PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aramis Knox (ranked 2102 p4p, 2701 weight class) and Teófilo Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 226 weight class). Stevenson has chosen TEÓFILO STEVENSON - NOCKOUTS as his entrance music. Aramis Knox has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Knox
vs
Stevenson

181 cm
36
158
27 - 17 - 0

181 cm
23
156
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aramis Knox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Teófilo Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Paul Aken and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevenson wants to clinch
and Knox counters with a right hand to the body.
Stevenson tries to clinch up but Knox circles away and keeps his distance.
A punch combination from Knox misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Stevenson! But no joy.
Stevenson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Knox manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Stevenson closes the distance and clinches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stevenson.

Knox breaks from the clinch.
Stevenson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stevenson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Knox tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Stevenson has closed the distance and engaged Knox in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevenson misses with a punch on the inside.
Knox tries to work over Stevenson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Stevenson scores with a shot to the side of Knox's head.

Knox breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stevenson tries to clinch up.
Knox throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Stevenson tries to clinch but Knox moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Knox swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Knox paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Knox is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Stevenson.
Knox misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stevenson tries to clinch there but Knox circles away.
Knox quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Knox swats away the attempt to clinch by Stevenson.
Stevenson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stevenson closes the distance but Knox moves to the side
and Knox counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stevenson moves to clinch but Knox breaks away
and Knox counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stevenson is looking to clinch.
Stevenson is looking to clinch but Knox is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stevenson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Knox digs a good hook to Stevenson's body.
Stevenson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson moves to clinch but Knox breaks away
and Knox counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stevenson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stevenson tries to clinch but Knox moves away
and Knox counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Knox keeps the fight on the outside.
Knox tries to bum rush Stevenson with a series of wild strikes but Stevenson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Stevenson instigates a clinch.
Knox blocks an uppercut.
Stevenson working aggressively here.
Stevenson has a couple of punches blocked by Knox.
Knox is working Stevenson over against the cage.
Stevenson working aggressively here.

Knox pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stevenson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Knox manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stevenson fails with an attempt to clinch.
As Stevenson looks to move away, Knox throws a big counter combo but Stevenson just gets out of the way.
Knox throws a series of punches but Stevenson moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stevenson tries to clinch up.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch but Knox swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Danga de danga de dang - Knox scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Teófilo Stevenson has been cut.

Stevenson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stevenson swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Knox breaks from the clinch.
Knox tries to land a leg kick but Stevenson saw it coming and moves away.

Stevenson clinches.

Knox breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Left hook, right uppercut from Knox.
Stevenson tries to clinch
and Stevenson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Stevenson is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Stevenson moves into the clinch.
Stevenson is still on wobbly legs! Can Knox finish him?
Stevenson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Stevenson seems to have recovered his senses.

Knox manages to break the clinch.
Stevenson tries to clinch there but Knox circles away.
Stevenson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Teófilo Stevenson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Stevenson moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Knox's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Knox breaks from the clinch.
Stevenson tries to clinch up but Knox circles away and keeps his distance.
Knox looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Stevenson doesn't manage to clinch there - Knox circles away.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Knox swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Stevenson forces Knox back against the cage and clinches.
Stevenson misses with a punch on the inside.
Stevenson throws a head punch that misses.
Knox tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Knox manages to break the clinch.
Stevenson blocks a leg kick.
Knox tries to bum rush Stevenson with a series of wild strikes but Stevenson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stevenson doesn't manage to clinch there - Knox circles away.

Stevenson pushes Knox up against the cage in a clinch.

Knox breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stevenson tries to clinch but Knox moves out of range.
Stevenson is looking to clinch.

Stevenson has managed to clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aramis Knox dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Teófilo Stevenson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Stevenson tries to clinch but Knox moves out of range.
Stevenson wants to clinch.
Aramis Knox is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Stevenson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Stevenson has a couple of punches blocked by Knox.
Stevenson misses with a short punch on the inside.

Knox's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stevenson tries to clinch
and Knox connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Stevenson forces Knox back against the cage and clinches.
Knox blocking some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knox gets through Stevenson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Knox escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stevenson is looking to clinch.
A nice combination there by Knox.
Knox moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stevenson wants to clinch but Knox slips to the side
and Knox counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stevenson moves into range and clinches up with Knox.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stevenson.
Teófilo Stevenson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Knox breaks the clinch.
Knox pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stevenson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Knox.
Knox moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Knox tries a head kick but it misses.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Knox paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Knox throws a head kick that misses.
Stevenson tries to clinch up but Knox circles away and keeps his distance.
Knox connects with the punch.
Knox keeps the fight on the outside.

Stevenson moves into the clinch.

Knox escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stevenson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stevenson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Knox manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Knox throwing a counter right hand but Stevenson manages to avoid it.
Stevenson wants to clinch up but Knox keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox circles away from the clinch attempt
and Knox counters with a nice body shot.
Stevenson doesn't manage to clinch there - Knox circles away.
Knox tries to land a front kick but Stevenson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Stevenson doesn't manage to clinch there - Knox circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Knox on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Knox throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Stevenson gets a clinch.
Stevenson misses with some punches.
Knox scores with a hook to the body.
Stevenson misses with a short punch on the inside.

Knox pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Knox swats away the attempt to clinch by Stevenson.
Knox stuns Stevenson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Knox misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Aramis Knox is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stevenson moves in looking to clinch but Knox pushes him off.
Knox was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Stevenson tries to clinch
and Knox counters with a nice uppercut.
Stevenson tries to clinch but Knox moves away
and Knox counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stevenson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Stevenson wants to clinch
and Knox counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Knox fails to land with a series of punches.
Stevenson doesn't manage to clinch there - Knox circles away.
Stevenson tries to clinch up
and Knox counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stevenson tries to clinch up
letting Knox counter with a right hand.
Stevenson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stevenson closes the distance but Knox moves to the side
and Knox counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson blocks a head kick by Knox.

Stevenson clinches up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Knox breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Knox misses with a jab, cross combination.

Stevenson takes the fight into the clinch.
Stevenson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Stevenson misses with a hook from the clinch.

Knox breaks from the clinch.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Knox paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stevenson moves in looking to clinch but Knox pushes him off.

Stevenson moves into the clinch.
Stevenson prevents Knox from breaking the clinch.
Stevenson misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stevenson.
Stevenson throws a punch but it's blocked by Knox.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stevenson.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aramis Knox dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Teófilo Stevenson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Stevenson doesn't manage to clinch there - Knox circles away.
Stevenson tries to clinch up but Knox circles away and keeps his distance.
Knox appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

Stevenson has Knox up against the cage in a clinch.
Knox blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Knox is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stevenson is defending well for now.
Stevenson throws a punch but it's blocked by Knox.
Stevenson throws a head punch that misses.

Knox pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Knox.
Stevenson tries to clinch but Knox moves out of range.
Knox keeps the fight on the outside.
Knox tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Stevenson manages to circle out of the way.
Stevenson doesn't manage to clinch there - Knox circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevenson doesn't manage to clinch there - Knox circles away.
Stevenson just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromKnox.
Stevenson is looking to clinch.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch but Knox swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stevenson wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Knox paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Knox throws a sloppy head kick and Stevenson moves out of range easily.
Stevenson doesn't manage to clinch there - Knox circles away.
Knox swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Knox feints a jab promting Stevenson to slip. Knox then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Stevenson slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch but Knox swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Knox fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Stevenson tries to clinch up
and Knox counters with a nice uppercut.
Stevenson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Stevenson moves out of range as Knox throws a body kick.
Stevenson moves to clinch but Knox breaks away
and Knox connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Stevenson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Knox counters with a stiff right hand.
Stevenson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson fails in his attempt to clinch.

Stevenson darts in and clinches Knox up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Knox manages to break the clinch.
Stevenson looks to clinch
and Knox counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Stevenson has managed to clinch.
Knox is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stevenson can do to turn this around?

Knox manages to break the clinch.
Stevenson wants to clinch but Knox slips to the side
and Knox counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Knox fails to land with a series of punches.
Stevenson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Stevenson wants to clinch but Knox slips to the side
and Knox counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Knox lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stevenson circles away quickly and effectively.
Knox 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.
Stevenson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stevenson is looking to clinch but Knox is avoiding it.
Knox appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Stevenson tries to clinch but Knox moves out of range.

Stevenson closes the distance and pushes Knox back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Stevenson misses with a hook from the clinch.

Knox's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Knox moves into range and connects with a jab.

Stevenson darts in and clinches Knox up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stevenson.
Knox presses Stevenson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Knox's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stevenson is looking to clinch.
Stevenson is looking to clinch.
Knox went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Stevenson is looking to clinch but Knox is avoiding it.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Knox paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Knox keeps the fight on the outside.
Stevenson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stevenson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Knox manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stevenson darts in trying to clinch
and Knox counters with a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Knox manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Stevenson rushes Knox and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Knox throws an elbow that misses.
Stevenson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Knox lands a shoulder strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Knox breaks the clinch.
Stevenson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Teófilo Stevenson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fight stays on the outside here - Stevenson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Knox throws a quick counter kick to the body but Stevenson avoids it.
Stevenson throws a hook but Knox avoids it easily.
Knox thuds his right hand into Stevenson's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Stevenson looks to clinch
and Knox counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Nice uppercut lands for Stevenson. That snapped Knox's head back.

It looks like Aramis Knox has been cut.
Knox walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Stevenson checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aramis Knox showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Knox, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aramis Knox!
A relieved looking Aramis Knox thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.