PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between TJ Ben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. This should be a great matchup!

Ben
vs
Stevens

196 cm
18
280 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, TJ Ben!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Justin Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Eliza Hachem and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Stevens. Those never looked like landing.
Ben is breathing heavily.
Stevens misses with a body shot.
Stevens lands a two punch combo.
Stevens feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Bens jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Stevens changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ben looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Stevens decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Stevens scores with a takedown into Ben's guard.
Stevens is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Ben could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Stevens working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ben's head.
Stevens lands a couple of elbows.
Stevens is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Stevens's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ben wants to stand and escape but Stevens is having none of it.
Stevens slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Justin Stevens wasn't active enough on the ground.

Stevens has taken the fight to the clinch.

Stevens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ben dodges the punch combination from Stevens.

Ben gets caught flat footed, as Stevens shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Stevens gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
TJ Ben is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stevens will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stevens throws a nice looking combination but Ben bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens tries to clinch up but Ben circles away and keeps his distance.

Stevens darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Stevens performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Ben wants to get back to his feet.

Stevens decides to stand and escape the position.

Stevens shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Stevens was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ben trying desperately to get to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevens content just to control the position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Stevens dominated that 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.

Stevens lands with a good body shot.

Stevens closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ben quickly recovers to half guard.
Stevens perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Stevens is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Stevens content just to control the position here.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Stevens. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Stevens looking to control and managing it successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Ben knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Stevens on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Stevens landing punches.
Stevens postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Ben looks a forlorn figure.
Stevens sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Justin Stevens has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Justin Stevens has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Stevens throws a series of punches but Ben moves out of range.

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.
Sloppy strikes from Stevens. Those never looked like landing.

Stevens is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ben's half guard.
Stevens passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Ben!
Stevens lands with some strikes.
Stevens content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Stevens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Stevens is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stevens will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stevens will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stevens looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevens is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ben sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ben fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stevens throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stevens throws a combination that misses
and Ben counters with a stiff right hand.
Stevens has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A right-left combo lands from Stevens.
No joy there for Stevens, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stevens uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ben.
Ben fails with an attempt to clinch.
No joy there for Stevens, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stevens misses with a wild combination.
Justin Stevens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Stevens looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stevens stands up and waves to Ben to follow him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stevens.
TJ Ben has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Stevens.
Ben moves forwards but Stevens connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Stevens is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice shot lands for Ben.
Stevens fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stevens swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Justin Stevens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stevens throws a combination that misses
and Ben connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Stevens throws a combination that misses
enabling Ben to counter with a crisp jab.

Stevens throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Ben tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Stevens is in Ben's guard.

Stevens stands up and waves to Ben to follow him.
Stevens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ben pinned against the cage. Ben gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ben tries to clinch up.
Stevens scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Ben jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Stevens scores with a shot to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ben takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Stevens shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ben manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
TJ Ben has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Justin Stevens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Stevens stands and steps away. Ben gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Stevens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stevens has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 25:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 26:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Stevens!