PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Darren Stephens (ranked 4646 p4p, 0 weight class) and Banana Man (ranked 23882 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Stephens might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The A-Team. The key to victory for Darren Stephens has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Stephens
vs
Man

184 cm
28
168 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

188 cm
20
178 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Darren Stephens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Banana Man!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, William Gold and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Man fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Stephens ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Man tries for a takedown but Stephens sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Stephens works over Man's head and body with a nice combination.

Man shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Stephens manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stephens drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Man has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Stephens avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Darren Stephens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Banana Man.
Man wants a takedown but no success here.
Man changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Stephens fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Man is defended easily by Stephens.
Man shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stephens defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens throws a head kick that half lands.
Man tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stephens swivels and escapes.
Stephens tries to counter with a takedown but Man is quick to defend against it.
Stephens scores with a sloppy right hand. Man should have avoided that one.
Man walks forward, straight into a front kick from Stephens.

Stephens decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Stephens tries to pass the half guard into mount. Man knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Stephens trying to control the action but Man is working from the bottom.
Man tries to get to full guard but Stephens has control of the leg.

Man looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Still in half guard, Stephens seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Stephens is trying to work for a kimura but Man is defending well.
Stephens stalling away here and it's allowed Man to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Stephens trying to control but Man is working from the bottom.
Stephens 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.

Man is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stephens is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens tries to stand but Man is controlling from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stephens connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Stephens shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Man eats them both and turns towards Stephens to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

It looks like Banana Man has been cut.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Stephens.

Man gets a double leg takedown into Stephens's guard.
Man is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Stephens is looking to stand up but Man isn't so interested in that idea.
Stephens can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Man controls the pace.

Man is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Man stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stephens swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens looking for a sweep. Not yet Stephens, not yet.
Stephens being controlled here, momentarily.
Man wants to control from the top but Stephens keeps moving.
Man controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Man leaves Stephens with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Banana Man seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Man shoots in and drives through. Stephens sprawls well.
Man shoots in looking for a takedown. Stephens tries to sprawl out of it but Man keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stephens manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Man tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Stephens defends well and Man ends up having to push Stephens into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stephens lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Stephens dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Banana Man's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Man closes the distance and clinches up with Stephens, looking for a takedown. Man pushes Stephens against the cage but Stephens circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Stephens uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Man takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Man darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Man controlling the pace.
Stephens on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Stephens tries to get out of the position.
Stephens has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Man is working away from the top position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stephens looking for submissions off his back.

Man is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stephens defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens is trying to maintain the position but Man is very close to passing his half guard.

Man is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Stephens doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Man.

Stephens looking for submissions off his back.

Man is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stephens defends it well.

Man is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Stephens doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Man.

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.
Man wants to control but Stephens is keeping him busy.
Stephens knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Man on the ground.

Stephens is defending against the submission attempts here by Man.
Man stops Stephens from getting back to his feet.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Stephens looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Man looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
No luck for Man with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stephens.

Stephens stands up and beckons Man to his feet.
Man will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Darren Stephens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Banana Man.
Man misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Man is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Stephens works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Stephens shoots in for a takedown but Man shows good takedown defense.
Stephens lands a nice shot to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Man.

Man closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Stephens did well to prevent Man getting side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Man is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Stephens sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Man is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Man trying to control the action but Stephens is working from the bottom.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Stephens is trying to stand.
Still in half guard, Man seems content to control.
Man is looking to take a break and control but Stephens is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Stephens is trying to stand.

Man is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Man with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Man is trying to work for a kimura but Stephens is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Stephens dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Banana Man's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Man shoots for a takedown but Stephens saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Stephens pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Man back to the cage. Stephens follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Stephens shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Man as he avoids it easily.
Man fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Stephens lands with a kick to the temple. Man shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Stephens feints a jab promting Man to slip. Stephens then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Man slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Stephens looks to land a combination. Man sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Darren Stephens is winning the standup battle so far.

Stephens gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Man to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Man avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Stephens throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Man trying to control the position from guard on top but Stephens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Man is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Man wants to control from the top but Stephens keeps moving.
Stephens is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Man is controlling him.
Man tries to free his leg and advance position but Stephens is retaining full guard.

Man drops back looking for a leg! Stephens is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Stephens manages to kick Man off! Man jumps back into Stephens's guard.

Man postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Stephens is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Man, into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Man is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stephens missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stephens trying to control but Man is working from the bottom.
Stephens tries to stand but Man is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Stephens lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Stephens.
Stephens shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Man as he jumps to the side.

Stephens shoots in and gets a takedown into Man's guard.
Stephens wants to get up but he can't break Man's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Man is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Stephens is stalling in the full guard.

Stephens decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Man, up you get!
Darren Stephens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Man shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Stephens manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Man sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Man thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darren Stephens showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Stephens has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darren Stephens!
During a confident post fight interview, Darren Stephens thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.