PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Faaloua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Stevens
vs
Faaloua

191 cm
32
252 lbs
21 - 13 - 0

195 cm
30
265 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 21 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Frank Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Faaloua!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Damien Edna and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Faaloua throws a head kick but Stevens moves out of range.

Faaloua rushes Stevens and presses him up against the cage.
Faaloua misses with an elbow strike.

Stevens pulls guard effortlessly.

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

Stevens looking for subs off his back but Faaloua has passed one foot through into half guard.
Stevens wants to improve his position but Faaloua is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevens trying to get back to full guard but Faaloua takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens is looking to get to half guard.
Stevens sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Faaloua is controlling the pace.

Stevens looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Stevens actively working from the bottom here.

Stevens looking for submissions off his back.

That's two 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.

Stevens looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Faaloua with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Stevens looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Faaloua escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faaloua plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stevens blocks an elbow strike.
Stevens is trying to pull guard but Faaloua turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Faaloua just misses with a elbow thrown towards Stevens's brow.

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

Faaloua explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Faaloua forces Stevens back against the cage and clinches.
Faaloua misses with an elbow strike.
Stevens fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Faaloua creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Stevens takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Frank Stevens has been cut.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Faaloua just misses with a elbow thrown towards Stevens's brow.
Stevens tries to score a body lock takedown but Faaloua shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stevens is trying to pull guard but Faaloua turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Faaloua throws an elbow but it misses.
Faaloua lands an elbow just above Stevens 's eye.
Faaloua comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Stevens tries for a takedown but Faaloua manages to get underhooks.
Faaloua throws an elbow that misses.
Stevens jumps guard but Faaloua stands there with Stevens around his waist. Stevens gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stevens blocks an elbow strike from Faaloua.
Stevens jumps guard but Faaloua stands there with Stevens around his waist. Stevens gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stevens tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Faaloua smiles and moves away.
Faaloua uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Stevens has time to react.

Frank Stevens's cut is getting worse.
Stevens throws an overhand right that lands on Faaloua's shoulder, as Faaloua tries to avoid the shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Faaloua dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Frank Stevens's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Stevens clinches up against the cage.
Faaloua throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Faaloua misses with an elbow strike.
Faaloua has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stevens is trying to pull guard but Faaloua has him pressed against the cage.
Faaloua misses with an elbow over the top.
Stevens avoids the elbow strike from Faaloua, against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Faaloua throws an elbow but misses.

Stevens has picked Faaloua up - he's going for a ride! Stevens dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Faaloua wants to control but Stevens is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stevens is pressing down on Faaloua's thigh, looking to free his foot. Faaloua is holding on for now.

Faaloua is defending against the submission attempts here by Stevens.
We've been hearing good reports from Stevens's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevens passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faaloua is trying to escape the mount.
Stevens punching from mount but Faaloua doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Stevens swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Faaloua is now in Stevens's guard. A big mistake from Stevens there, giving up the dominant position!
Stevens looking to hit a scissor sweep but Faaloua is one step ahead there.

Stevens is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stevens is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Faaloua is aware though and is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stevens isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Faaloua stacks Stevens on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Faaloua!
Faaloua controlling the position from side mount.
Stevens tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stevens looking for a sweep but Faaloua has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faaloua tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Stevens is desperately trying to improve his position but Faaloua has a good base and remains in mount.
Faaloua sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Stevens regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faaloua content to control rather than advance.

Stevens actively working from the bottom here.
Faaloua perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Stevens is trying to maintain the position but Faaloua is very close to passing his half guard.

Stevens looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Faaloua moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Stevens.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James Faaloua will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Frank Stevens's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Faaloua lands a high kick!

Stevens tries to keep at a distance but Faaloua has taken the fight into the clinch.
Faaloua creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Stevens's defenses.
Faaloua lands an elbow just above Stevens 's eye.
Faaloua misses with an elbow over the top.
Stevens avoids a wild elbow strike from Faaloua.
Faaloua misses with an elbow over the top.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Faaloua.
With the fighters up against the cage, Faaloua throws an elbow but misses.
Stevens avoids the elbow strike from Faaloua, against the cage.
Faaloua looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Stevens blocks an elbow strike.
Stevens avoids a wild elbow strike from Faaloua.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens takes an elbow to the forehead.
James Faaloua seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Faaloua lands a nice elbow.
Stevens is looking for a takedown.

Stevens manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Stevens has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Faaloua can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Stevens is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Faaloua controlling from the top position.

Stevens has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Faaloua can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Frank Stevens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faaloua is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Stevens throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Faaloua escapes and throws Stevens's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Stevens is looking to regain half guard here but Faaloua keeps moving and retains side control.
Stevens stops Faaloua from passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Faaloua presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Faaloua prevents Stevens from getting the reversal.
Faaloua looking to control and managing it successfully.
Stevens is squirming around, avoiding Faaloua's attempts to control the action.
Stevens is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens wants to control but Faaloua is having none of it.
Faaloua controlling the pace for now.
James Faaloua has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stevens is wriggling around trying to escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
James Faaloua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Faaloua 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 John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Faaloua!
A victorious James Faaloua thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.