulls guard.

Sliva working for a triangle but Stevenson defends it easily.
Stevenson being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sliva kicks Stevenson off and gets to his feet.

Sliva shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Stevenson is trying to defend but Sliva finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Sliva is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sliva decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Sliva drives through and clinches with Stevenson against the cage.

Stevenson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Sliva gets the takedown into side control.
Sliva laying and praying for a moment but Stevenson takes advantage and regains half guard.
Sliva tries to pass the half guard into mount. Stevenson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Sliva dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sliva gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stevenson is trying to break the clinch but Sliva has him pressed against the cage.

Sliva has hold of one of Stevenson's legs. Stevenson is fighting the takedown attempt but Sliva gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Sliva sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Sliva decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sliva. Sliva obviously looking to wear him down.
Sliva shoots in but no luck this time.

Sliva closes the distance and pushes Stevenson back into the cage.

Sliva is trying to trip Stevenson. He has hold of a leg but Stevenson is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Sliva persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Sliva throwing strikes from guard but Stevenson blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sliva slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Anderson Sliva.
Sliva shoots for a double leg takedown but Stevenson sprawls well. He's pushed Sliva's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Stevenson looks to land a combination but Sliva avoids it well.
Sliva throws a sloppy head kick
and Stevenson counters with a slapping leg kick.

Sliva closes the distance and clinches.
Sliva fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Sliva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stevenson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Stevenson tries to circle away but Sliva has him pinned against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sliva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stevenson's efforts to push away.
A frustrated look appears on Stevenson's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Sliva tightens his grip and picks Stevenson up, before dumping him to the ground. Stevenson manages to land in guard.

Sliva stands up from Stevenson's guard - Sliva perhaps looking for a knockout.
Matthew Stevenson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sliva goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Sliva closes the distance and clinches.

Sliva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sliva takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Sliva feints and as Stevenson raises his hands in defense, Sliva changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Matthew Stevenson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anderson Sliva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Sliva stands up from Stevenson's guard - Sliva perhaps looking for a knockout.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anderson Sliva showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sliva 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:26
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anderson Sliva!