PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Olenev Stepanovich (ranked 595 p4p, 967 weight class) and Sebastion Lynar (ranked 88 p4p, 143 weight class). Stepanovich comes to the cage accompanied by Swallowing Dust. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Stepanovich
vs
Lynar

186 cm
26
165
12 - 3 - 0

167 cm
28
157
15 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel

Brooklyn Apothecary
Urban Fighter

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 12 - 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 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sebastion Lynar!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lynar throws a combination that misses
and Stepanovich counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lynar throws a hook to the side of Stepanovich's head but Stepanovich sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A little feinted left hand from Stepanovich on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Lynar swings for the body but Stepanovich moves out of range.
It looked like Stepanovich was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Lynar.
Lynar displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stepanovich throws out the jab.
Stepanovich digs a good hook to Lynar's body.
Stepanovich throws a head kick but Lynar moves out of range.
Stepanovich connects with a looping right hand.

Lynar has closed the distance and engaged Stepanovich in a clinch.
Stepanovich tries to throw a body punch but Lynar avoids it by throwing Stepanovich back against the cage.
Stepanovich is looking to break free of the clinch but Lynar has double underhooks.
Lynar lands with a short shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A frustrated look appears on Stepanovich's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Stepanovich's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stepanovich slips under a jab from Lynar.
Stepanovich waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lynar.
Lynar throws out a counter right but Stepanovich avoids it with no problem.
The fighters circling - Stepanovich throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sebastion Lynar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lynar throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stepanovich keeps the fight on the outside.
Lynar takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Lynar 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.
Stepanovich punishes Lynar's body with a nice straight punch.

Lynar closes the distance and clinches.

Stepanovich escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lynar misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Stepanovich counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Stepanovich throws a head kick that misses.
Stepanovich throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A punch combination from Lynar misses.
Stepanovich throws a body shot but no joy.
Lynar throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lynar lands a right hook to the body.
Lynar throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lynar. Stepanovich does a little dance to reset his feet.
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.
Stepanovich lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lynar jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lynar is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Stepanovich rather than just go for the knockout.
Stepanovich connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A head kick from Stepanovich lands but Lynar takes it in his stride.
Lynar misses with a body shot.
Stepanovich connects with a crisp jab.
Stepanovich misses with a straight right.
Lynar lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Stepanovich fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Stepanovich.
Lynar drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Stepanovich throws a quick inside leg kick.
A shot to the liver by Stepanovich. Beautiful body shot.
Stepanovich scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Stepanovich scores with a nice strike.
Lynar just misses with a punch to the body.
Stepanovich uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lynar.
An attempted straight right counter from Stepanovich misses the target.
Lynar is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich wants to slow Lynar down by chopping away at his legs.
Stepanovich bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Lynar's head.
A head kick misses from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich misses with a body shot.
Lynar throws a body punch but Stepanovich moves out of range.

Lynar clinches up with Stepanovich and pushes him back against the cage.
Lynar lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Stepanovich misses with a hook to the ribs.
Stepanovich doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Stepanovich misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Stepanovich is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Stepanovich is trying to push Lynar away but Lynar has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Stepanovich tries a body shot but Lynar blocks it.
Stepanovich goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Stepanovich wants to break free but Lynar has control.
Stepanovich fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lynar keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stepanovich's efforts to push away.

Lynar successfully pulls guard.

Lynar is looking for a triangle but Stepanovich pushes his legs off easily.
Stepanovich is looking to stand up but Lynar won't let him.

Stepanovich avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lynar has a closed guard, preventing Stepanovich from standing up.

Lynar looking for a guillotine here but Stepanovich defends easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Olenev Stepanovich dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Stepanovich throws a leg kick but Lynar moved away.
Lynar is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stepanovich.
Stepanovich throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A left and a right from Lynar both land. Nice combination.
Stepanovich swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stepanovich tries a head kick but it misses.
Lynar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stepanovich moves away.
Stepanovich throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stepanovich throws a sloppy head kick and Lynar moves out of range easily.
Lynar throws a shot to the body.
Stepanovich drops his hands momentarily and Lynar takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stepanovich takes one on the button.
Lynar wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Olenev Stepanovich is winning the standup battle so far.
Lynar looks to throw the jab but Stepanovich is out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stepanovich ducks under a wild hook from Lynar.
Stepanovich is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Stepanovich misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lynar takes a swing at Stepanovich's ribcage but misses.
Lynar steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich moves out of range as Lynar strikes.
Lynar swings away with a body shot that misses
and Lynar takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lynar works the jab nicely.
Lynar moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Lynar throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Stepanovich fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lynar manages to avoid it.
Lynar throws a combination that misses
and Stepanovich cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lynar on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Lynar tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stepanovich fires out a quick counter leg kick but Lynar just manages to avoid it.
Lynar throws a good cross that connects.
Lynar checks a leg kick nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lynar misses with a hook.
Stepanovich throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Lynar counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Stepanovich needs to keep his hands up - Lynar had a free shot at his head there.
Stepanovich is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Lynar closes the distance and pushes Stepanovich back into the cage.
Stepanovich tries to circle away but Lynar has him pinned against the cage.
Lynar working aggressively here.
Lynar keeps control of Stepanovich as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nice body punch from Stepanovich - that landed with a thud.
Stepanovich has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lynar working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Lynar pulls Stepanovich into guard.
Lynar has a closed guard, preventing Stepanovich from standing up.
Stepanovich won't allow Lynar to sweep him here.
Lynar lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Stepanovich is looking to stand up but Lynar isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich being controlled here, momentarily.
Lynar stops Stepanovich from standing up.
Lynar trying to control the position from guard on top but Stepanovich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lynar drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lynar jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Lynar stops Stepanovich from standing up.

Stepanovich has his feet on Lynar's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Lynar throws the left hand but Stepanovich avoids the punch easily.
Lynar misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stepanovich was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Lynar misses with a looping left.
Lynar thuds a left hand into Stepanovich's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lynar throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lynar ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lynar loads up on a big right hand but Stepanovich slips the punch.
Stepanovich fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lynar manages to avoid it.
Lynar avoids the head kick by Stepanovich.
Lynar will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stepanovich swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lynar throws out a counter right but Stepanovich avoids it with no problem.
Lynar uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stepanovich.
Nice uppercut lands for Lynar. That snapped Stepanovich's head back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lynar misses with a left hand
and Stepanovich counters with a nice uppercut.
No joy there for Lynar, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lynar looks to clinch
letting Stepanovich counter with a right hand.
Lynar ducks right into an uppercut from Stepanovich.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sebastion Lynar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Stepanovich swings for the body but Lynar moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lynar. Stepanovich does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stepanovich swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stepanovich slips under a jab.
A jab from Lynar misses.
Stepanovich misses with an uppercut.
Lynar throws a shot from downtown. Stepanovich moves away and avoids it.
Lynar throws a body shot but no joy.
Lynar fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
It looked like Stepanovich wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Stepanovich takes a jab right on the kisser.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stepanovich digs a good body shot into Lynar's ribs.
Stepanovich takes one to the chin there.
Stepanovich swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A slow jab from Stepanovich misses its intended target.
Lynar fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Lynar 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Lynar throws a predictable looking body shot
and Stepanovich counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stepanovich connects with a body shot.
Lynar throws a poor cross that misses
and Stepanovich counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Lynar misses with a hook to the body
and Lynar takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A nice leg kick lands there from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Lynar takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Stepanovich moves out of range as Lynar strikes.
Lynar slips under a jab.
Stepanovich swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Lynar counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Stepanovich thinking.
Lynar throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stepanovich swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Lynar looks to land a right hand but Stepanovich moved out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lynar lands with a straight right. Stepanovich didn't see that one coming.
Lynar has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lynar avoids the head kick by Stepanovich.
Lynar misses with a straight left.
Stepanovich throwing a counter right hand but Lynar manages to avoid it.
Lynar just misses with a punch to the body.
Lynar throws a shot from downtown. Stepanovich moves away and avoids it.
Lynar throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lynar misses with a hook to the body
and Stepanovich counters with a stiff right hand.
Lynar looks to land a left hand but Stepanovich moved out of range nicely.
Lynar misses with an uppercut
and Stepanovich counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lynar looks to land a right hand but Stepanovich moved out of range.
Lynar throws the left hand but Stepanovich avoids the punch easily.
Stepanovich throws a body punch but Lynar moves out of range.
Stepanovich scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Lynar doesn't seem bothered though.
Stepanovich bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lynar just misses with a punch to the body.
Stepanovich throwing a counter right hand but Lynar manages to avoid it.
Nice jab there from Lynar.
Stepanovich dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lynar misses with a series of wild punches.
Lynar loads up on a big right hand but Stepanovich slips the punch.
Lynar misses with a shot to the body
and Stepanovich connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lynar misses with a wild body shot.
Stepanovich looks to score with a jab to the body but Lynar is just out of range.
Stepanovich keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A head kick misses from Stepanovich.
Lynar tries to clinch there but Stepanovich circles away.
Lynar throws a left and a right that both miss
and Stepanovich makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Lynar throws a predictable looking body shot
and Stepanovich connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich swings away with a body shot that misses

and Lynar moves into the clinch.
Stepanovich tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lynar's elbow.
Stepanovich has had enough of the clinch but Lynar keeps him there for the moment.
Lynar wants a takedown but no success here.
Stepanovich tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lynar's elbow.
Stepanovich has had enough of the clinch but Lynar keeps him there for the moment.

Lynar pulls guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stepanovich is fighting to break Lynar's control of his arms but Lynar is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Lynar trying to keep a closed guard but Stepanovich is proving a slippery customer.

Stepanovich decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Lynar has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Stepanovich.
Lynar uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stepanovich.

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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous 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.