PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Adam Rubio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Axel Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Axel Stevens has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rubio
vs
Stevens

180 cm
30
165 lbs
20 - 14 - 0

180 cm
29
160 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

TWGC Champion
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

KAISER

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 20 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Adam Rubio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Axel Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Alec Ball and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rubio connects with a body shot that sends Stevens's belly button to the back.
No luck for Rubio with that takedown attempt.
Rubio tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stevens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rubio fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stevens swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rubio steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stevens.
Rubio fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adam Rubio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rubio lands a high kick!

Rubio clinches up against the cage.
Rubio working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Rubio breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rubio tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stevens manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rubio connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Rubio closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Stevens's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rubio looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rubio trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rubio sitting in guard here, content to control.

We're going to have a standup here because Adam Rubio wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rubio shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stevens as he avoids it easily.
Rubio throws a sloppy head kick and Stevens moves out of range easily.
Rubio tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens tries to clinch but Rubio moves out of range.
Rubio throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rubio is looking to clinch.
No luck for Rubio with that takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rubio is defended easily by Stevens.
Stevens swats away the attempt to clinch by Rubio.
Rubio tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stevens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Adam Rubio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rubio ducks under a wild hook from Stevens.
Rubio is looking to clinch but Stevens is avoiding it.
A jab from Stevens misses.
Nice takedown defense from Stevens. No joy for Rubio on that attempt.
Stevens loads up on a big right hand but Rubio slips the punch.

Rubio rushes Stevens and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Rubio.
Rubio lands a hook that snaps the head of Stevens backwards.
Stevens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rubio is defending well for now.
Rubio lands an elbow that stopped Stevens in his tracks for a moment.
Stevens is looking to break free of the clinch but Rubio has double underhooks.
Rubio with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rubio tries to pull guard but Stevens won't allow it.
Stevens doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rubio with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stevens lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rubio backwards.
Rubio can't get the takedown.
Rubio is trying to drag Stevens to the mat but Stevens just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Rubio breaks from the clinch.
A head kick misses from Rubio.

Rubio shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rubio showed some decent athleticism there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rubio is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Stevens sees it coming and defends easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stevens tries to roll over but Rubio keeps him under control.
Stevens keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rubio tries to pass the half guard into mount. Stevens knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Rubio dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Stevens misses the shot to the body.
Rubio moves out of range of the leg kick from Stevens.
A telegraphed right hand from Stevens misses the target.

Rubio closes the distance and clinches.
Stevens is pressed up against the cage. Rubio 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.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Stevens in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Rubio is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A punch lands to the side of Rubio 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Stevens misses with a body kick.
Stevens throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rubio tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stevens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stevens throws a lazy right hand but Rubio sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Stevens moves into range and connects with a jab.
Rubio connects with a high kick.
Stevens throws the left hand but Rubio avoids the punch easily.

Rubio fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stevens, pushing him back against the cage.

Rubio lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rubio works his way into side control.

Rubio swings around for an armbar but Stevens sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Rubio's guard.
Rubio is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rubio trying to control the action but Stevens is working from the bottom.

Rubio is trying to work for a kimura but Stevens is defending well.
Rubio is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubio prevents Stevens from improving his position.
Rubio is pressing down on Stevens's thigh, looking to free his foot. Stevens is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubio wants to control but Stevens is keeping him busy.
Rubio is looking to advance position but Stevens won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevens trying to control but Rubio postures up.

Adam Rubio has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Stevens swats away the attempt to clinch by Rubio.
Rubio throws a head kick that half lands.
Stevens throws a hook to the side of Rubio's head but Rubio sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rubio bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens misses the jab.
Stevens swats away the attempt to clinch by Rubio.

Rubio gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stevens gets underhooks to prevent Rubio's takedown attempt.
Stevens gets underhooks to prevent Rubio's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adam Rubio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rubio goes for a takedown in the clinch but Stevens prevents it.
Rubio comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Rubio pulls guard successfully.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Rubio keeps moving.
Stevens throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rubio trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Rubio dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rubio has closed the distance and engaged Stevens in a clinch.
Rubio is trying to drag Stevens to the mat but Stevens just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rubio changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Stevens fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Rubio moves into the clinch.
Rubio tries to pull guard but Stevens holds him up against the cage and eventually Rubio drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adam Rubio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rubio has Stevens pressed against the cage, preventing Stevens from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rubio can't get the takedown.

Rubio breaks from the clinch.
Rubio throws a head kick but Stevens moves out of range.
Rubio wants to clinch up but Stevens keeps it at a distance.
Stevens waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rubio.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rubio misses with a takedown attempt - Stevens sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rubio staying out of range there.

Rubio forces Stevens back against the cage and clinches.
Rubio drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rubio tries to pull guard but Stevens holds him up against the cage and eventually Rubio drops back down to his feet.
Stevens throws a punch but it's blocked by Rubio.

Stevens breaks the clinch.
Rubio doesn't manage to clinch there - Stevens circles away.

Rubio fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stevens, pushing him back against the cage.
Adam Rubio has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Rubio breaks from the clinch.
Rubio tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stevens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rubio lands a nice looking body shot.
A thudding body kick lands there by Stevens!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rubio looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rubio is looking to advance position but Stevens won't allow it.
Stevens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stevens is not content to let Rubio control the position.
Stevens is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rubio is pressing down on Stevens's thigh, looking to free his foot. Stevens is holding on for now.
Rubio wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stevens keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Adam Rubio.

Rubio looking to score a takedown here. Stevens is defending well but Rubio drives through and ends up in Stevens's guard.
Rubio trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Adam Rubio just wasn't active enough.

Rubio moves into range and clinches up with Stevens.
Adam Rubio is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stevens tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Stevens breaks from the clinch.
Axel Stevens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stevens connects with a single shot there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rubio throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Stevens blocks a head kick by Rubio.
Rubio fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stevens tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rubio manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Adam Rubio showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rubio 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Adam Rubio!
Adam Rubio gave a mention to Charlie Wang's Tattered Rags & 95% Laundry in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).