PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Konstantin Stepanov (ranked 1288 p4p, 1630 weight class) and Arnaldur Hjoervarsson (ranked 151 p4p, 192 weight class). Hjoervarsson has chosen The Only as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Stepanov
vs
Hjoervarsson

195 cm
24
270
4 - 2 - 0

196 cm
29
280
10 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Fenrir Fightgear - Anno 2013

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Konstantin Stepanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Arnaldur Hjoervarsson!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stepanov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hjoervarsson throws a sloppy head kick and Stepanov moves out of range easily.
Stepanov throwing a counter right hand but Hjoervarsson manages to avoid it.
Stepanov lands a right hook to the body.
Hjoervarsson takes one to the chin there.

It looks like Arnaldur Hjoervarsson has been cut.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A jab from Stepanov misses.
Stepanov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hjoervarsson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stepanov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stepanov jabs Hjoervarsson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Nice uppercut lands for Stepanov. That snapped Hjoervarsson's head back.
Stepanov throws a series of punches but Hjoervarsson avoids them all with ease.
Donk. Hjoervarsson catches Stepanov right on the button with a cross.

It looks like Konstantin Stepanov has been cut.

Stepanov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stepanov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hjoervarsson's head.
Stepanov wants to control but Hjoervarsson is keeping him busy.
Stepanov has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Stepanov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stepanov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hjoervarsson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Stepanov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Stepanov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hjoervarsson is just riding it out for now. Stepanov eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stepanov is controlling the pace.
Hjoervarsson taking some punishment here, with Stepanov in his half guard.
Hjoervarsson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stepanov.
Stepanov missing with some ground and pound from the half 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.
Stepanov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Stepanov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Stepanov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stepanov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Stepanov slips a nice elbow through Hjoervarsson's hands, connecting with Hjoervarsson's forehead.
Stepanov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stepanov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Stepanov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Stepanov looks to land a strike but Hjoervarsson avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Stepanov throws a big right hand that misses.
Hjoervarsson being controlled here, momentarily.
Stepanov throwing strikes from guard but Hjoervarsson blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stepanov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hjoervarsson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stepanov postures up in Hjoervarsson's guard and throws a big left but Hjoervarsson blocks it.
Stepanov trying to control but Hjoervarsson is working from the bottom.
Stepanov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hjoervarsson 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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stepanov is stalling in the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stepanov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stepanov trying to control but Hjoervarsson is working from the bottom.
Stepanov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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.
Hjoervarsson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stepanov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stepanov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stepanov tries to free his leg and advance position but Hjoervarsson is retaining full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hjoervarsson tries to close the distance and clinch but Stepanov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stepanov throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hjoervarsson on the side of the head.

Stepanov scores with a takedown into Hjoervarsson's guard.
Stepanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Hjoervarsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stepanov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hjoervarsson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hjoervarsson keeping moving, preventing Stepanov from controlling successfully.
Stepanov throwing strikes from guard but Hjoervarsson blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Konstantin Stepanov dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Stepanov lands with a straight right. Hjoervarsson didn't see that one coming.
Hjoervarsson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Stepanov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hjoervarsson can do to turn this around?
Hjoervarsson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stepanov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stepanov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Stepanov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hjoervarsson!
Stepanov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Hjoervarsson regains half guard, as Stepanov was trying to land strikes.
Stepanov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hjoervarsson keeps working.
Stepanov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stepanov throws a strike but Hjoervarsson avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Stepanov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hjoervarsson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stepanov lands a couple of digs.
Hjoervarsson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Stepanov throws a big elbow that misses.
Hjoervarsson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stepanov.
Stepanov throws a big right hand that misses.
Stepanov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stepanov throws an elbow that misses. Hjoervarsson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Stepanov's guard. Nice move by Hjoervarsson!

Stepanov is trying to keep Hjoervarsson in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepanov wants to sweep but no luck.
Hjoervarsson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Stepanov's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Stepanov working a defensive guard here.
Stepanov controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Hjoervarsson catches Stepanov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Hjoervarsson and Stepanov are patiently standing in front of each other looking for an opening. Hjoervarsson throws a head kick. It's landed, knocking Stepanov into next week! Ooooh that was huge! Hjoervarsson knows it - he's on the cage flexing is biceps. That's a bit weird considering he won by kick but whatever.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Arnaldur Hjoervarsson!
Arnaldur Hjoervarsson really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that The Dirty Needle Project logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.