PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Burroughs (ranked 1720 p4p, 1954 weight class) and Olenev Stepanovich (ranked 223 p4p, 249 weight class). Stepanovich is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Swallowing Dust. This should be fireworks!

Burroughs
vs
Stepanovich

172 cm
22
169
4 - 2 - 0

186 cm
23
165
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jimmy Burroughs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Olenev Stepanovich!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stepanovich misses the jab.
Stepanovich connects with a body shot.
Burroughs wants to clinch up but Stepanovich keeps it at a distance.
Stepanovich misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Burroughs.
An attempted straight right counter from Burroughs misses the target.
Burroughs uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A slow jab from Stepanovich misses its intended target.
Burroughs on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Stepanovich moves out of range as Burroughs strikes.
Stepanovich throws out a counter right but Burroughs avoids it with no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stepanovich staying out of range there.
Nice uppercut there from Stepanovich.

Burroughs has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Burroughs takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Stepanovich misses with a punch to the body.
Burroughs throws a punch but it's blocked by Stepanovich.
Burroughs tries to work over Stepanovich's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Burroughs tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Stepanovich breaks the clinch.
Burroughs shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stepanovich sprawls well. Stepanovich wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Burroughs gets slowly back to his feet.
Burroughs misses with a left hand
and Stepanovich counters with a nice uppercut.
Burroughs swings widly with a right hand
and Stepanovich makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Burroughs loads up on a big right hand but Stepanovich slips the punch.
Stepanovich lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Burroughs shoots in looking for a takedown but Stepanovich manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Burroughs's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Burroughs looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Burroughs doesn't manage to clinch there - Stepanovich circles away.
A jab lands there for Burroughs.
Stepanovich cracks Burroughs with a good jab.
Burroughs moves out of range of the strikes.
Burroughs was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Burroughs is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stepanovich.
Olenev Stepanovich is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stepanovich scores with a nice strike.
Jimmy Burroughs seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Burroughs moves in looking to clinch but Stepanovich pushes him off.
Stepanovich fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Burroughs ducks right into an uppercut from Stepanovich.

Burroughs is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burroughs connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Burroughs throws a body punch but Stepanovich moves out of range.
Stepanovich takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Stepanovich has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Burroughs drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Stepanovich waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Burroughs.
Burroughs is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Oh Burroughs is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Burroughs throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stepanovich sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A little jabbing left from Stepanovich on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Stepanovich slips a jab from Burroughs.
Stepanovich's jab looks to have found its range, popping Burroughs under the eye.
Burroughs swings widly with a right hand
and Stepanovich counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Stepanovich misses with a right hand

and Burroughs moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Stepanovich pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Burroughs closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Stepanovich is pushing Burroughs's head away, looking to escape. Burroughs manages to hold on to the position though.
Burroughs seems to have got his legs back now.
Stepanovich wants to get back to his feet but Burroughs is dominant here and he's now got Stepanovich's back!

Stepanovich manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.
Nice jab there from Stepanovich.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Burroughs is defended easily by Stepanovich.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Burroughs. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Burroughs clinches with his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Olenev Stepanovich dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Burroughs shoots in for a takedown but Stepanovich shows good takedown defense.
A little jabbing left from Stepanovich on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Burroughs looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
It seemed like Stepanovich was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Burroughs shoots in but Stepanovich avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A little jabbing left from Stepanovich on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Burroughs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stepanovich scores with a jab. Burroughs acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Burroughs takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stepanovich cracks Burroughs with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Burroughs moves away from the strike by Stepanovich.
Stepanovich throws a hook to the side of Burroughs's head but Burroughs sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burroughs uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Stepanovich darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Burroughs fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Stepanovich to the ground. Burroughs is now in Stepanovich's guard.

Stepanovich is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Burroughs presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
A frustrated look appears on Stepanovich's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Burroughs has a couple of punches blocked by Stepanovich.
Burroughs prevents a body shot from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich lands with a short shot to the head.
Stepanovich is trying to force a seperation but Burroughs has the dominant position.
Burroughs working aggressively here.
Stepanovich is trying to force a seperation but Burroughs has the dominant position.
Burroughs displaying some good clinch control by pressing Stepanovich up against the cage.
Burroughs dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Stepanovich has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burroughs leaning his opponent against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burroughs lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Stepanovich.

Stepanovich manages to break the clinch.
Stepanovich scores with a jab. Burroughs acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Nice shot lands for Stepanovich.
Stepanovich avoids the body shot from Burroughs.
Stepanovich works Burroughs's body with a nice hook.
A punch combination from Stepanovich misses.
Burroughs is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Stepanovich.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Burroughs looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stepanovich avoids the body shot from Burroughs.
Burroughs uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stepanovich.
Stepanovich is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Stepanovich scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The fighters circling - Burroughs throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Burroughs lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Burroughs drives through with a takedown into guard.

Stepanovich pushes Burroughs off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Burroughs misses with a few strikes there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stepanovich lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich swings for the body but Burroughs moves out of range.
Burroughs takes a swing at Stepanovich's ribcage but misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Stepanovich! But no joy.
Burroughs takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Stepanovich connects with a crisp jab.
Jab by Stepanovich.
Burroughs drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Burroughs misses with a jab to the body
and Stepanovich counters with a nice body shot.
Stepanovich punishes Burroughs's body with a nice straight punch.
Stepanovich comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Burroughs clinches up with Stepanovich and pushes him back against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Olenev Stepanovich showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Burroughs will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stepanovich doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Stepanovich takes one on the button.
Stepanovich's corner calls for a 1-2. Stepanovich obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Stepanovich catches Burroughs with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Stepanovich throws a jab but it's blocked by Burroughs.
Burroughs has his takedown stuffed
and Stepanovich counters with a right hand to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burroughs throws an off balance right hand
enabling Stepanovich to counter with a crisp jab.
Burroughs shoots for a takedown but Stepanovich saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Burroughs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stepanovich connects with a combination that backs up Burroughs into the cage. Stepanovich lands a flurry of punches that gets past Burroughs's guard. Burroughs is down and the referee has seen enough. It is all over! Stepanovich bursts into tears - this win obviously means a huge amount to him.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Olenev Stepanovich!
A victorious Olenev Stepanovich thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.