PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gino Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Brooks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Brooks will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Stevens
vs
Brooks

206 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

198 cm
21
250 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gino Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Brooks!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Konstantin Menshow and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brooks's corner calls for a 1-2. Brooks obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

It looks like Gino Stevens has been cut.
Brooks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Brooks takes the fight into the clinch.
Stevens has Brooks pressed against the cage, preventing Brooks from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Stevens lands with a left to the head.

Stevens pulls guard.

Brooks drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Stevens dives on top into guard.

Brooks utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevens is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Stevens's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Stevens has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A jab from Brooks misses.
Stevens half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Brooks looks winded!
Stevens displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Brooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brooks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stevens moves away.

Stevens shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Further stalling from Stevens.
Brooks blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stevens.
Stevens controlling the pace.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Stevens is stinking the place up with his stalling.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Brooks scores with a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gino Stevens dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gino Stevens's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Brooks misses with a two punch combination.
Brooks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Brooks displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stevens.
Stevens fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Brooks tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Stevens defends well and Brooks ends up having to push Stevens into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Brooks misses with a lunging right hand

and Stevens counters with a single leg into guard. Brooks didn't expect that.
Stevens controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brooks looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stevens is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brooks can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Stevens controls the pace.
Brooks trying to control the position.
Brooks has momentary wrist control but Stevens slips an elbow through the middle.
Stevens controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Brooks waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stevens.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Brooks as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gino Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stevens looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Brooks is fending him off so far but Stevens persists. Nope, Brooks circles away and we're back to standing.
Brooks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stevens uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Brooks.
Brooks misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Stevens shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Brooks's guard.
Brooks utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Brooks is trying to control the position but Stevens postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stevens controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Stevens working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevens is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Brooks lands a nice shot that snaps Stevens's head back.

Stevens instigates a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Stevens.
Nice body punch from Stevens - that landed with a thud.
Stevens looking to throw knees to the head but Brooks is blocking nicely.
Stevens tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stevens lands a right hand.
Brooks takes a shot to the head.
Brooks is trying to push Stevens away but Stevens has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gino Stevens dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gino Stevens's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Stevens steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Brooks.
Stevens drops down looking for a counter takedown but Brooks sprawls and moves away.
Brooks throws a hook but Stevens avoids it easily.
A punch combination from Brooks misses.
Stevens scoring well with a low kick there.
Brooks throws a combination that misses
and Stevens counters with a right hand to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Brooks. No joy for Stevens on that attempt.
Brooks keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevens shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Brooks defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gino Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown but Brooks shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Brooks lands with a shot to the body.
Brooks clobbers Stevens with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
John Brooks seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Brooks looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Brooks has managed to clinch.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the head but Brooks blocks with his arms.
Stevens throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Brookss head.
Brooks looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Stevens tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Stevens tries a body shot but Brooks blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens misses with a punch on the inside.
Stevens keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Brooks's efforts to push away.
Brooks misses with a knee to the head.
A short right from Stevens.
Stevens doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Stevens pulls guard successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brooks lands a couple of elbows.

Stevens had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Brooks defends it easily.
John Brooks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Brooks makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Brooks really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stevens. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stevens escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Brooks gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Stevens looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Stevens looking for a guillotine here but Brooks defends easily.

Stevens throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Brooks escapes and throws Stevens's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Stevens is pushing Brooks's head away, looking to escape. Brooks manages to hold on to the position though.

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.

Brooks tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Brooks has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Brooks wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stevens keeps working.

Brooks goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Stevens rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Brooks's guard! Nice work there by Stevens!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stevens slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Gino Stevens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stevens seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Brooks for as long as he can get away with.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Brooks.
I think Stevens has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gino Stevens!