PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Richard Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Nguyen (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.

Stevens
vs
Nguyen

178 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Likes ground

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Richard Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kevin Nguyen!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens throws a head kick that misses.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown but Nguyen shows good takedown defense.
Nguyen slips a straight right by Stevens.

Nguyen gets the takedown into side control.
Stevens taking punishment in the form of punches.
Nguyen cracks Stevens with a big elbow.
Stevens is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Nguyen off and has taken his back!
Stevens doesn't have the hooks in and Nguyen manages to turn into his guard.
Stevens working a defensive guard here.
Nguyen postures up and lands a big shot to Stevens's brow.
Nguyen lands a couple of digs.
Nguyen cracks Stevens with a solid left hand.
Stevens looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nguyen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nguyen working some strikes from top position.
Nguyen with a nice head shot there.
Nguyen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Stevens scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Nguyen is in close to Stevens's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nguyen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nguyen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Stevens looking for a sweep. Not yet Stevens, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nguyen working some strikes from top position.
Stevens is breathing heavily.
Stevens doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Nguyen stands up over Stevens, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nguyen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nguyen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Nguyen scoring with punches to the head and body.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevens has momentary wrist control but Nguyen slips an elbow through the middle.
Nguyen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stevens works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nguyen connects with a couple of short punches.
Stevens wants to sweep here but Nguyen controlling him for the moment.
Nguyen connects with a couple of short punches.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Stevens kicks Nguyen off and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stevens scores a takedown into full mount!
Nguyen throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Nguyen tries to reverse the position but Stevens maintains control.
The referee warns Nguyen that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Stevens dominating with strikes here.
Stevens putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Nguyen regains half guard.
Nguyen tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Stevens scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nguyen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nguyen tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Nguyen punching from the bottom.
Stevens missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Stevens knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nguyen on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.
Nguyen punching from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stevens with a lazy takedown attempt

and Nguyen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Stevens's guard now.
Nguyen distracts Stevens with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nguyen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nguyen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stevens's head.
Stevens on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Stevens tries to get out of the position.
Nguyen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Nguyen stopping the sweep attempt from Stevens.
Stevens manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Nguyen regains half guard.
Stevens trying to pass the guard but Nguyen defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Nguyen misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Stevens blocks the strikes from Nguyen.
Nguyen flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Stevens is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nguyen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stevens.
Stevens throwing shots but Nguyen is blocking nicely.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stevens misses with a takedown attempt

and Nguyen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richard Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nguyen is pushing down on Stevens's leg trying to pass to half guard. Stevens is fighting to maintain full guard but Nguyen has managed to sneak the leg through.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nguyen working over Stevens with some ground and pound. Stevens looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Stevens wants to improve his position but Nguyen is controlling well.
Ground and pound from Nguyen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Nguyen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stevens has his takedown stuffed

and Nguyen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nguyen.
Stevens has momentary wrist control but Nguyen slips an elbow through the middle.
Nguyen lands a couple of digs.
Nguyen preventing the sweep.
Nguyen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Nguyen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nguyen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Nguyen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kevin Nguyen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stevens looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nguyen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Nguyen postures up.
Nguyen stands up over Stevens, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nguyen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nguyen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Stevens fails with the takedown

and Nguyen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stevens won't be happy with that.
Nguyen working the head and body with strikes.
Stevens takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Stevens tries to bench press Nguyen off him but Nguyen keeps the position.
Stevens is working hard here to advance position.
Stevens pushes Nguyen away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Nguyen gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Stevens tries to get back to half guard but can't.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Nguyen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Nguyen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stevens looking for a sweep. Not yet Stevens, not yet.
Stevens trying to keep a closed guard but Nguyen is proving a slippery customer.
Stevens trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Nguyen is working Stevens over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Stevens looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Stevens rushes Nguyen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Stevens turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Stevens decides to stand up, so the ref orders Nguyen to his feet.
Stevens looks to clinch

and Nguyen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen prevents Stevens from improving his position.
Nguyen blocks the strikes from Stevens.
Stevens is trying to get back to full guard.
Nguyen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Stevens is trying to maintain the position but Nguyen is very close to passing his half guard.
Nice strikes from Nguyen there.
Ground and pound from Nguyen.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Stevens tries for a takedown but Nguyen circles away easily

and Nguyen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richard Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens wants to get back to full guard.
Nguyen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nguyen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nice strikes from Nguyen there.
Nguyen landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Stevens tries to roll over but Nguyen keeps him under control.
Nguyen working over Stevens with some ground and pound. Stevens looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nguyen prevents Stevens from improving his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Nguyen gets caught flat footed, as Stevens shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Stevens tries to free his leg and advance position but Nguyen is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Nguyen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Stevens misses with a takedown attempt

and Nguyen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Stevens's guard now.
Nguyen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Nguyen connects with a couple of short punches.
Nguyen connects with a couple of short punches.
Nguyen connects with a couple of short punches.
Nguyen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nguyen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Nguyen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nguyen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nguyen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nguyen cracks Stevens with a solid left hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stevens looking for a sweep. Not yet Stevens, not yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stevens shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Nguyen counters with a single leg into guard. Stevens didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nguyen lands a couple of elbows.
Stevens looking for a sweep. Not yet Stevens, not yet.
Stevens trying to strike off his back.
Nguyen is working Stevens over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Nguyen lands a couple of elbows.
Stevens lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Nguyen with a nice head shot there.
Stevens wants to sweep here but Nguyen controlling him for the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Stevens misses with a takedown

and Nguyen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richard Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nguyen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nguyen working Stevens over with strikes.
Stevens is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Stevens manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen distracts Stevens with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Stevens is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nguyen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nguyen works over Stevens with some ground and pound from guard.
Stevens wants to sweep but no luck.
Nguyen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Stevens throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Stevens looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nguyen is one step ahead there.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stevens with a lazy takedown attempt

and Nguyen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Stevens's guard now.
Nguyen landing with the ground and pound.
Nguyen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Nguyen works over Stevens with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Stevens doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Nguyen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nguyen landing some decent shots from guard.
Stevens throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Stevens doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Nguyen counters with a shoot takedown. Stevens fights it but they end up in guard.
Nguyen with a nice head shot there.
Nguyen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nguyen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stevens wants to sweep here but Nguyen controlling him for the moment.
Stevens doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen scoring with punches to the head and body.
Nguyen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stevens's head.
Nguyen connects with a couple of short punches.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Stevens with a poor takedown

and Nguyen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Stevens throwing short punches from the bottom.
Nguyen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nguyen scoring with some ground and pound.

Stevens has his foot on Nguyen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nguyen works his way back into a safe position though.
Stevens wants to sweep but no luck.
Nguyen with a nice head shot there.
Nguyen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stevens's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stevens tries to land a sweep but no joy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Stevens tries for a takedown but Nguyen circles away easily

and Nguyen counters with a nice double leg into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Nguyen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nguyen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 26:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 26:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 26:30

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