PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Santana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Santana
vs
Stevens

191 cm
23
215 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

188 cm
26
205 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ricardo Santana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kevin Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Santana throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Kevin Stevens has been cut.
A punch combination from Santana misses.
Stevens closes the distance and clinches up with Santana, looking for a takedown. Stevens pushes Santana against the cage but Santana circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Stevens looking to score a takedown here. Santana is defending well but Stevens drives through and ends up in Santana's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Stevens controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Stevens trying to control the position from guard on top but Santana is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santana is wriggling around but Stevens manages to pass to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Santana is looking for a sweep. Stevens is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stevens not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stevens is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santana is controlling Stevens's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Santana works his way to full guard. Good work.
Stevens is standing up over Santana. Santana looks to escape but Stevens dives into side control.
Stevens controls the position from side control.
Stevens throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Santana works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens trying to mount his opponent but Santana defends it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santana is looking to control Stevens's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Santana avoid being mounted?
Stevens looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Stevens throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Stevens trying to control from half guard but Santana is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stevens trying to control from Santana's half guard. Santana has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Santana has Stevens pulled in close to control his posture.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Stevens stops Santana from standing up.
Santana looking to control.
Stevens in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stevens pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santana is keeping the position for now.
Stevens throws a strike but Santana rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santana throwing strikes but missing.
Stevens trying to keep a closed guard but Santana is proving a slippery customer.

Stevens is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Santana defends well.

Stevens is looking for a triangle here but Santana uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Santana stands up and we're back to a striking position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kevin Stevens will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kevin Stevens's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Santana drives through and clinches with Stevens against the cage.
Stevens drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Santana gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Santana connects with a knee to the head.

Santana escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Santana looks to land a combination. Stevens sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Stevens throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Santana's waist but Santana gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stevens off to one side.
Santana rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stevens moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Santana connects with a crisp jab.
Stevens misses with a takedown
and Santana counters with a right hand to the body.
Ricardo Santana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Stevens.

Stevens drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santana wants to stand and escape but Stevens is having none of it.
Stevens pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santana is keeping the position for now.
Stevens throws a big elbow that misses.
Stevens scoring with punches to the head and body.
Stevens postures up in Santana's guard and throws a big left but Santana blocks it.
Santana is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Stevens dives into side control.
We've been hearing good reports from Santana's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Stevens fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Stevens is looking to take a break and control but Santana is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens scoring with punches and elbows.
Stevens wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santana keeps working.
Santana is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Kevin Stevens has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stevens scoring with punches from side control.
Santana tries to escape but Stevens is in control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Stevens thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Stevens in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santana keeps working.
Santana dodges the ground and pound from Stevens.
Stevens is looking to take a break and control but Santana is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Santana is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Stevens off and has taken his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Santana's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Stevens preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Santana.
Stevens tries to escape but Santana has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Santana trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Stevens rolls, trying to escape but Santana keeps control of the position.
Stevens staying busy and making it hard for Santana to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevens trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Santana wants to control but Stevens is keeping busy.
Stevens is in bad spot here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Stevens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kevin Stevens's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Stevens shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Santana scores with a leg kick.
Ricardo Santana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santana misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stevens takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Stevens fails with the takedown.

Santana has Stevens up against the cage in a clinch.
Santana is trying to break free.

Santana breaks from the clinch.
Santana lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Santana scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Stevens tries to clinch there but Santana circles away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Santana clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Santana is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ricardo Santana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Stevens.
Santana tries to land a knee to the head but Stevens blocks with his arms.

Stevens successfully pulls guard.

Stevens had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Santana defends it easily.
Santana wanted to stand there but Stevens had control of the position.
Santana wants to control from the top but Stevens keeps moving.
Stevens trying to keep a closed guard but Santana is proving a slippery customer.
Ricardo Santana has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santana content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Stevens had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Santana defends it easily.
Stevens wants to sweep here but Santana controlling him for the moment.
Stevens is pulling down on Santana's head. It's preventing any offense from Santana, at least for the moment.
Santana trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Santana gets to his feet. Stevens looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens misses with a takedown attempt
and Santana counters with a thumping low kick.

Santana darts in and clinches Stevens up against the cage.
Stevens misses with some punches.
Stevens is looking to take this one to the mat.

Stevens works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Stevens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Santana seems keen to control Stevens's posture.
Santana wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Stevens manages to pass to side control.
Santana slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kevin Stevens is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santana is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Stevens is controlling him.

Santana has his foot on Stevens's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stevens works his way back into a safe position though.

Santana looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stevens lands a couple of elbows.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Stevens avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Santana showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stevens has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!