PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Steveson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jah Joppe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Joe Steveson has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Joe Steveson seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Steveson
vs
Joppe

198 cm
22
205 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

188 cm
19
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joe Steveson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jah Joppe!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Steveson fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Steveson has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Joppe is trying to keep an underhook but Steveson manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steveson wants to stand up but Joppe is controlling the position.
Joppe is trying is best to control the position here.
Joppe tries to roll over but Steveson keeps him under control.
Joppe blocking the ground and pound attempt from Steveson.
Steveson is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Joppe trying to control here.
Steveson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Steveson is thwarting Joppe's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Steveson lands a head kick. Joppe smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Steveson stuffs the takedown.
Steveson scores with a kick to the midsection.
Steveson tries to clinch but Joppe moves out of range.
Joe Steveson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steveson throws a series of punches but Joppe avoids them all with ease.
Steveson is looking to clinch.
Steveson tries to clinch but Joppe moves out of range.

Steveson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Steveson jumps into guard, dragging Joppe to the mat.
Joppe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Steveson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Steveson 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steveson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Joppe tries to free his leg and advance position but Steveson is retaining full guard.
Steveson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Steveson shoots in but no luck this time.
Joppe staying out of range there.
Steveson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Joppe tries to avoid it but Steveson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Joppe to the ground. Joppe escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Steveson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Steveson is breathing heavily.

Joppe has managed to clinch.
Steveson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joppe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A nice inside leg kick there by Joppe. That's going to slow Steveson down.
Joppe feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Steveson's calf.
Steveson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Joppe is trying to drag Steveson to the mat but Steveson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Joppe connects with a nasty looking knee right to Steveson's face.
Joppe is stalling here.
Joppe is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Steveson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Steveson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Joppe bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steveson wants to control but Joppe postures up.
Steveson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Steveson wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Steveson is not content to let Joppe control the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
You can see the frustration on Steveson's face as Joppe controls the position.
Joppe tries to move to mount but Steveson blocks the move with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joe Steveson will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Steveson.
Steveson controlling the position.
Joppe is looking to reverse the position.
Steveson working the ground and pound.
Steveson landing a few strikes.
Steveson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Joppe down.
Joppe is looking to regain half guard here but Steveson keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steveson grinds an elbow into Joppe's temple.

Steveson decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Steveson with a poor takedown

and Joppe counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Joppe.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Joppe is trying to maintain a safe position but Steveson gets an underhook and turns Joppe into the cage.

Steveson gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Joppe regains guard.
Joppe trying to keep a closed guard but Steveson is proving a slippery customer.
Joppe can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Steveson controls the pace.
Steveson trying to control but Joppe is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Joppe isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Steveson stacks Joppe on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Steveson!
Joppe struggling a bit here.
Steveson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Joppe keeps working.
Joppe is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Steveson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Steveson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steveson stalling.
Steveson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Joppe tries to roll over but Steveson keeps him under control.

Steveson wants to work for an arm triangle but Joppe is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Steveson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Steveson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Joppe keeps working.
Steveson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Steveson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Joppe is trying to get back to full guard.
Steveson working over Joppe with some ground and pound. Joppe looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Steveson dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Steveson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Steveson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Joppe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Steveson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Steveson uses his free foot to push down on Joppe's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Joppe.

Steveson looking to secure an arm triangle but Joppe defends it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joppe is in all sorts of trouble here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steveson controlling the pace for now.
Joppe is trying to escape the mount.
Steveson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Joppe slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Steveson trying to control the action but Joppe is working from the bottom.
Steveson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Steveson stands up out of the half guard.
Steveson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Joppe keeps the fight on the outside.
Joppe shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Steveson pinned against the cage. Steveson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Joppe shoots and misses
and Steveson counters with a good, hard body kick but Joppe shrugs it off.
Steveson moves in looking to clinch but Joppe pushes him off.
Steveson fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Joppe. No joy for Steveson on that attempt.
Steveson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Joppe is fending him off so far but Steveson persists. Nope, Joppe circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Steveson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Joppe shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Steveson but Steveson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Joppe tries to clinch up

and Steveson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Steveson can't break the clinch.
Joppe with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Joppe tries to break the clinch but Steveson is controlling the position.
Joppe wants to get back to striking at distance but Steveson won't allow it.

Steveson manages to break the clinch.
Steveson tries for a takedown but Joppe sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Steveson shoots in looking for a takedown. Joppe tries to sprawl out of it but Steveson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Joppe manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Joppe has taken the fight to the clinch.
Joppe trying to land knees to the body.
Steveson slowing the pace effectively.
Joppe looking to throw knees to the head but Steveson is blocking nicely.
Steveson tries to pull guard but Joppe holds him up against the cage and eventually Steveson drops back down to his feet.
Joe Steveson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Come on Joppe - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Steveson stalls.
Jah Joppe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joppe misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Steveson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Steveson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Steveson, 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Steveson!