PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lance Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Salcedo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Stevens
vs
Salcedo

200 cm
18
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lance Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jose Salcedo!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens throws a low kick, looking for Salcedo's leg but Salcedo calmly moves out of range.
Stevens throws a head kick but Salcedo moves out of range.
Stevens throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stevens pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stevens throws a right and a left that Salcedo avoids nicely.
Stevens fails to land with a series of punches.

Stevens forces Salcedo back against the cage and clinches.
Stevens is stalling here.

Stevens breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stevens throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stevens throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Stevens shoots in and drives through. Salcedo sprawls well.
A head kick misses from Stevens.
Stevens takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Salcedo is looking to clinch.
Salcedo slips a jab and a cross from Stevens.
Nice sprawl there from Stevens as Salcedo shoots in.

Stevens gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stevens wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Salcedo has him pressed against the cage.
Salcedo's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Stevens blocks an elbow strike from Salcedo.
Salcedo throws an elbow but it misses.
Salcedo tries to land knees in the clinch but Stevens avoids the damage to the body.
Salcedo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stevens blocks it with crossed arms.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Salcedo has eaten all the pies!
Salcedo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Salcedo has a couple of punches blocked by Stevens.
Salcedo lands an elbow just above Stevens 's eye.
Salcedo throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Stevens wants to break the clinch but can't.

Stevens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Some wild striking there from Stevens.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stevens misses with an uppercut.
Stevens fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stevens fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Salcedo manages to avoid it.
Stevens closes the distance but Salcedo moves to the side
and Salcedo counters with a thumping low kick.

Stevens shoots in and bounces Salcedo off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Stevens is breathing heavily.
Salcedo is trying to control the position but Stevens postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Salcedo 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.
Salcedo wants to get back to his feet but Stevens is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Stevens has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stevens avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Salcedo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stevens doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stevens manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Salcedo is trying to keep Stevens in close.
Stevens won't allow Salcedo to sweep him here.

Salcedo working for a triangle but Stevens defends it easily.

Salcedo had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Stevens is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Salcedo Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Stevens's back instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Stevens is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.
Stevens thows a leg kick but Salcedo checks it

and Salcedo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Stevens!

Salcedo is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Stevens misses with a few strikes there.
Salcedo tries to clinch but Stevens moves away

and Stevens counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Salcedo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Salcedo tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.

Salcedo stands up from mount. Strange move.
Stevens missing with a left hand there. Salcedo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
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 Lance Stevens will probably get the nod.
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 wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Stevens misses with a wild combination.
A shot to de liver by Stevens. Beautiful body shot.

Stevens looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Salcedo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Salcedo with the active half guard here but Stevens passes nicely into side control.
Stevens connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Salcedo some visible discomfort.

Salcedo is rocked!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salcedo is breathing heavily.

Stevens stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stevens is looking to chop away at Salcedo's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salcedo tries to clinch but Stevens is having none of it.
Stevens swings away with a leg kick that misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Salcedo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stevens misses with a double jab.
Stevens thows a leg kick but Salcedo checks it

and Salcedo moves into the clinch.
Salcedo lands an elbow inside.
Salcedo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stevens is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Salcedo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Stevens avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Salcedo tries to break the clinch but Stevens is controlling the position.
Salcedo keeps control of Stevens as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Stevens breaks from the clinch.
Stevens looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stevens misses with a series of wild punches.
No joy there for Stevens, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Stevens looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Stevens fails to land the takedown.
Salcedo closes the distance but Stevens moves to the side
and Stevens counters with a slapping leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Salcedo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stevens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Salcedo checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Salcedo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stevens throws a jab but it's blocked by Salcedo.
Salcedo tries to clinch but Stevens is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens misses with the combination.
Stevens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Salcedo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Salcedo doesn't manage to clinch there - Stevens circles away.
Salcedo fails in his attempt to clinch.

Stevens gets the takedown into side control.

Salcedo sneaks out the side door and pushes Stevens away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Salcedo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stevens swivels and escapes.
Lance Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Salcedo.
Stevens misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Salcedo.
Stevens looks to land a body kick but Salcedo moved away.

Stevens scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Stevens decides to stand back up. Stevens steps back and let's Salcedo get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stevens tries a head kick but it misses.
Stevens keeps the fight on the outside.
Stevens misses the jab.
Salcedo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stevens as he avoids it easily.
Stevens misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Salcedo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stevens swivels and escapes.
Salcedo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stevens's waist but Stevens gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Salcedo off to one side.
Salcedo tries to clinch up but Stevens circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salcedo circles away from the clinch attempt.
A punch combination from Stevens misses.
Salcedo tries to clinch but Stevens is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lance Stevens 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!

Salcedo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Stevens is trying to get back to full guard.

Salcedo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Stevens doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Salcedo.

Salcedo decides to stand up.
Jab by Stevens.
Stevens misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Salcedo lands a nice leg kick that just misses Stevens's sensitive parts.
Salcedo throws a low kick but Stevens avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Salcedo.
Salcedo is looking to clinch but Stevens is avoiding it.
Salcedo wants to clinch.
Salcedo moves out of range of the body kick from Stevens.

Salcedo closes the distance and clinches.
Salcedo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stevens just stands there and leans against the cage.
Stevens trying to stall but Salcedo improves his position.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Salcedo.
Salcedo looking to throw knees to the head but Stevens is blocking nicely.
Salcedo misses with some punches.
Salcedo throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Salcedo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Salcedo lands an elbow just above Stevens 's eye.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Salcedo.
Salcedo is trying to stall.
Salcedo lands an elbow just above Stevens 's eye.
Jose Salcedo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Salcedo missing with knees to the body.
Salcedo tries to land a knee to the head but Stevens blocks with his arms.

Stevens breaks the clinch.
Stevens misses with a looping right.
Salcedo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stevens.
Nice takedown defense from Stevens. No joy for Salcedo on that attempt.
Salcedo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A combination from Stevens does no damage.
Salcedo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stevens throws a jab but it's blocked by Salcedo.
Stevens misses with a wild combination.
Lance Stevens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salcedo moves out of range of the body kick.

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

Stevens changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Salcedo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Salcedo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Salcedo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Stevens wants to lay and pray for a moment but Salcedo keeps working.

Stevens stands up and beckons Salcedo to join him on the feet.
Salcedo tries to clinch up.
Salcedo walks into a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Stevens darts in trying to clinch

and Salcedo counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Salcedo.
Salcedo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stevens blocks it with crossed arms.
Salcedo trying to land knees to the body.

Stevens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stevens shoots in and drives through. Salcedo sprawls well.
Salcedo wants to clinch up but Stevens keeps it at a distance.
Stevens swats away the attempt to clinch by Salcedo.
Salcedo looks to clinch
and Stevens counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Stevens misses with an attempted mid kick.
Salcedo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stevens moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Salcedo closes the distance but Stevens moves to the side

and Stevens counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Stevens.

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 Lance Stevens.
Well Stevens 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

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