PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Olenev Stepanovich (ranked 841 p4p, 802 weight class) and Nils Hoglander (ranked 126 p4p, 120 weight class). Stepanovich comes to the cage accompanied by Swallowing Dust. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Stepanovich
vs
Hoglander

186 cm
26
165
11 - 3 - 0

180 cm
24
157
10 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Brooklyn Apothecary

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 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Olenev Stepanovich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nils Hoglander!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Percy O'Donnell and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stepanovich misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hoglander.
We've been hearing reports that Stepanovich has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
A nice combination there by Hoglander.
Stepanovich displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hoglander throws out the jab.
Stepanovich catches Hoglander with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Stepanovich tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hoglander was well out of range. Poor timing from Stepanovich.
Hoglander doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Stepanovich thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hoglander uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stepanovich.
Stepanovich swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hoglander throws a hook to the side of Stepanovich's head but Stepanovich sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Stepanovich connects with the punch.
Stepanovich rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hoglander counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stepanovich throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stepanovich swings for the body but Hoglander moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hoglander ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Stepanovich is looking to wear down Hoglander with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Hoglander throws the left hand but Stepanovich avoids the punch easily.
Stepanovich misses with a wild body shot.
Stepanovich thows a left - swing and a miss!

Stepanovich shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Stepanovich showed some decent athleticism there.

Hoglander kicks Stepanovich off and gets back to his feet.
Olenev Stepanovich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Stepanovich misses
and Hoglander counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hoglander throws a low kick but Stepanovich avoids it.
Hoglander slips a straight right by Stepanovich.
Hoglander swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Stepanovich misses with a looping left.
Stepanovich misses with a jab to the body
and Hoglander counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Stepanovich scores with a punch to the head.
Stepanovich throws a head kick that misses.
Stepanovich swings for the body but Hoglander moves out of range.
Stepanovich takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hoglander throws a hook but Stepanovich avoids it easily.
Stepanovich throws a looping overhand right but Hoglander ducks down to avoid it.
Stepanovich with a jab.
Hoglander takes one to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stepanovich throws a body punch but Hoglander moves out of range.
Stepanovich rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hoglander counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich throws a looping overhand right but Hoglander ducks down to avoid it.
Hoglander takes a jab right on the kisser.
Hoglander throws a leg kick which misses Stepanovich's front leg but catches the back leg as Stepanovich tries to avoid it.
Stepanovich misses with a wild body shot.
Stepanovich throws a jab but it's blocked by Hoglander.
Stepanovich darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Hoglander swings for the body but Stepanovich moves out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Stepanovich misses the target.
Stepanovich bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A big left from Stepanovich misses.
Stepanovich just misses with a punch to the body.
Stepanovich throws a shot from downtown. Hoglander moves away and avoids it.
Stepanovich throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hoglander sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Stepanovich throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hoglander cracks Stepanovich with a right hand to the side of the head.
Stepanovich lands a jab to the nose.
Stepanovich keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Nice defenses there by Hoglander.
Stepanovich misses with a wild body shot.
Stepanovich fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hoglander looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoglander moves forwards but Stepanovich connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A slow jab from Stepanovich misses its intended target.
Hoglander lands with a straight right. Stepanovich didn't see that one coming.
Stepanovich looks to land a right hand but Hoglander moved out of range.
Hoglander throws out a counter right but Stepanovich avoids it with no problem.
Hoglander has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hoglander there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hoglander misses with a straight right.
Hoglander takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Stepanovich throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hoglander jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Stepanovich lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Hoglander lunges at Stepanovich with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Stepanovich's hand.
Hoglander keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stepanovich scores with a jab. Hoglander acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Stepanovich misses the shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stepanovich fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Hoglander moves out of range as Stepanovich strikes.
Stepanovich misses with a body shot
and Stepanovich takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hoglander ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich connects with a body shot.
Hoglander works the jab nicely.
Hoglander lands with a shot to the body.
Stepanovich stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hoglander.
Stepanovich ducks right into an uppercut from Hoglander.
Stepanovich slips under a jab from Hoglander.
Hoglander lands with a cross.
Hoglander looks to throw the jab but Stepanovich is out of range.
Hoglander lands with an uppercut that bounces Stepanovich off the cage and back into range.
Hoglander misses with a hook.
Stepanovich is looking to counter punch.
Stepanovich lands with a nice body punch.
Nice jab there from Stepanovich.
A jab from Stepanovich does it's job there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hoglander fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Stepanovich on the side of the head.
Stepanovich looks to land a right hand but Hoglander moved out of range.
Hoglander connects with a body shot that sends Stepanovich's belly button to the back.
Hoglander looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hoglander moves out of range as Stepanovich strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Olenev Stepanovich will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A slow jab from Stepanovich misses its intended target.
Stepanovich looks to score with a jab to the body but Hoglander is just out of range.
Hoglander avoids the body shot from Stepanovich.
Hoglander uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hoglander.
Hoglander fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stepanovich manages to avoid it.
Stepanovich throws an off balance right hand
and Hoglander counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hoglander jabs Stepanovich to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A jab from Stepanovich finds it's way through Hoglander's defenses.
Hoglander misses with a hook. Stepanovich ducked under it nicely.
Hoglander scores with a hook to the body. Stepanovich takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Stepanovich swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A slow jab from Hoglander misses its intended target.
Olenev Stepanovich is winning the standup battle so far.
Stepanovich is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hoglander.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stepanovich uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hoglander.
Stepanovich moves away from the strike by Hoglander.
Stepanovich swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Hoglander counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stepanovich tests Hoglander's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Stepanovich misses.
Hoglander takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Hoglander looks to throw the jab but Stepanovich is out of range.
Hoglander takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Stepanovich misses with an uppercut
and Hoglander connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hoglander swings widly with a right hand
and Stepanovich counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hoglander pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hoglander keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stepanovich.
Hoglander fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stepanovich manages to avoid it.
Stepanovich dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Stepanovich waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hoglander.
Stepanovich just misses with a punch to the body.
Hoglander swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Hoglander swinging wildly here.
Hoglander on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Stepanovich throws out a loose jab but Hoglander uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hoglander moves away from the strike by Stepanovich.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Stepanovich lands a body shot.
Hoglander misses with an uppercut.
Hoglander misses with a hook.
Hoglander stuffs the takedown attempt from Stepanovich. Stepanovich gets slowly back to his feet.
Stepanovich dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hoglander has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Nice sprawl there from Hoglander as Stepanovich shoots in.
Stepanovich rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Stepanovich takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hoglander scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Stepanovich throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hoglander staying out of range there.
A swing and a miss from Stepanovich.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hoglander. Stepanovich does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stepanovich misses with a body punch
and Hoglander counters with a straight right hand.
Hoglander is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Stepanovich shoots in and bounces Hoglander off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Hoglander wriggles free and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hoglander misses with a hook.
Stepanovich throws a looping overhand right but Hoglander ducks down to avoid it.
Hoglander clobbers Stepanovich with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Stepanovich just misses with a punch to the body.
A little jabbing left from Hoglander on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Hoglander misses with a hook to the body
and Stepanovich counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hoglander lands a jab-cross combination.
Stepanovich just misses with a punch to the body.
Hoglander is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Stepanovich throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nils Hoglander is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stepanovich throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Some bone on bone action there as Stepanovich checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hoglander misses with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stepanovich looks to score with a jab to the body but Hoglander is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich swings and misses with a hook to the body.
It seemed like Hoglander was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Stepanovich darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Stepanovich throws a lazy uppercut
and Hoglander cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stepanovich just misses with a punch to the body.
Hoglander looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hoglander missing with a left hand there. Stepanovich was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stepanovich swings for the body but Hoglander moves out of range.
Stepanovich throws a body shot but no joy.
Hoglander throws a big shot that misses.
Stepanovich appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Hoglander throws a jab when Stepanovich was well out of range.
Stepanovich swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hoglander throws an overhand right that lands on Stepanovich's shoulder, as Stepanovich tries to avoid the shot.
Nice body punch from Stepanovich.
Hoglander misses with a head kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stepanovich slips under a jab.
Hoglander misses with a looping right.
Stepanovich throwing a counter right hand but Hoglander manages to avoid it.
Stepanovich throws a head kick that half lands.
Stepanovich throws an off balance right hand
and Stepanovich takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nils Hoglander showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Stepanovich misses with a straight right.
Hoglander misses with a hook. Stepanovich ducked under it nicely.
Stepanovich lands with a good body shot.
Hoglander uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stepanovich.
Hoglander lands with a shot to the body.
Hoglander avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hoglander connects with a right hand. Stepanovich shakes it off.
Stepanovich misses with a jab to the body
and Stepanovich takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hoglander throws a lazy right hand but Stepanovich sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Stepanovich changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Stepanovich swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Hoglander.
Stepanovich throws a lazy right hand but Hoglander sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hoglander looks to throw the jab but Stepanovich is out of range.
A swing and a miss from Hoglander.
The fighters circling - Stepanovich throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Stepanovich scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hoglander doesn't seem bothered though.
Stepanovich ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hoglander moves away.
Stepanovich lands a jab to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stepanovich moves out of range as Hoglander strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoglander misses with a straight right.
Stepanovich throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stepanovich works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hoglander keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stepanovich throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hoglander takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hoglander pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A big right from Hoglander misses.
Stepanovich closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Stepanovich defending well as Hoglander loads up on a big left hand.
Hoglander misses with a looping right.
Stepanovich misses with a right hand
and Hoglander counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Stepanovich tests Hoglander's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A jab from Hoglander misses.
Stepanovich swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Hoglander counters with a nice leg kick.
Stepanovich keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stepanovich throws a body shot but no joy.
Hoglander tries a quick counter leg kick but Stepanovich is wise to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice shot by Stepanovich.
Stepanovich slips a straight right by Hoglander.
Stepanovich throws a head kick that misses.
Hoglander throws a lazy right hand but Stepanovich sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Stepanovich lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hoglander is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hoglander avoids the body shot from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich throws a sloppy body shot
and Hoglander counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Stepanovich dives in and scores a takedown into Hoglander's guard.
Hoglander can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Stepanovich controls the pace.
Stepanovich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hoglander swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hoglander can't keep his opponent in guard - Stepanovich advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hoglander is staying active underneath Stepanovich, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoglander blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich trying to pass the guard but Hoglander defending well.
Stepanovich is looking to pass Hoglander's guard but actually Hoglander recovers to full guard.
Stepanovich trying to control the position from guard on top but Hoglander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nils Hoglander has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hoglander trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Stepanovich throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stepanovich trying to control the position from guard on top but Hoglander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hoglander wants to sweep here but Stepanovich controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Stepanovich trying to control but Hoglander is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stepanovich tries to free his leg and advance position but Hoglander is retaining full guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Stepanovich advances to half guard.
Stepanovich takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Stepanovich trying to control from half guard but Hoglander is working away.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Stepanovich throws a big shot that misses.
Hoglander misses with a body shot.
Stepanovich slips a straight right by Hoglander.
Stepanovich avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hoglander drops his hands momentarily and Stepanovich takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Olenev Stepanovich.
I think Stepanovich has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:30

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