PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Collasus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Collasus kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Darker Side. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Collasus
vs
Stephens

190 cm
28
255 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

200 cm
19
265 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gabriel Collasus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steve Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Ron Honeybunn and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stephens looks to throw the jab but Collasus is out of range.
Collasus ducks under a wild hook from Stephens.
Stephens misses with a wild combination.
Stephens throws a left and a right that both miss

and Collasus counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Collasus loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Collasus stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Collasus shoots for a takedown but Stephens saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Stephens enables Collasus to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Stephens manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Collasus trying to control but Stephens is working from the bottom.
Stephens wants to stand up but Collasus is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Collasus drops back looking for a leg! Stephens is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Stephens manages to kick Collasus off! Collasus jumps back into Stephens's guard.
Collasus won't allow Stephens to get back to his feet.
Stephens really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Collasus. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Collasus postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've been hearing good reports from Collasus'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.
Collasus works over Stephens with some ground and pound from guard.
Stephens told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Collasus missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stephens trying to control the position.
Stephens tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stephens not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Stephens is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Collasus is controlling him.
Collasus passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens is trying to improve his position.
Stephens is letting Collasus control him for a moment.
Collasus working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Collasus is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Stephens is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Stephens taking punishment in the form of punches.

It looks like Steve Stephens has been cut.
Stephens struggling a bit here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Collasus working the strikes but Stephens uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Collasus seems to be looking for submissions.
Stephens tries to kick Collasus off but Collasus keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Collasus is working for a submission of some sort.
Collasus seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stephens does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Collasus seems to be working for a kimura but Stephens defends the submission attempt.
Stephens tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Stephens is refusing to be controlled, as Collasus sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Collasus winds up and cracks Stephens with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Collasus throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Collasus looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Stephens is pressing down on Collasus's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Collasus throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Collasus throws a big elbow that misses.
Stephens tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Collasus dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steve Stephens's cut.
That's time! Collasus's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stephens throws the left hand but Collasus avoids the punch easily.
Stephens stalks Collasus and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Collasus's face. Collasus staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Gabriel Collasus has been cut.

Collasus closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Collasus lands in his opponent's guard.
Stephens keeping moving, preventing Collasus from controlling successfully.

Stephens looking for a guillotine here but Collasus defends easily.

Collasus is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephens trying to control the position.
Collasus is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stephens can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens wants to stand up but Collasus is controlling him.
Stephens looking to hit a scissor sweep but Collasus is one step ahead there.
Collasus stops Stephens from standing up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Collasus throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Collasus passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Collasus thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Collasus tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens stops Collasus from passing to mount.

Collasus is trying to get an arm triangle but Stephens is defending well.

Collasus thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Collasus tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Collasus has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Collasus prevents Stephens from escaping the position.
Stephens is looking to reverse the position.

Collasus working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Stephens tries to improve position but can't.
Collasus 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.

Collasus is trying to get an arm triangle but Stephens is defending well.

Collasus thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Stephens is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Collasus controlling the position.

Collasus looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Stephens being controlled for a moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Collasus throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Collasus dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Stephens dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The fighters circling - Stephens throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Collasus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stephens.
Stephens throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Stephens thuds his right hand into Collasus's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Stephens throws a right and a left that both miss.
Stephens looks to land a right hand but Collasus moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Collasus shoots in and drives through. Stephens sprawls well.
Stephens misses with a hook. Collasus ducked under it nicely.
It looked like Collasus was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Collasus keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stephens.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Collasus has time to react.
Collasus avoids a punch combination nicely.

Collasus shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Stephens manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Collasus drops back looking for a leg! Stephens is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Stephens manages to kick Collasus off! Collasus jumps back into Stephens's guard.

Stephens has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Collasus can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Collasus has gone for a leg lock! Stephens slips out almost immediately though and dives into Collasus's guard.

Stephens content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Collasus has locked up a guillotine! Collasus's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Stephens is holding on here and Collasus must be using up a lot of energy. Stephens has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Collasus gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Gabriel Collasus!
Gabriel Collasus decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Steve Stephens spoke after the fight, saying 'Next time we meet, I will slam his face completely through the mat. Then I will kick his ass'.