PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Stepniak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Kilbane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Stepniak
vs
Kilbane

195 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Andrei Stepniak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kevin Kilbane!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Ian Loll and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kilbane rushes Stepniak and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stepniak drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kilbane gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Kilbane escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kilbane misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Kilbane fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stepniak, pushing him back against the cage.

Kilbane breaks from the clinch.
Stepniak looks for a takedown but Kilbane sprawls well.
Kilbane misses with a looping right.
Stepniak throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kilbane's waist but Kilbane gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stepniak off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrei Stepniak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kilbane throws a body punch but Stepniak moves out of range.
Stepniak closes the distance and clinches up with Kilbane, looking for a takedown. Stepniak pushes Kilbane against the cage but Kilbane circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kilbane lands with a nice body kick.
Stepniak is breathing heavily.
Kilbane is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kilbane pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kilbane tries to clinch but Stepniak moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kilbane connects with a crisp jab.
Kilbane lands with a thumping leg kick.
Stepniak dodges the punch combination from Kilbane.
Kilbane misses with a few strikes there.
Stepniak dodges the punch combination from Kilbane.
Good shot there by Kilbane.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Stepniak. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kilbane misses with a looping left.

Kilbane instigates a clinch.

Kilbane escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Kilbane moves into the clinch successfully.
Kilbane scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Kilbane breaks from the clinch.

Kilbane rushes Stepniak and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kilbane creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Stepniak's defenses.
Kilbane controlling the action here for a moment.

Kilbane breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stepniak closes the distance but Kilbane moves to the side

and Kilbane moves into the clinch.
A short right from Kilbane on the inside.
Kilbane lands a hook to the side of the head.

Kilbane breaks the clinch.
Stepniak takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Kilbane rushes Stepniak and presses him up against the cage.
Kilbane content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Kilbane pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kevin Kilbane seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kilbane tries to close the distance and clinch but Stepniak swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stepniak drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kilbane rushes Stepniak and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

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

Kilbane moves into the clinch successfully.
A knee to the head by Kilbane.
Kilbane lands a shoulder strike.

Kilbane breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kilbane lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

Kilbane rushes Stepniak and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Kilbane breaks from the clinch.
Kilbane tries to clinch there but Stepniak circles away.
Stepniak avoids the body shot from Kilbane.
Kilbane fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kilbane tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stepniak swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kilbane ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stepniak moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kilbane buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kilbane connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kilbane moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Kilbane swinging wilding here.
Kilbane lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kilbane misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stepniak.
Kilbane wants to clinch up but Stepniak keeps it at a distance.
Kilbane looks to score with a jab to the body but Stepniak is just out of range.
Stepniak keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stepniak dodges the punch combination from Kilbane.
A jab from Kilbane finds it's way through Stepniak's defenses.
Kilbane scores with a three punch combo!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Kilbane dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kilbane tries to clinch there but Stepniak circles away.
Stepniak takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kilbane misses with a double jab.
Andrei Stepniak is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kilbane goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A punch combination from Kilbane misses.
Kilbane tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stepniak paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stepniak throws a head kick but Kilbane moves out of range.
Stepniak misses with a takedown

and Kilbane counters by moving into the clinch.
Kilbane lands with a short head shot on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kilbane pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kevin Kilbane seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Kilbane drives through and clinches with Stepniak against the cage.

Kilbane escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stepniak takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kilbane pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Kilbane misses its intended target.
Stepniak walks into a left hand.
Kilbane lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kilbane tries to clinch but Stepniak moves out of range.

Kilbane clinches up with Stepniak and pushes him back against the cage.
Stepniak missing with knees to the body.

Kilbane breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stepniak keeps the fight on the outside.
Kilbane tries to clinch there but Stepniak circles away.
Kilbane lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Stepniak tries to close the distance and clinch but Kilbane swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stepniak on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kilbane looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
A combination from Kilbane does no damage.

Kilbane moves into the clinch successfully.
Stepniak is working for takedown but Kilbane is calmly controlling the position for now.

Kilbane breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kilbane fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kilbane connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kilbane ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stepniak moves away.
Kilbane tries to clinch up.
Kilbane fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stepniak shoots in for a double leg but Kilbane sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrei Stepniak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kilbane misses with a series of wild punches.
Stepniak closes the distance and clinches up with Kilbane, looking for a takedown. Stepniak pushes Kilbane against the cage but Kilbane circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kilbane tries to bum rush Stepniak with a series of wild strikes but Stepniak uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stepniak doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kilbane counters with a left to the body.
Stepniak shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kilbane counters with a nice uppercut.
Stepniak with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kilbane counters by moving into the clinch.
Stepniak working aggressively here.

Kilbane breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Kilbane has taken the fight to the clinch.

Kilbane breaks from the clinch.
Stepniak wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kilbane misses with a jab to the body
and Stepniak counters with a one-two to the body.
Kilbane swats away the attempt to clinch by Stepniak.
Kilbane swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kilbane avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Kilbane has taken the fight to the clinch.

Kilbane escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stepniak throws a series of punches but Kilbane avoids them all with ease.
Stepniak drops his hands momentarily and Kilbane takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kilbane throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stepniak.

Stepniak closes the distance and clinches.

Kilbane escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stepniak avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stepniak moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Kilbane tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stepniak swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kilbane misses with a body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Kilbane showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kilbane is looking to clinch but Stepniak is avoiding it.
Stepniak takes one to the chin there.
Kilbane throws a head kick but Stepniak moves out of range.
Kilbane just misses with a punch to the body.
Stepniak will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stepniak misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kilbane lands with a cross.
Stepniak displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kilbane throws out the jab.
Kilbane throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Stepniak counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kilbane tries a head kick but it misses.
Kilbane wants to clinch.
Kilbane stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrei Stepniak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stepniak shoots and misses
enabling Kilbane to counter with a crisp jab.
Kilbane throws a head kick that misses.
No joy there for Kilbane, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kilbane throws a jab when Stepniak was well out of range.
Stepniak misses with a takedown attempt
letting Kilbane counter with a right hand.
Stepniak ducks under a wild hook from Kilbane.
Kilbane tries to land a leg kick but Stepniak saw it coming and moves away.
Kilbane cracks the inside of Stepniak's front leg.
A left and a right from Stepniak both land. Nice combination.
Kilbane tries to clinch but Stepniak moves out of range.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Kilbane.
Stepniak shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kilbane as he jumps to the side.
Stepniak fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kilbane throws a combination that misses

and Stepniak counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Stepniak goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Kilbane pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kilbane misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stepniak shoots and misses
and Kilbane counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stepniak shoots in and drives through. Kilbane sprawls well.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stepniak.
A solid leg kick lands there for Stepniak.
Stepniak is looking to clinch but Kilbane is avoiding it.
Kilbane scores with a hook to the body. Stepniak takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Kilbane has closed the distance and engaged Stepniak in a clinch.
Stepniak tries to break the clinch but Kilbane is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kilbane pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stepniak shoots and misses

and Kilbane moves into the clinch.

Kilbane manages to break the clinch.
Kilbane throws a sloppy head kick and Stepniak moves out of range easily.
Stepniak bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kilbane's head backwards.
Kilbane throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kilbane pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stepniak avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kilbane misses with a looping left.
Kilbane tries to close the distance and clinch but Stepniak swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kilbane misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stepniak.

Kilbane has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kevin Kilbane is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Stepniak tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kilbane smiles and moves away.

Stepniak gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kilbane trying to stand up but can't free himself from Stepniak's guard.
Kilbane landing some decent shots from guard.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Kilbane comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kilbane has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 26:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Kilbane!