PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kirk Lazarus (ranked 3195 p4p, 2679 weight class) and Stoner Steve (ranked 413 p4p, 336 weight class). Stoner Steve has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lazarus
vs
Steve

190 cm
21
220
3 - 4 - 0

194 cm
23
215
5 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kirk Lazarus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stoner Steve!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, George Francis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lazarus misses with a hook to the body
and Steve counters with a nice uppercut.
Lazarus moves away from the strike by Steve.
Lazarus throws a front kick aimed at Steve's knee but Steve avoids it well.

Lazarus gets the takedown into side control.
Lazarus wants to control but Steve is keeping him busy.
Lazarus working away.
Lazarus working the head with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lazarus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Steve keeps working.
Steve tries to improve position but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lazarus tries to advance to mount but can't.

Lazarus thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lazarus sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Steve is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Steve avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Lazarus.
Lazarus is looking to take a break and control but Steve is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lazarus working the strikes but Steve uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Lazarus thows a huge punch but Steve dodges it nicely.
Lazarus throwing shots but Steve is blocking nicely.
Lazarus not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lazarus not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lazarus.

Steve makes his way to full guard, as Lazarus worked for a kimura.
Lazarus not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Steve utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lazarus pushes down on Steve's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Steve trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lazarus controlling the pace.

Lazarus is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Steve has managed to free his arm - good work.
Steve is trying to control but can't.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Lazarus sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Steve defending well though.
Lazarus missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Lazarus is working for a kimura but Steve is defending it quite comfortably.
Steve is not content to let Lazarus control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Lazarus trying to control from Steve's half guard. Steve has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Steve keeping moving, preventing Lazarus from controlling successfully.
Lazarus postures up in Steve's guard and throws a big left but Steve blocks it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Lazarus shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Steve is trying to defend but Lazarus finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Lazarus slows the pace down in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Steve trying to hold on to Lazarus's head to control him but Lazarus postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kirk Lazarus dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Steve scores with a jab to the body.
Lazarus is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Steve can do to turn this around?
Steve comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Steve scores with a hook to the body. Lazarus takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Steve connects with a right hand. Lazarus shakes it off.
Lazarus shoots for a double leg takedown but Steve sprawls well. He's pushed Lazarus's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lazarus attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Steve fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lazarus has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Lazarus there as he acknowledges the shot.
Steve misses with a body shot.
Lazarus ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Steve moves away.
Lazarus looks to land a right hand but Steve moved out of range.
Lazarus throws a body punch but Steve moves out of range.
A big right from Steve misses.
Lazarus shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Steve defends it nicely.
Steve connects with a single shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve avoids the body shot from Lazarus.
Steve swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Steve dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lazarus tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Steve swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kirk Lazarus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lazarus on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Jab by Lazarus.
Steve on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Lazarus throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lazarus drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Lazarus closes this distance looking for a takedown but Steve circles away.
Lazarus takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Steve avoids the body shot from Lazarus.
Steve uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lazarus.
Steve is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Lazarus with a body shot.
Steve misses with an uppercut.
Lazarus looks to land a right hand but Steve moved out of range.
Lazarus lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lazarus walks into a stiff left hand from Steve.
Lazarus is looking to wear down Steve with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Steve feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Lazaruss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Lazarus looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Steve is looking for a sweep. Lazarus is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lazarus throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lazarus lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Lazarus looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Steve with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Steve is refusing to be controlled, as Lazarus sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lazarus thows a huge punch but Steve dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lazarus working over Steve with some ground and pound. Steve looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Lazarus takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Steve avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lazarus.
Lazarus tries to pass the half guard into mount. Steve knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Steve blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lazarus.
Ground and pound from Lazarus.
Steve preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lazarus not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lazarus lands with a punch from half guard.
Lazarus scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Lazarus sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Lazarus is stalling here. Steve is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Lazarus seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Steve has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Lazarus is not content to let Steve control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Stoner Steve will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Steve waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lazarus.
Steve throws the left hand but Lazarus avoids the punch easily.
Lazarus misses with a body shot.
Kirk Lazarus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lazarus shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Steve sprawls well. Steve wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lazarus gets slowly back to his feet.
Lazarus goes for a double leg but Steve avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Steve continues to drive forward.
Steve lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Lazarus can't find room to land a body shot as Steve controls the action.
Steve goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lazarus misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lazarus can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kirk Lazarus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steve stops a takedown attempt from Lazarus.
Steve lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lazarus backwards.
Lazarus has a couple of punches blocked by Steve.
Steve makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Steve breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lazarus swings for the body but Steve moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve misses with a body shot.
Steve scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Steve misses with a wild body shot.
Steve lands a jab to Lazarus's midsection.
Lazarus tries to score a power double leg takedown but Steve sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lazarus somewhat.
Steve stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Steve forces Lazarus back against the cage and clinches.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lazarus creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lazarus drops down looking for an ankle pick but Steve pulls his leg out and moves away.
Steve scores with a hook to the body. Lazarus takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve scores with the left hand. Lazarus knows he should have avoided that one.
An inside leg kick from Lazarus misses.
Lazarus looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lazarus fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Steve manages to avoid it.
Stoner Steve seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lazarus's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Steve connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Lazarus scrambles back to his feet.
Lazarus ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Steve moves away.
It seemed like Steve was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Lazarus misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Steve.
Lazarus just misses with a punch to the body.
Lazarus throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Steve stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Steve avoids the body shot from Lazarus.
Steve misses with a wild body shot.
Lazarus tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Steve defends well and Lazarus ends up having to push Steve into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Steve lands an uppercut.
Lazarus tries for a takedown but Steve manages to get underhooks.
Steve works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Steve has a couple of punches blocked by Lazarus.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lazarus blocks a body shot from Steve.
Steve lands an uppercut.

Lazarus is rocked!
Lazarus blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Steve lands with a right to the head.
Oh Lazarus is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Lazarus blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Steve lands a shot to the body.
Steve misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lazarus blocks an uppercut.
Lazarus wants to take the fight to the mat but Steve manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Steve working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lazarus.
Steve misses with the head strike.
Lazarus blocks an uppercut.
Lazarus blocking some punches.
Steve misses with the head strike.
Lazarus blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lazarus blocks an uppercut.
Steve swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lazarus seems to have got his legs back now.
Lazarus prevents a body shot from Steve.
Lazarus takes a shot to the head.
Steve creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Lazarus's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Lazarus drops to his knees and Steve pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Stoner Steve!
An out of breath Stoner Steve thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.