PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ed Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raul Fantango (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ed Stevens could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Raul Fantango's chin.

Stevens
vs
Fantango

179 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

183 cm
22
225 lbs
4 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ed Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Raul Fantango!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Ian Loll and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Fantango.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Fantango throws a half hearted mid kick.
Stevens throws a nice looking combination but Fantango bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Fantango misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stevens throws a head kick that misses.
Stevens scores with a crisp jab that stopped Fantango in his tracks.
Fantango is looking to clinch.
Stevens feints and then cracks Fantango's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Fantango down.
No joy there for Stevens, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Fantango closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stevens circles away.
Stevens fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fantango shoots in looking for a takedown. Stevens tries to sprawl out of it but Fantango keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stevens manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ed Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raul Fantango.
Stevens throws a head kick that misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fantango looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fantango falls off balance throwing a combination
and Stevens counters with a left to the body.
Fantango shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fantango trying to land knees to the body.
Stevens tries to break free but Fantango pushes him back against the cage.
Fantango misses with a knee to the head.
Fantango throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Stevens is pressed up against the cage. Fantango has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Stevens down to the mat. Stevens avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Stevens lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Stevens.
Fantango throws a right and a left that both miss.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Fantango crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Stevens - the referee stops the clock and Fantango gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Stevens. Fantango manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Fantango throws a leg kick
and Stevens counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Stevens scores with a head kick.
Stevens tests Fantango's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Stevens lands a head kick. Fantango smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Stevens throws a wild body kick that Fantango sees coming a mile off.
Fantango lands a nice leg kick that just misses Stevens's sensitive parts.
Stevens lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Stevens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fantango misses with a low kick as Stevens jumps back.
Stevens misses with a wild body shot.
Stevens throws a series of strikes that have Fantango backpedaling.

Fantango drives through and clinches with Stevens against the cage.
Fantango tries for a takedown. No joy.
Stevens looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fantango tries for a takedown. No joy.
Stevens is pressed up against the cage. Fantango has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Stevens down to the mat. Stevens avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Stevens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fantango throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fantango shoots in for a takedown but Stevens shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Fantango takes a kick to the side of the head.
Fantango throws a lazy head kick
and Stevens counters with a big head kick but Fantango shrugs it off.
Fantango shoots for a double leg takedown but Stevens sprawls well. He's pushed Fantango's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Stevens moves out of range of the body kick.
Stevens could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Stevens avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stevens rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fantango moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Stevens.
Stevens throws a head kick that misses.

Fantango drives through and clinches with Stevens against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantango with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stevens wants to break free but Fantango has control.

Fantango breaks the clinch.
Stevens scores with a three punch combo!
Fantango misses with a low kick.
Stevens tries a head kick but it misses.
Stevens lands a with a good body shot.
Fantango thumps Stevens with a low kick.

Fantango instigates a clinch.

Fantango escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fantango blocks a head kick by Stevens.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stevens keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
No luck for Fantango with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ed Stevens dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Fantango takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Fantango does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Fantango throws a leg kick
and Stevens counters with a one-two to the body.
Stevens lands a nice hook to Fantango's body. Fantango takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Raul Fantango seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stevens misses with a head kick.
Fantango throws a low kick but Stevens avoids it.
Stevens rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fantango moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Fantango throws a nice inside leg kick.
Stevens swats away the attempt to clinch by Fantango.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevens just misses with a punch to the body.
No joy there for Stevens, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Fantango pushes Stevens up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A frustrated look appears on Stevens's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fantango manages to break the clinch.
Fantango is looking to slow Stevens down with leg kicks.
Stevens swats away the attempt to clinch by Fantango.
Stevens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Fantango throws a jab when Stevens was well out of range.
Fantango pivots, looking for a leg kick but Stevens is out of range and Fantango settles back down.
Stevens lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Fantango misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fantango is looking to clinch.

Fantango moves into the clinch successfully.
Stevens is pressed up against the cage. Fantango has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Stevens down to the mat. Stevens avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Stevens keeps Fantango at a distance using the push kick.
Ed Stevens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stevens throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
No joy there for Stevens, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Stevens lands with a cross.
Stevens throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fantango moves in looking to clinch but Stevens pushes him off.
Stevens fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ed Stevens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch combination from Stevens misses.
Fantango wants to clinch up but Stevens keeps it at a distance.
Fantango slips a jab and a cross from Stevens.
Fantango throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stevens's waist but Stevens gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fantango off to one side.
Stevens connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Stevens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Fantango closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stevens prevents the takedown attempt.
Ed Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raul Fantango.

Fantango manages to break the clinch.
Fantango blocks a head kick by Stevens.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens throws a nice head kick!
Fantango throws a nice inside leg kick.
Fantango fails with the takedown.
Fantango takes a kick to the side of the head.
Fantango misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fantango wants to clinch.
Stevens pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stevens misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stevens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stevens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fantango throws a low kick, looking for Stevens's leg but Stevens calmly moves out of range.
Stevens connects with a high kick.

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.
Stevens lands a nice looking kick to the body. Fantango takes a step back to recover.
Stevens fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Fantango looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Fantango misses with a wild combination.
Stevens throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stevens is looking to wear down Fantango with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Stevens scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Stevens looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Fantango forces Stevens back against the cage and clinches.
Stevens is trying to break the clinch but Fantango is controlling him.

Fantango escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stevens throws a push kick but Fantango slaps the foot to one side.

Fantango takes the fight into the clinch.
Fantango has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stevens is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Raul Fantango will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Fantango has closed the distance and engaged Stevens in a clinch.

Fantango breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stevens tries a head kick but it misses.
Stevens throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fantango.
Fantango pivots, looking for a leg kick but Stevens is out of range and Fantango settles back down.
Fantango scores with a leg kick.
Stevens pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stevens avoids the head kick by Fantango.
Fantango tries to land a body kick
and Stevens counters with a nice uppercut.
Fantango avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fantango gets a clinch.

Fantango's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantango throws a leg kick but Stevens moved away.
Fantango walks forward, straight into a front kick from Stevens.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Fantango looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Danga de danga de dang - Stevens scores with a four punch combination!
Stevens throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Good exchange - Stevens coming out on top.
Fantango fails to land with a series of punches.
Stevens jabs at Fantango's body.
Fantango shoots in for a takedown but Stevens shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stevens misses with a kick to the body.
Fantango pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Fantango closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fantango lands with a left to the head.

Fantango manages to break the clinch.
Stevens thuds his right hand into Fantango's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Fantango throws a leg kick that is checked
and Stevens counters with a good low kick that Fantango was not able to check.

Fantango decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fantango decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Stevens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Fantango throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Fantango misses with a low kick.
Fantango gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Stevens.
Fantango tries to clinch up but Stevens circles away and keeps his distance.
Stevens moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Stevens swinging wilding here.
Stevens throws a head kick that Fantango semi-blocks.
Stevens throws a sloppy head kick and Fantango moves out of range easily.
Stevens throws a right and a left that both miss.
Fantango lands a high kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Fantango counters with a single leg into guard. Stevens didn't expect that.
Fantango tries to free his leg and advance position but Stevens is retaining full guard.
Fantango stands and throws Stevens's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Fantango wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stevens keeps working.

Fantango decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Stevens connects with a high kick.

Fantango rushes Stevens and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Fantango drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stevens gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Stevens wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantango tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ed Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raul Fantango.
Stevens wants to get back to striking at distance but Fantango won't allow it.
Fantango drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stevens gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Fantango drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stevens pulls his leg out and moves away.

Fantango has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fantango keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stevens's efforts to push away.
Fantango creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Fantango lands a nice elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raul Fantango comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fantango has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raul Fantango!