PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benji Hidori (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hidori has chosen allejandro as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Stevenson
vs
Hidori

180 cm
25
170 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Thomas Stevenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Benji Hidori!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Daniel Franklin and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hidori avoids the body shot from Stevenson.

Stevenson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Stevenson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Hidori is looking to improve his position.

Stevenson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Stevenson wants to free his trapped foot but Hidori is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hidori really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stevenson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson stalling.
Stevenson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Hidori!
Hidori regains half guard.
Stevenson controlling the action here.
Stevenson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hidori's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson seems to be working for a kimura but Hidori defends the submission attempt.
Hidori has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stevenson is working away from the top position though.
Stevenson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Still in half guard, Stevenson seems content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Thomas Stevenson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Hidori misses with an attempted mid kick.
We've been informed that Hidori has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Stevenson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hidori jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stevenson walks away with a smile on his face. Hidori gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hidori tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Stevenson counters with a body kick that stops Hidori in his tracks momentarily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stevenson is defended easily by Hidori.
Stevenson misses with a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stevenson goes for a double leg but Hidori avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hidori continues to drive forward.
Hidori tries to pull guard but Stevenson won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Stevenson 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.

Stevenson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stevenson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hidori stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hidori wants it to stay on the feet.
Stevenson lands a nice looking body shot.
Stevenson goes for a double leg but Hidori avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hidori continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Stevenson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stevenson misses with a punch to the body.
Stevenson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hidori gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hidori tries to break the clinch but Stevenson is controlling the position.

Stevenson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hidori throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Stevenson shoots in for a double leg but Hidori sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stevenson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
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!
Hidori fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Stevenson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hidori.
Hidori will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Some wild striking there from Hidori.
Stevenson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hidori circles away quickly and effectively.
Hidori misses with a takedown attempt - Stevenson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hidori shoots for a takedown but Stevenson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Stevenson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Stevenson manages to pull guard.

Stevenson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hidori can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hidori must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hidori trying to control but Stevenson is working from the bottom.
Stevenson trying to control the position.
Hidori won't allow Stevenson to sweep him here.

Hidori drops back, looking for a kneebar! Stevenson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Stevenson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Stevenson!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hidori trying to remain calm as Stevenson controls from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson wants to control but Hidori is keeping him busy.
Stevenson controls the position from side control.
Stevenson scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Hidori to see if he's OK.

Stevenson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Stevenson staying calm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Stevenson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Hidori for as long as he can get away with.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Thomas Stevenson wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Hidori displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stevenson.
Stevenson takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Stevenson 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!

Hidori fails with a takedown attempt.
Stevenson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hidori.

Stevenson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Stevenson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Stevenson tries for a takedown but Hidori sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Stevenson slaps away a takedown attempt from Hidori, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Stevenson fails to land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hidori fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hidori looks for a takedown but Stevenson sprawls well.
Thomas Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benji Hidori.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stevenson clinches up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Hidori's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hidori working aggressively here.

Stevenson tightens his grip and picks Hidori up, before dumping him to the ground. Hidori manages to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hidori looking to control.
Stevenson won't allow Hidori to get back to his feet.
Stevenson stands up over Hidori, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Stevenson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Stevenson working the head with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hidori tries to improve position but can't.
A lull in the action here.

Stevenson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stevenson scores with a couple of short elbows.
Stevenson scores with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hidori struggling a bit here.
Hidori is trying to get back to half guard.

Stevenson decides to stand back up.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hidori sprawls well. Hidori wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stevenson gets slowly back to his feet.
Stevenson shoots in for a double leg but Hidori sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stevenson shoots in looking for a takedown but Hidori manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Stevenson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hidori moves in looking to clinch but Stevenson pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hidori but Hidori pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hidori throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Stevenson's head.
Hidori shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stevenson sprawls well. Stevenson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hidori gets slowly back to his feet.
Stevenson leaves Hidori with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hidori tries to keep at a distance but Stevenson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Benji Hidori has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thomas Stevenson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Stevenson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Stevenson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stevenson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 David Hoff scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Stevenson!
Benji Hidori spoke after the fight, saying 'I have dishonored myself and my fans.'.