PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jackie Owens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shaun Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Owens
vs
Stephens

225 cm
23
178 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

179 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jackie Owens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Shaun Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stephens dives in for a single leg takedown but Owens sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Stephens shoots and misses
and Owens counters with a stiff right hand.
Owens misses with a jab, cross combination.
No joy there for Owens, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stephens will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jackie Owens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shaun Stephens.
Stephens looks winded!
Stephens looks for a takedown but Owens sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Owens throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Stephens's head.
Owens displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stephens.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens falls off balance throwing a combination
and Owens counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Owens pushes Stephens up against the cage in a clinch.
Stephens missing with knees to the body.
Stephens avoids the elbow strike from Owens, against the cage.
Owens slowing the pace effectively.

Stephens works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Owens has control of Stephens's left arm, preventing Stephens from doing any damage.

Owens scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Owens takes the fight into the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Owens.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Owens escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stephens looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Owens throws a sloppy head kick and Stephens moves out of range easily.

Owens instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stephens is defending well for now.
Stephens tries to score a body lock takedown but Owens shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Owens creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Stephens blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Owens stalls.
Owens really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Stephens fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Stephens tries to break the clinch but Owens is controlling the position.
Owens looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Stephens tries to pull guard but Owens forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Stephens can't break the clinch.
Owens lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Owens misses with an elbow strike.
Stephens has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Owens after a bit of a struggle.
Owens creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Owens breaks the clinch.
Stephens staying out of range there.
Stephens tries to counter with a clinch but Owens shakes him off and moves away.
Stephens has a takedown stuffed.
Owens looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Owens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stephens shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Owens connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jackie Owens dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Owens shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Stephens's guard.
Owens controlling from the top position.

Owens gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

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

Owens gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Stephens is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephens shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Owens sprawls well. Owens wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stephens gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens shoots in but Owens avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Shaun Stephens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Owens connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Stephens momentarily.
Owens darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
We've been informed that Stephens has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Owens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stephens throws a lazy body kick
letting Owens counter with a right hand.
Owens avoids the head kick by Stephens.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens blocks a head kick by Owens.
Stephens shoots in and drives through. Owens sprawls well.
Jackie Owens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shaun Stephens.

Owens has Stephens up against the cage in a clinch.
A right hand to the body from Owens.
Owens lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Owens taking a breather.
The referee is keeping an eye on Owens - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Owens gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Owens avoiding damage as Stephens throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Owens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stephens misses with a takedown attempt
and Owens counters with a two punch combo.

Owens clinches up against the cage.
Owens throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Stephenss head.
Owens wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Owens breaks the clinch.
Stephens throws a head kick that misses
and Owens counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Stephens displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Owens throws out the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens avoids the head kick by Owens.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stephens is defended easily by Owens.

Owens looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Owens is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jackie Owens dominated that second round.
That's time! Owens's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Owens fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stephens, pushing him back against the cage.
Stephens drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Owens gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Owens misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Stephens tries to pull guard but Owens holds him up against the cage and eventually Stephens drops back down to his feet.
Owens content to slow the pace in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Owens goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Stephens is looking for a takedown.
Jackie Owens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shaun Stephens.
Stephens tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Owens smiles and moves away.
Owens is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Stephens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Owens gets a double leg takedown into Stephens's guard.

Owens stands up and waves to Stephens to follow him.
A head kick misses from Owens.
Owens throws a head kick that misses.
Stephens is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Owens throws a head kick but Stephens moves out of range.
Stephens fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Owens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jackie Owens is winning the standup battle so far.
Stephens tries to score a power double leg takedown but Owens sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stephens somewhat.
A quick step to the side and Owens tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Owens misses with a head kick.
Stephens tries for a takedown but Owens circles away easily
and Owens counters with a nice body shot.
Owens connects with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Owens darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Owens is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stephens can do to turn this around?
Stephens wants to get back to full guard but Owens has mounted him!

Owens get's back to his feet.
Owens throws a sloppy head kick and Stephens moves out of range easily.
Stephens shapes to counter with a head kick.
Owens lands with a shot to the body.

Owens scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Jackie Owens overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Owens stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Owens pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Stephens gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Owens postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Owens controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Owens decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Owens connects with a right hand. Stephens shakes it off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jackie Owens showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Owens has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:25
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:25
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jackie Owens!
The defeated Shaun Stephens had this to say: 'Good battle out there tonight, proud of myself for how far I have come but have a long way to go!'.