PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jeremy Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and CJ Brown (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stephens
vs
Brown

176 cm
22
166 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

175 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jeremy Stephens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, CJ Brown!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Columbo Gatti and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stephens throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Brown tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Stephens is in Brown's guard.
Brown is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Stephens wants to stand but Brown has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Brown wants to stand but Stephens is controlling the position.

Brown scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Brown closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Brown tries to circle away but Stephens has him pinned against the cage.
Brown is trying to break the clinch but Stephens is controlling him.

Brown's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stephens throws a series of punches but Brown avoids them all with ease.
Stephens scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Brown tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stephens changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Brown tries to avoid it but Stephens manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Brown to the ground. Brown escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Brown tries to close the distance and clinch but Stephens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Stephens drives through and clinches with Brown against the cage.

Brown breaks from the clinch.
Stephens throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Brown defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stephens.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stephens fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Brown to the ground. Stephens is now in Brown's guard.
Stephens slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Brown wants to stand up but Stephens is controlling him.
Brown has a closed guard, preventing Stephens from standing up.
Brown is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Stephens is controlling him.
Stephens trying to control the position from guard on top but Brown is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Jeremy Stephens has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Stephens closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stephens lands in his opponent's guard.
Brown can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Stephens controls the pace.

Brown has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Stephens off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Brown looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Brown gets tackled into the cage by Stephens. Stephens maintains the clinch.
Brown is trying to break free.

Brown pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stephens throws a push kick but Brown slaps the foot to one side.
Brown defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stephens.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeremy Stephens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stephens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Brown pinned against the cage. Brown gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Brown misses with the combination.
Stephens misses with a low kick as Brown jumps back.

Stephens moves into the clinch.
Brown wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Stephens tries to score a body lock takedown but Brown shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Stephens tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brown misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stephens.

Stephens escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stephens shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Brown defends it nicely.
Brown tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stephens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Brown has managed to clinch.
Brown tries to land knees in the clinch but Stephens avoids the damage to the body.

Brown pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Brown moves in looking to clinch but Stephens pushes him off.
Brown is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stephens shoots in for a takedown but Brown shows good takedown defense.
Brown tries to clinch up but Stephens circles away and keeps his distance.

Brown moves into the clinch.
Brown is trying to break the clinch but Stephens has him pressed against the cage.
Stephens tries to break the clinch but Brown is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brown tries to break the clinch but Stephens is controlling the position.
Brown looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Brown is trying to break free.
Brown wants to get back to striking at distance but Stephens won't allow it.
Brown landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Stephens has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Brown is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Stephens pulls guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Brown wants to stand but Stephens is controlling his posture from full guard.

Stephens is working an open guard so Brown takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stephens thows a body shot but no joy.
Stephens throws a series of punches but Brown moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jeremy Stephens will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stephens blocks a head kick by Brown.
Brown wants to clinch up but Stephens keeps it at a distance.
Brown tries to clinch there but Stephens circles away.
CJ Brown seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Some wild striking there from Stephens.

Stephens closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Brown kicks off Stephens and gets to his feet.

Stephens instigates a clinch.
Brown tries to break the clinch but Stephens is controlling the position.
Brown is trying to break free.

Brown breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stephens tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Brown swivels and escapes.
Stephens lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Brown circles away quickly and effectively.
Brown tries to clinch but Stephens moves out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Stephens closes the distance and clinches.

Brown breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Brown looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stephens shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Brown but Brown pushes him off and we're back to square one.
CJ Brown is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stephens clinches with his opponent.
Brown is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stephens is defending well for now.

Brown pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stephens pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Brown back to the cage. Stephens follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Brown dodges the punch combination from Stephens.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stephens is defended easily by Brown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeremy Stephens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stephens blocks a head kick by Brown.
Jeremy Stephens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stephens takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Brown throws a head kick that misses.
Brown scores with a head kick.
Stephens throws a leg kick that misses.
Stephens misses with a low kick.
Brown is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stephens closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Brown pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stephens.
Stephens fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stephens is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Brown gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Brown is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Brown breaks the clinch.

Stephens clinches up against the cage.

Brown pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Stephens 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.
Stephens throwing strikes but missing.
Brown wants to stand but Stephens is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens is in close to Brown's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Stephens stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Jeremy Stephens is winning the standup battle so far.
Stephens misses with a two punch combination.
Brown tries to close the distance and clinch but Stephens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Brown misses with a wild combination.

Stephens throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Brown was covering up waiting for the punch and Stephens finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Stephens prevents Brown from getting back to his feet.
Stephens stays in close to Brown's body and controls the position.
Jeremy Stephens overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jeremy Stephens just wasn't active enough.
Stephens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Brown moves in looking to clinch but Stephens pushes him off.
A head kick misses from Brown.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stephens shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Brown sprawls well. Brown wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stephens gets slowly back to his feet.

Stephens is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Brown's half guard.
Stephens prevents Brown from standing back up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Still in half guard, Stephens seems content to control.

Brown makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Stephens looks to land a combination but Brown avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeremy Stephens dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Brown is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Brown tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stephens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stephens throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Brown moves in looking to clinch but Stephens pushes him off.

Stephens clinches up against the cage.
Stephens wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Brown has him pressed against the cage.

Brown escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Brown is looking to clinch but Stephens is avoiding it.
Stephens misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stephens fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Brown avoids it really well and circles away.

Brown gets a clinch.

Brown's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Brown lands a head kick!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stephens throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Brown's waist but Brown gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stephens off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeremy Stephens. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brown tries to close the distance and clinch but Stephens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stephens keeps the fight on the outside.
Stephens keeps the fight on the outside.
Brown wants to clinch.
Brown tries to clinch up but Stephens circles away and keeps his distance.
Brown throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Stephens's head.
Brown swinging wildly here.
Stephens throws a low kick but Brown avoids it.
Brown misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Brown fails with an attempt to clinch.
Brown wants to clinch.
Stephens is trying hard to land a takedown here. Brown sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stephens has Brown up against the cage in a clinch.

Brown escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stephens shoots in but Brown avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Stephens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Brown wants to clinch.
Brown pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Brown misses with a double jab.
Stephens closes the distance and clinches up with Brown, looking for a takedown. Stephens pushes Brown against the cage but Brown circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Brown moves into the clinch successfully.

Brown manages to break the clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Brown tries to close the distance and clinch but Stephens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Stephens has Brown up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stephens has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Brown is trying to keep an underhook but Stephens manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Brown is trying to stand up here but Stephens is controlling him well.
Stephens trying to pass the guard but Brown defending well.
Brown is refusing to be controlled, as Stephens sits in half guard.
Stephens stops Brown from getting back to his feet.
Stephens is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

We're going to have a standup here because Jeremy Stephens wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Stephens shoots for a double leg takedown but Brown sprawls well. He's pushed Stephens's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Brown throws a right and a left that Stephens avoids nicely.
Brown is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Stephens rushes Brown and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens has Brown pressed against the cage, preventing Brown from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Stephens wants a takedown but no success here.

Stephens pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Stephens looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Stephens is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Jeremy Stephens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stephens wants to free his trapped foot but Brown is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Brown is looking to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
CJ Brown has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stephens moves nicely into 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 Jeremy Stephens.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stephens, 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!