PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carl Madridge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carl Madridge has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Stevenson
vs
Madridge

180 cm
25
170 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

180 cm
24
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
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 3 - 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Carl Madridge!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Michael Johnstone and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Madridge connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Madridge dives in and grabs Stevenson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stevenson pushes down on Madridge's head and hops out.
Madridge shoots for a double leg takedown but Stevenson sprawls well. He's pushed Madridge's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Stevenson wants to clinch.

Madridge instigates a clinch.

Madridge pulls guard.
Madridge is trying to keep Stevenson in close.

Stevenson stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Madridge shoots in and bounces Stevenson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Madridge stopping the sweep attempt from Stevenson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Madridge lands a couple of digs.
Stevenson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Madridge controlling from the top position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Carl Madridge.
Stevenson slaps away a takedown attempt from Madridge, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Thomas Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carl Madridge.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Madridge throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Stevenson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Madridge is in Stevenson's guard.
Madridge controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Madridge working some strikes from top position.
Madridge engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stevenson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Madridge is one step ahead there.
Madridge showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Carl Madridge hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
No luck for Madridge with that takedown attempt.

Stevenson has Madridge up against the cage in a clinch.

Madridge manages to break the clinch.
Stevenson throws a head kick that misses.
Stevenson misses with a shot to the body

and Madridge counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Stevenson!
A lull in the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Madridge's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Stevenson is looking to regain half guard here but Madridge keeps moving and retains side control.
Stevenson is trying to escape the position but Madridge is controlling the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Madridge lands a few punches from side control.
Stevenson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Madridge has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Stevenson is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Madridge is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Stevenson's shoulder. That is not cool.
It looks like Madridge might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Madridge dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Stevenson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Stevenson gets caught flat footed, as Madridge shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Madridge slips nicely into half guard.
Stevenson trying to hold on to Madridge's head to control him but Madridge postures up.
Madridge drops an elbow to the side of Stevenson's head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Madridge not doing much here.
Carl Madridge has got the better of the ground game so far.
Madridge looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Stevenson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Madridge is trying to work for a kimura but Stevenson is defending well.
Madridge performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Stevenson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Madridge controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Madridge cracks Stevenson with a solid left hand.
Madridge stops Stevenson from standing up.
Madridge controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Madridge landing with the ground and pound.
Madridge stays in close to Stevenson's body and controls the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Carl Madridge has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Stevenson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Madridge has his takedown stuffed
and Stevenson counters with a left to the body.

Madridge shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Stevenson's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Madridge engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Stevenson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Madridge controls the pace.
Let's hope that Madridge has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Carl Madridge wasn't active enough on the ground.
Stevenson with a poor takedown

and Madridge counters with a shoot takedown. Stevenson fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Stevenson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Madridge scoring with some ground and pound.
Madridge stands and throws Stevenson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Madridge taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Madridge works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Madridge is putting a hurting on Stevenson here, landing some big shots from side control.
Madridge taking a breather here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Madridge showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Madridge darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Stevenson has hold of Madridge's hands but Madridge slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Madridge sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Stevenson is looking to improve his position.
Madridge is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Carl Madridge hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Stevenson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Madridge defends well and Stevenson ends up having to push Madridge into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Madridge pulls guard.
Stevenson trying to control the position from guard on top but Madridge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Madridge managing to control the position.
Stevenson wants to control from the top but Madridge keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Thomas Stevenson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Madridge changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Stevenson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Madridge tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The referee asks Madridge politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Madridge prefers to stall for the moment though.
Madridge has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Stevenson!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Madridge sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Madridge with the ground and pound from mount.
Madridge punishing his opponent with strikes.
Stevenson tries to hold on but Madridge postures up.

Madridge wants to finish this one by submission but Stevenson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Madridge.
Madridge controlling from the full mount.
Madridge scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Madridge has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Stevenson's face.
Madridge takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Madridge looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Madridge controlling from the full mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carl Madridge comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Madridge has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carl Madridge!