PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Quincy Stephenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ed Small (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Stephenson
vs
Small

162 cm
18
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Quincy Stephenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ed Small!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Jonathan Paton and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Small takes a swing at Stephenson's ribcage but misses.
Small swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Stephenson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Stephenson tries for a takedown but Small manages to get underhooks.
Small stalling in the clinch.

Stephenson gets control of Small's arms and successfully pulls guard. Stephenson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Stephenson looking for a sweep. Not yet Stephenson, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stephenson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Stephenson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Stephenson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Small is looking to stand up but Stephenson won't let him.
Stephenson is pulling down on Small's head to control his posture.
Small looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Small got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stephenson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Small has managed to get both his arms back between Stephenson's legs - danger averted.
Small stops Stephenson from standing up.

Small stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Stephenson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Stephenson prevents Small from improving his position.
Small pushes Stephenson off looking to stand but Stephenson dives back in and keeps control.
Small gets full guard.
Small tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Small looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Stephenson puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Small is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Small makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Small.
Small wants to get back to his feet but Stephenson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice shot lands for Small.
Small throws a right and a left that both miss.
Small connects with a good right hand that stumbles Stephenson. Stephenson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Stephenson misses with a kick to the body.
Small throws a counter combo.
Small tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stephenson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stephenson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ed Small seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Small looks winded!
Stephenson tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Small misses with a wild combination.

Stephenson forces Small back against the cage and clinches.
Small working aggressively here.
Stephenson jumps guard but Small stands there with Stephenson around his waist. Stephenson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Small is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Stephenson is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Small wants to break the clinch but can't.
Small tries to circle away but Stephenson has him pinned against the cage.
Small is trying to pull guard but Stephenson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
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 Quincy Stephenson 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.

Small shoots in for a takedown but Stephenson shows good takedown defense.
Small fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Small swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Small lands a two punch combo.

Stephenson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Small!
Small tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Small is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Stephenson stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Stephenson wants to clinch.
Small is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephenson dives in and grabs Small's left leg, looking for a takedown. Small pushes down on Stephenson's head and hops out.
Small misses with a two punch combination.

Stephenson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Small to the mat! Small manages to get full guard.
Stephenson scoring with punches to the head and body.

Stephenson stands and steps away. Small gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Small pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stephenson is looking to clinch.
Small wants to counter the offense by Stephenson and move into the clinch position.
Small finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Small. No joy for Stephenson on that attempt.
Small shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stephenson closes the distance and pushes Small back into the cage.
Stephenson keeps control of Small as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Small is trying to force a seperation but Stephenson has the dominant position.

Stephenson breaks the clinch.
A punch combination from Small misses.
Stephenson tries to clinch but Small is having none of it.

Stephenson clinches up against the cage.
Small is trying to push Stephenson away but Stephenson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Stephenson tries for a takedown but Small manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Quincy Stephenson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Small has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Stephenson drags the fight down to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stephenson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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

Stephenson is standing up over Small. Small looks to escape but Stephenson dives into side control.
Small tries to control but Stephenson manages to take his back.

Stephenson is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson lands a shot to the body.
Small is trying to get back to his feet but Stephenson has full control of the position and if anything, Small has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Stephenson trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Small tries to escape the position.
Small is trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Quincy Stephenson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Small shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Stephenson pinned against the cage. Stephenson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Small throws a wild body kick that Stephenson sees coming a mile off.
Small throws a leg kick

and Stephenson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Stephenson.
Small wants to get back to his feet but Stephenson passes into half guard.
Small is not content to let Stephenson control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Small is trying to stand back up but Stephenson is controlling him
Small takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stephenson prevents Small from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Small wants to control but Stephenson passes into side.
Small is looking for a sweep.

Stephenson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Stephenson blocks a low kick nicely.
Small throws the kick towards the body but Stephenson avoids it.
Small shoots in for a double leg but Stephenson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Small keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stephenson rushes Small and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stephenson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Stephenson has Small pressed against the cage, preventing Small from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Small is trying to break the clinch but Stephenson has him pressed against the cage.
Stephenson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Small.
Quincy Stephenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ed Small.
Small misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Small trying to stall but Stephenson improves his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Small fails to pull guard.
Small trying to control the position but instead, Stephenson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Small into the cage.

Stephenson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Small uses from the top position.
Small stopping the sweep attempt from Stephenson.
Stephenson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Small stops Stephenson from standing up.
Stephenson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Stephenson manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Small wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Small pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Small avoids the head kick by Stephenson.
Small shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stephenson dives in and grabs Small's left leg, looking for a takedown. Small pushes down on Stephenson's head and hops out.
Stephenson tries to clinch up but Small circles away and keeps his distance.
Small misses with a jab, cross combination.

Stephenson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Stephenson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Small has managed to free his arm - good work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Small wants to control but Stephenson is keeping busy and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Quincy Stephenson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stephenson, 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Quincy Stephenson!