PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Spede Jussi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonny Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Jussi
vs
Stevens

170 cm
27
144 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

175 cm
26
138 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good takedowns
Dangerous knees
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Spede Jussi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jonny Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stevens closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Jussi's guard.
Stevens stays in close to Jussi's body and controls the position.

Jussi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stevens can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Stevens 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.
Stevens trying to control the position from guard on top but Jussi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jussi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Jussi tries to get out of the position.
Stevens controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jonny Stevens was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Jussi leaves Stevens with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Stevens has a takedown stuffed.
Jussi throws the kick towards the body but Stevens avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Jussi looks for the body kick but Stevens saw that one coming.
Stevens gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Jussi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Spede Jussi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonny Stevens.

Stevens throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Jussi tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Stevens is in Jussi's guard.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Jussi keeps moving.
Jussi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stevens's guard.
Stevens looking to control.
Jussi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Jussi won't allow Stevens to sweep him here.
Jussi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Stevens rushes Jussi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jussi is pressed up against the cage. Stevens has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Jussi down to the mat. Jussi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Stevens pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stevens avoids a kick to the body.
Horrible takedown by Stevens or perhaps it was just good defense by Jussi which made him look bad.
Jussi misses with a hook.
Jussi missing with a left hand there. Stevens was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jussi keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Stevens shoots in but no luck this time.
Jussi lands with an uppercut that bounces Stevens off the cage and back into range.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jussi as he avoids it easily.
Jussi throws a body kick that misses.
Stevens blocks the body kick.

Jussi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Jussi trying to control the position but Stevens is working away.
Jussi landing a few strikes.
Stevens wants to control but Jussi postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Jussi politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Jussi prefers to stall for the moment though.
Jussi trying to control the action but Stevens is working from the bottom.
Stevens gets back to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Jussi looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Jussi is working for an americana but Stevens has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Jussi was thinking about the submission.
Stevens wants to sweep here but Jussi controlling him for the moment.
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 Spede Jussi will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stevens shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Jussi but Jussi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice sprawl there from Jussi as Stevens shoots in.
Stevens gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Jussi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jussi swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Stevens shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Stevens working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jussi's head.
Stevens trying to control the position from guard on top but Jussi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Stevens throws a big right hand that misses.
Jussi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Jussi keeps moving.

Jussi is looking for a triangle but Stevens pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Jussi keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Stevens loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stevens trying to control the position from guard on top but Jussi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stevens forces his way into half guard.
Stevens trying to control from half guard but Jussi is working away.
Jussi is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevens wants to control but Jussi is keeping him busy.
Stevens passes the guard and advances to mount!
Stevens wants to control the pace but Jussi is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Stevens.
Stevens tries to control but Jussi wriggling away.
Stevens is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Jussi can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Jussi is looking to get to half guard.
Stevens breaks from Jussi's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stevens trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Jussi is trying desperately to improve position.
Stevens landing strikes from the mount and Jussi is in trouble!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Jussi that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Jussi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Stevens looking to finish Jussi with some ground and pound. This is bad for Jussi!
Stevens lands a heavy elbow.
Stevens with the ground and pound from mount.
Stevens controlling from mount.
Stevens scores with a couple of good head shots there.
A nice elbow there by Stevens.
Jussi is looking to improve his position but Stevens isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jussi is working hard here to advance position.
Stevens tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Stevens cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Stevens has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Jussi's face.
Stevens controlling the position easily from mount.
Stevens trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Stevens tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Stevens trying to control but he's not successful this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jonny Stevens hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Stevens fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonny Stevens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Stevens tries for a takedown but Jussi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jonny Stevens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jussi sprawls well. Jussi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stevens gets slowly back to his feet.
Stevens moves away from the strike by Jussi.
Stevens jabs Jussi to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Stevens has his takedown stuffed
and Jussi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Spede Jussi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonny Stevens.
Stevens blocks the body kick.
Stevens avoids a kick to the body.
Jussi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stevens doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Jussi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stevens blocks the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens fails with the takedown.
Stevens shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Jussi counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice takedown defense from Jussi. No joy for Stevens on that attempt.
Jussi misses with a body kick.
Jussi goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Stevens ducks under a wild hook from Jussi.
Jussi gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Stevens counters with a nice double leg into side control. Jussi won't be happy with that.
Jussi wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Jussi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Stevens's best efforts.
Stevens working over Jussi with some ground and pound. Jussi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Jussi is looking for a sweep. Stevens is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stevens has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Jussi looks like he's trying to stand up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jussi wants to improve his position but Stevens is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Stevens is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Jussi!
Jussi is trying desperately to improve position.
Stevens tries to control but Jussi wriggling away.
Stevens with good strikes from the mount here!
Jussi is squirming around, avoiding Stevens's attempts to control the action.
Jussi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Stevens landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens content just to control the position here.
Stevens is landing with some decent strikes but Jussi is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Stevens with shots to the head and body - Jussi looks very uncomfortable down there.
Stevens lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Stevens cracks Jussi with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Stevens controlling the position easily from mount.
Jonny Stevens has got the better of the ground game so far.

Stevens is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Jussi to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Jussi shrugs it off.
Jussi can't escape the position.
Stevens pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Stevens prevents Jussi from getting the reversal.
Stevens landing strikes from the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jussi is desperately trying to improve his position but Stevens has a good base and remains in mount.
Stevens working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Jussi working to try and regain half guard.
Stevens wants to control the pace but Jussi is squirming around nicely.
Jussi takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevens wants to control the pace but Jussi is squirming around nicely.
Stevens landing strikes, looking to finish!
Jussi is wriggling around trying to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jonny Stevens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Stevens 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonny Stevens!
A very excited looking Jonny Stevens made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.