PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steven Stepp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alaric Cosenza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Stepp
vs
Cosenza

193 cm
27
218 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

185 cm
21
214 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

CEC Nutrition Q160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steven Stepp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alaric Cosenza!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cosenza misses with a takedown
and Stepp counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cosenza misses with a takedown attempt - Stepp sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stepp misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cosenza takes one to the side of the head.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cosenza.
Steven Stepp has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alaric Cosenza.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cosenza is defended easily by Stepp.
Cosenza throws a left and a right that both miss
and Stepp counters with a stiff right hand.
Stepp takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Cosenza with a poor takedown
and Stepp counters with a left to the body.
Stepp's jab looks to have found its range, popping Cosenza under the eye.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cosenza with a lazy takedown attempt
and Stepp counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cosenza doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Stepp moves into the clinch.
I was talking to Stepp's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Stepp manages to break the clinch.

Stepp has closed the distance and engaged Cosenza in a clinch.
Cosenza changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Stepp fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Stepp shoots in and gets a takedown into Cosenza's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Stepp stopping the sweep attempt from Cosenza.
Cosenza preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stepp trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stepp landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepp lands a couple of digs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cosenza keeping moving, preventing Stepp from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cosenza has momentary wrist control but Stepp slips an elbow through the middle.
Cosenza looking to control.
Stepp wants to control from the top but Cosenza keeps moving.
Cosenza keeping full guard, as Stepp tries to pass.
Stepp engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Stepp throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stepp loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stepp stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cosenza swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stepp throwing strikes but missing.
Cosenza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stepp is one step ahead there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cosenza with a lazy takedown attempt
and Stepp counters with a left and a right that stings Cosenza.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cosenza is defended easily by Stepp.
Cosenza doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Stepp cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stepp lands with a straight right. Cosenza didn't see that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stepp takes the fight into the clinch.

Stepp breaks from the clinch.

Cosenza gets the takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stepp is looking to regain half guard here but Cosenza keeps moving and retains side control.
Cosenza working the ground and pound from side control.
Stepp wants to get back to his feet but Cosenza drags him back down.
Cosenza in side control, throwing shots but Stepp defends.
Cosenza has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Cosenza scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cosenza punching from mount but Stepp doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Stepp is in a horrible position here. Cosenza smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Cosenza cracks Stepp with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Stepp dominated that 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.

Stepp moves into the clinch.
Cosenza has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Stepp after a bit of a struggle.

Stepp escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cosenza fails with the takedown
and Stepp counters with a series of strikes. Cosenza will be more careful next time no doubt.

Cosenza shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cosenza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cosenza wants to control from the top but Stepp keeps moving.
Stepp has Cosenza pulled in close to control his posture.
Cosenza loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stepp wants to sweep but no luck.
Cosenza trying to control the position from guard on top but Stepp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Stepp has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Cosenza has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Stepp's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Stepp's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cosenza looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Steven Stepp has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alaric Cosenza.

Stepp has Cosenza up against the cage in a clinch.
Stepp wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cosenza has him pressed against the cage.

Stepp's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cosenza moves forwards but Stepp connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Cosenza with a lazy takedown attempt
and Stepp cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jab, jab by Stepp - just one landing.
Cosenza gets off balance looking for a body kick
enabling Stepp to counter with a crisp jab.
Stepp's jab looks to have found its range, popping Cosenza under the eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cosenza shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stepp defends it nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stepp stalks Cosenza and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cosenza's face. Cosenza staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Alaric Cosenza has been cut.
Cosenza doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Stepp counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Stepp gets a takedown into half guard.
Steven Stepp overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stepp looks to land a strike but Cosenza avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Stepp throws a big elbow that misses.
Stepp distracts Cosenza with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cosenza looking to control but Stepp passes into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Stepp connects with a nice short shot to Cosenza's temple.

Cosenza is rocked!
Stepp lands a big elbow from half guard. That looks like it's hurt Cosenza quite badly. Cosenza pulls Stepp in close trying to recover. Stepp postures up and lands two really hard shots that put Cosenza on queer street! The ref takes a look and decides to call an end to the fight! Possibly an early stoppage but Cosenza doesn't seem to be complaining too much.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Steven Stepp!
Steven Stepp was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.