PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jacques Turcotte (ranked 361 p4p, 487 weight class) and Olenev Stepanovich (ranked 52 p4p, 70 weight class). Stepanovich is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Swallowing Dust. This should be fireworks!

Turcotte
vs
Stepanovich

180 cm
30
160
26 - 14 - 0

186 cm
31
165
23 - 10 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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Sakura Style

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 26 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jacques Turcotte!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Olenev Stepanovich!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, William Peck and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stepanovich slips under a jab from Turcotte.
Turcotte looks to land a combination but Stepanovich avoids it well.
A jab from Stepanovich does it's job there.
Turcotte connects with a body shot that sends Stepanovich's belly button to the back.
Turcotte ducks under a wild hook from Stepanovich.
Turcotte misses with a wild body shot.
A big right from Stepanovich misses.
Stepanovich swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Turcotte throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stepanovich slips under a jab.
Stepanovich slips under a jab.
Turcotte on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Stepanovich throws a hook but Turcotte avoids it easily.
Stepanovich throws a jab but it's blocked by Turcotte.
A quick step to the side and Turcotte tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stepanovich missing with a left hand there. Turcotte was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stepanovich lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
The fighters circling - Stepanovich throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Turcotte throwing a counter right hand but Stepanovich manages to avoid it.
A telegraphed right hand from Stepanovich misses the target.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stepanovich misses with a looping right.
Turcotte connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stepanovich scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Stepanovich looks to land a left hand but Turcotte moved out of range nicely.
Stepanovich misses with a hook. Turcotte ducked under it nicely.
Turcotte looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Turcotte misses with an uppercut.
Stepanovich lands a really nice looking cross but Turcotte seems unphased.
Nice jab there from Stepanovich.
The fighters circling - Stepanovich throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Turcotte throws the left hand but Stepanovich avoids the punch easily.
Turcotte misses with the combination.
Stepanovich doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Turcotte moves out of range of the strikes.
Turcotte misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stepanovich misses with a hook. Turcotte ducked under it nicely.
Jacques Turcotte is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stepanovich takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Stepanovich misses with an uppercut. Turcotte saw that one coming.
Turcotte moves out of range of the strikes.
Turcotte throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stepanovich sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Stepanovich throws a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Turcotte misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turcotte moves out of range of the strikes.
Turcotte ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stepanovich moves away.
Stepanovich misses with an uppercut.
Turcotte throws a looping overhand right but Stepanovich ducks down to avoid it.
Stepanovich uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Turcotte.
A big right from Stepanovich misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Stepanovich misses the target.
It looked like Turcotte wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A jab from Turcotte does it's job there.
Stepanovich throws a sloppy head kick and Turcotte moves out of range easily.
Nice jab there from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich stuns Turcotte with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Stepanovich ducks under a wild hook from Turcotte.
Turcotte misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stepanovich.
Turcotte on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Turcotte throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Stepanovich stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Olenev Stepanovich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stepanovich moves out of range of the strikes.
Stepanovich might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Stepanovich displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Turcotte throws out the jab.
Turcotte throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turcotte ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stepanovich moves away.
Stepanovich throws a big counter head kick but Turcotte avoids it with no problem.
Stepanovich throws a sloppy head kick and Turcotte moves out of range easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Turcotte misses the target.
A telegraphed right hand from Turcotte misses the target.
Turcotte with a jab.
Stepanovich dodges the punch combination from Turcotte.
Stepanovich jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Turcotte misses with a looping left.
Stepanovich throws a jab when Turcotte was well out of range.
Turcotte ducks under a wild hook from Stepanovich.
Turcotte scores with a shot to the body.
Turcotte slips under a jab.
Stepanovich ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Turcotte moves away.
Stepanovich gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Turcotte looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stepanovich connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Turcotte momentarily.
Stepanovich is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Turcotte had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich scores with a jab to the jaw.
Turcotte shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Turcotte's corner calls for a 1-2. Turcotte obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Turcotte misses with a looping right.
Stepanovich works the jab nicely.
Stepanovich misses the shot to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Turcotte on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Stepanovich looks to land a right hand but Turcotte moved out of range.
Turcotte lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Turcotte throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stepanovich sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Stepanovich moves out of range as Turcotte strikes.
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 lands a glancing blow to the side of Turcotte's head.
Stepanovich has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Stepanovich there as he acknowledges the shot.
Stepanovich misses with a wild body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stepanovich throws a looping overhand right but Turcotte ducks down to avoid it.
Stepanovich staying out of range there.
Turcotte misses the jab.
A swing and a miss from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich throws a hook but Turcotte blocks it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Olenev Stepanovich will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Turcotte misses the shot to the body.
Turcotte avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Turcotte walks into a left hand.
Stepanovich throws the left hand but Turcotte avoids the punch easily.
Stepanovich throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Turcotte sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Turcotte slips under a jab from Stepanovich.
Turcotte ducks under a wild hook from Stepanovich.
A jab from Stepanovich misses.
Turcotte moves away from the strike by Stepanovich.
A jab lands there for Stepanovich.
Stepanovich throws a hook but Turcotte avoids it easily.
Stepanovich is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Turcotte.
A jab from Turcotte misses.
Olenev Stepanovich seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turcotte just misses with a punch to the body.
Stepanovich fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Turcotte on the side of the head.
Stepanovich takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Turcotte ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Turcotte slips a jab from Stepanovich.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Turcotte cracks Stepanovich with an open hand slap.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stepanovich closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Turcotte's guard.
Stepanovich trying to control but Turcotte is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Turcotte is on top in guard.

Turcotte controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Stepanovich trying to keep a closed guard but Turcotte is proving a slippery customer.
Stepanovich might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Turcotte haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Stepanovich wants to sweep but no luck.
Turcotte controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich controlling the position.
Stepanovich keeping moving, preventing Turcotte from controlling successfully.
Turcotte engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Stepanovich wants to sweep but no luck.
Stepanovich manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Turcotte manages to get himself to full guard.

Stepanovich won't allow Turcotte to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turcotte keeping full guard, as Stepanovich tries to pass.
Stepanovich throwing strikes but missing.
Stepanovich trying to control the position from guard on top but Turcotte is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stepanovich throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stepanovich wants to pass the guard but Turcotte is keeping the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Stepanovich swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Turcotte thows a left - swing and a miss!
Stepanovich misses with a body shot.

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.
The fighters circle momentarily. Stepanovich darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Stepanovich swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stepanovich ducks under a wild hook from Turcotte.
Turcotte walks into a straight right hand from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice defenses there by Stepanovich.
Turcotte avoids the body shot from Stepanovich.
Turcotte throws a body shot but no joy.
Turcotte misses the jab.
Stepanovich uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Turcotte.
Stepanovich lands the left hand.
Turcotte connects with a single shot there.
Turcotte feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Stepanovichs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Stepanovich connects with a looping right hand.
Turcotte throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Turcotte misses with an uppercut. Stepanovich saw that one coming.
Stepanovich throws a body shot but no joy.
Turcotte swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Stepanovich staying out of range there.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Turcotte throws a body shot but no joy.
Turcotte connects with a crisp jab.
Turcotte with a nice cross.
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.
Nice defenses there by Stepanovich.
Stepanovich misses with a right hand
and Turcotte counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Turcotte steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stepanovich.
Turcotte appears to be looking for a big counter.
Stepanovich works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Stepanovich misses the jab.
Turcotte throws a big counter combination but Stepanovich scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
The fighters circling - Turcotte throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Turcotte stuffs the takedown attempt from Stepanovich. Stepanovich gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turcotte misses with a hook.
A little jabbing left from Stepanovich on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Stepanovich avoids the body shot from Turcotte.
Turcotte moves out of range of the strikes.
Stepanovich avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Stepanovich throws a hook but Turcotte blocks it.
Turcotte misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turcotte ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stepanovich moves away.
Stepanovich lands with a hook. Turcotte tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Stepanovich lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Stepanovich lands a head shot.
Stepanovich missing with a left hand there. Turcotte was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Turcotte displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stepanovich throws out the jab.
Stepanovich connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Stepanovich with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Turcotte to score with a decent uppercut.
Turcotte lands a head shot.
Stepanovich misses with a hook.
Stepanovich jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Stepanovich moves away from the strike by Turcotte.
Turcotte misses the shot to the body.
Turcotte takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Stepanovich scores with a crisp jab that stopped Turcotte in his tracks.
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!
A slow jab from Stepanovich misses its intended target.
Turcotte just misses with a punch to the body.
Turcotte uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stepanovich.
Jacques Turcotte has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Olenev Stepanovich is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Turcotte throws out the jab.
Left hook, right uppercut from Turcotte.
Stepanovich missing with a left hand there. Turcotte was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stepanovich throws the left hand but Turcotte avoids the punch easily.
Turcotte throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Turcotte keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
It looked like Turcotte wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Turcotte throws a big shot that misses.
Turcotte uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich moves out of range as Turcotte strikes.
Stepanovich looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Stepanovich just misses with a punch to the body.
Stepanovich loads up on a big right hand but Turcotte slips the punch.
A little feinted left hand from Turcotte on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Stepanovich steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Turcotte.
Turcotte keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stepanovich misses with a looping right.
Stepanovich defending well as Turcotte loads up on a big left hand.
Stepanovich connects with a single shot there.
Stepanovich waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Turcotte.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich staying out of range there.
A lazy left from Turcotte finds it's target.
Stepanovich thows a left - swing and a miss!
Turcotte throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stepanovich throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Turcotte on the side of the head.
Turcotte jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Stepanovich tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Turcotte was well out of range. Poor timing from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Turcotte swings for the body but Stepanovich moves out of range.
Stepanovich swings widly with a right hand
and Turcotte counters with a left and a right that stings Stepanovich.
A telegraphed right hand from Turcotte misses the target.
Stepanovich misses with a straight right.
Stepanovich fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Turcotte manages to avoid it.
Turcotte has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Stepanovich finds it's way round the side to connect with Turcotte's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Turcotte takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A jab from Turcotte misses.
Turcotte throws a looping overhand right but Stepanovich ducks down to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Stepanovich throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A looping hook to the body misses from Turcotte. Stepanovich does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stepanovich keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Turcotte scores with a punch to the head.
Nice uppercut there from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich scores with a crisp jab that stopped Turcotte in his tracks.
Stepanovich swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Turcotte throws a right and a left that both miss.
No joy there for Turcotte, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stepanovich misses with an uppercut.
Turcotte misses with a straight left.
Stepanovich uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Turcotte.
Turcotte throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Turcotte throws a big shot that misses.
Stepanovich lands with a hook. Turcotte tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A slow jab from Turcotte misses its intended target.
Stepanovich misses with a hook. Turcotte ducked under it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Olenev Stepanovich.
Well Stepanovich has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Olenev Stepanovich!
An out of breath Olenev Stepanovich thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.