PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Patrycy Szczerbiec (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Szczerbiec
vs
Stevens

169 cm
18
141 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

177 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent knees
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Patrycy Szczerbiec!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kevin Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Matheus Silva and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Szczerbiec paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stevens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stevens tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Szczerbiec manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Szczerbiec avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stevens is looking to clinch but Szczerbiec is avoiding it.
Stevens tries to clinch up but Szczerbiec circles away and keeps his distance.
Stevens tries to clinch there but Szczerbiec circles away.
Stevens wants to land a leg kick but Szczerbiec is out of range.
Stevens tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Szczerbiec manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stevens tries to clinch but Szczerbiec is having none of it.
Szczerbiec avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Szczerbiec looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Szczerbiec controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Szczerbiec seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Stevens for as long as he can get away with.
Szczerbiec prevents Stevens from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens is trying to control the position but Szczerbiec postures up.
Szczerbiec stays in close to Stevens's body and controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Patrycy Szczerbiec wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Stevens clinches up with Szczerbiec and pushes him back against the cage.
Stevens using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Stevens misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Szczerbiec.
Stevens lands a knee to the body.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Stevens trying to land knees to the body.
Szczerbiec blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Szczerbiec avoids it.
Stevens trying to land knees to the body.
Stevens landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Stevens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Szczerbiec is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szczerbiec blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Szczerbiec avoiding damage as Stevens throws knees to the body.
Stevens lands a knee to the body.
Stevens tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Szczerbiec on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Szczerbiec avoiding damage as Stevens throws knees to the body.
Stevens with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Szczerbiec avoids it.
Stevens landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Stevens unloads a knee to the mid-section. Szczerbiec lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Stevens using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Szczerbiec has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Stevens stops a takedown attempt from Szczerbiec.
Stevens tries to land knees in the clinch but Szczerbiec avoids the damage to the body.
Stevens unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens tries to land knees in the clinch but Szczerbiec avoids the damage to the body.
Szczerbiec wants a takedown but no success here.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Stevens misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Szczerbiec.
Stevens unloads a knee to the mid-section. Szczerbiec lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Szczerbiec on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Szczerbiec managing to block the knees to the body from Stevens.
Szczerbiec has Stevens pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stevens manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Patrycy Szczerbiec. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Szczerbiec is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Szczerbiec managing to block the knees to the body from Stevens.
Stevens tries to land knees in the clinch but Szczerbiec avoids the damage to the body.
Szczerbiec changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Stevens fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Szczerbiec tries to keep at a distance but Stevens has taken the fight into the clinch.
Szczerbiec avoiding damage as Stevens throws knees to the body.
Stevens unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Szczerbiec on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Szczerbiec on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Szczerbiec blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Stevens misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Szczerbiec.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevens trying to land knees to the body.
Szczerbiec avoiding damage as Stevens throws knees to the body.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Szczerbiec avoids it.
Szczerbiec tries for a takedown but Stevens manages to get underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Stevens dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Szczerbiec paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Szczerbiec dives in and grabs Stevens's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stevens pushes down on Szczerbiec's head and hops out.
Stevens wants to clinch up but Szczerbiec keeps it at a distance.
Stevens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Szczerbiec swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Szczerbiec circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stevens is looking to clinch.
Szczerbiec has a takedown stuffed.
Stevens tries to clinch but Szczerbiec is having none of it.

Szczerbiec gets tackled into the cage by Stevens. Stevens maintains the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Stevens obliges.
Szczerbiec avoiding damage as Stevens throws knees to the body.
Stevens stops a takedown attempt from Szczerbiec.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Patrycy Szczerbiec. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szczerbiec blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Stevens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Szczerbiec is defending well for now.
Szczerbiec on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stevens connects with a nasty looking knee right to Szczerbiec's face.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Szczerbiec avoids it.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Szczerbiec avoids it.
Szczerbiec on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Szczerbiec 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.
Stevens lands a knee to the body.
Stevens using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Szczerbiec avoiding damage as Stevens throws knees to the body.
Stevens using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Szczerbiec has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Szczerbiec on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens connects with a knee to the head.
Stevens using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Stevens.
Stevens misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Szczerbiec.
Stevens misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Szczerbiec.
Stevens landing knees to the body.
Stevens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Szczerbiec is defending well for now.
Szczerbiec tries for a takedown. No joy.
Stevens trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Szczerbiec drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stevens gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Stevens landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Szczerbiec is defending well for now.
Stevens trying to land knees to the body.
Szczerbiec blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Szczerbiec managing to block the knees to the body from Stevens.
Szczerbiec is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Stevens pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Stevens is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Stevens misses with a knee strike.
Stevens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Szczerbiec is defending well for now.
Stevens lands a knee to the body.
Szczerbiec blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Stevens misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Szczerbiec.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Szczerbiec blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Stevens is breathing heavily.
Szczerbiec drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Szczerbiec avoids it.
Szczerbiec on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Szczerbiec avoiding damage as Stevens throws knees to the body.
Szczerbiec blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stevens is pressed up against the cage. Szczerbiec has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Stevens down to the mat. Stevens avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Stevens tries to clinch but Szczerbiec moves out of range.
Stevens fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stevens tries to clinch

and Szczerbiec counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Stevens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Szczerbiec's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Szczerbiec looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Stevens is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Stevens is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Szczerbiec is controlling him.

Szczerbiec is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Stevens wants to stand up but Szczerbiec is controlling him.
Szczerbiec makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Szczerbiec preventing the sweep.
Szczerbiec slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Szczerbiec lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stevens wants to stand up but Szczerbiec is controlling him.
Stevens working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Szczerbiec.
Stevens is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Szczerbiec missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Szczerbiec distracts Stevens with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Szczerbiec passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Stevens takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Stevens is trying to improve his position.
Szczerbiec works to advance to full mount. Stevens defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Szczerbiec takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Szczerbiec cracks Stevens with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Szczerbiec controlling from mount.
Stevens really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Szczerbiec. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Szczerbiec working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Patrycy Szczerbiec overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Szczerbiec punishing his opponent with strikes.
Szczerbiec controlling from the full mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Stevens can't escape the position.

Szczerbiec with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Szczerbiec with good strikes from the mount here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szczerbiec takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Stevens's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Patrycy Szczerbiec has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Szczerbiec lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Szczerbiec prevents Stevens from getting the reversal.
Stevens is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Stevens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The referee warns Stevens that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Szczerbiec wants to finish this one by submission but Stevens is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Szczerbiec.
Szczerbiec takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Szczerbiec lands a heavy elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Szczerbiec lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Szczerbiec looking to control and managing it successfully.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stevens can do anything to dispel that myth.
Szczerbiec has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Szczerbiec has control of Stevens's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Stevens regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Szczerbiec punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kevin Stevens is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Szczerbiec lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Stevens hang on?

And that's the end of the fight!
Patrycy Szczerbiec showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Stevens!
Kevin Stevens decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.