PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ethan Blake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rory Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ethan Blake had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Blake
vs
Stevenson

180 cm
22
190 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

186 cm
24
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ethan Blake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rory Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Dillan Fox and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blake avoids the head kick by Stevenson.
Stevenson throws a head kick that misses.
Stevenson throws a hook but Blake avoids it easily.
A head kick from Stevenson lands but Blake takes it in his stride.

It looks like Ethan Blake has been cut.

Blake gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Stevenson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Stevenson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Blake has a closed guard, preventing Stevenson from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Blake is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Stevenson drops back looking for a leg! Blake is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Blake manages to kick Stevenson off! Stevenson jumps back into Blake's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson looking to pass the guard.

Blake is looking for a triangle but Stevenson pushes his legs off easily.
Stevenson throws a big elbow that misses.

Blake working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stevenson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stevenson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Blake is trying to control the position but Stevenson postures up.
Blake avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Blake is trying to control the position but Stevenson postures up.
Stevenson with a flurry of punches that miss.

Blake looking for a guillotine here but Stevenson defends easily.
Blake keeping moving, preventing Stevenson from controlling successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blake pulls Stevenson in close to prevent any damage.
Blake is trying to control the position but Stevenson postures up.
Blake utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stevenson trying to control the position from guard on top but Blake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Blake drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stevenson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stevenson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Blake.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blake takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Stevenson throws a right hand that Blake ducks under and follows up with a left that Blake also avoids with ease.
Stevenson connects with a single shot there.
Stevenson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Blake is fending him off so far but Stevenson persists. Nope, Blake circles away and we're back to standing.
Stevenson tries to clinch there but Blake circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Blake.

Stevenson has Blake up against the cage in a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Stevenson.
Blake wants a takedown.

Stevenson breaks from the clinch.

Stevenson clinches up with Blake and pushes him back against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
With the fighters up against the cage, Stevenson throws an elbow but misses.

Stevenson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rory Stevenson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ethan Blake's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Stevenson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Stevenson moves into the clinch.
Blake wants a takedown.

Stevenson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice straight punches there by Stevenson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Stevenson.
Stevenson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Blake.
Stevenson throws a series of strikes that have Blake backpedaling.
Stevenson misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stevenson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Blake circles away quickly and effectively.
A nice combination there by Stevenson.
Stevenson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Blake on the side of the head.

Ethan Blake's cut is getting worse.
Stevenson scores with a nice strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stevenson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blake showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stevenson.
Rory Stevenson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Blake keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stevenson.
Stevenson motions for Blake to come forward. Stevenson throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Stevenson lands a leg kick that knocks Blake off balance momentarily.

Stevenson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson scores with punches from side control.
Blake tries to improve position but can't.
Stevenson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Blake struggling a bit here.
Blake has one of Stevenson's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stevenson tries to stand but Blake is controlling his head.
Blake gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Blake trying to control but Stevenson postures up.
Stevenson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson wants to stand up but Blake has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Blake is staying active underneath Stevenson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Blake keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Stevenson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ethan Blake is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Decent striking displayed by Stevenson there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rory Stevenson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ethan Blake's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Stevenson lands a nice shot that snaps Blake's head back.

Stevenson clinches with his opponent.
Blake is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Stevenson is defending well.
Blake is looking for a takedown.
Stevenson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stevenson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Blake blocks an elbow strike from Stevenson.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stevenson throws a sloppy head kick and Blake moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson scores with a head kick.
Stevenson misses with a takedown attempt - Blake sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stevenson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stevenson misses with a straight right.
Stevenson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stevenson throws out a leg kick but Blake moves out of range and Stevenson only half commits.
Stevenson throws a right and a left that Blake avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Blake avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Stevenson misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Blake counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stevenson won't be happy with that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Blake tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Blake has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Blake landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Stevenson is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Stevenson is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is looking to regain half guard here but Blake keeps moving and retains side control.

Blake has hold of Stevenson's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Stevenson tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Blake cranks the arm and Stevenson screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Stevenson, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Ethan Blake!