PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Justin Pagan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Stevens has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pagan
vs
Stevens

185 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
21
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin Pagan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Alyssa Summers and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pagan moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Stevens avoids the head kick by Pagan.
A combination from Pagan does no damage.
Pagan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stevens.
Stevens closes the distance and clinches up with Pagan, looking for a takedown. Stevens pushes Pagan against the cage but Pagan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pagan throws a sloppy head kick and Stevens moves out of range easily.
Stevens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stevens shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pagan defends it nicely.
Justin Pagan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Stevens.
Stevens tries for a takedown but Pagan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pagan gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Pagan tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Stevens stands up and waves to Pagan to follow him.
John Stevens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stevens shoots in but no luck this time.
Pagan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pagan moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Pagan both land. Nice combination.
Justin Pagan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pagan tries a head kick but it misses.
Pagan lands a two punch combo.
Stevens looks gassed!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stevens.
Pagan's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Pagan duly obliges.
Pagan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stevens slips a jab and a cross from Pagan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pagan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stevens moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pagan lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Stevens slips a jab and a cross from Pagan.
Donk. Pagan catches Stevens right on the button with a cross.
Pagan throws a right hand that Stevens ducks under and follows up with a left that Stevens also avoids with ease.
Pagan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pagan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pagan swinging wilding here.
Pagan leaves Stevens with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Pagan is working the combinations to good effect here.
Stevens tries to clinch there but Pagan circles away.
Stevens changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pagan tries to avoid it but Stevens manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pagan to the ground. Pagan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pagan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stevens moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pagan throws a wild body kick that Stevens sees coming a mile off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Pagan dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pagan uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Pagan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pagan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pagan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stevens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pagan pinned against the cage. Pagan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Pagan pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevens tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pagan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stevens somewhat.
Stevens is breathing heavily.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown but Pagan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Justin Pagan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Stevens.
Stevens fails with the takedown.
Pagan lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Pagan connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stevens decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Pagan keeping hold of Stevens's head, controlling as best he can.
Pagan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stevens.
Stevens is just content to waste time from the top position. Pagan takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Pagan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Pagan manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Pagan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Pagan misses with a wild combination.
Stevens blocks a head kick by Pagan.
Pagan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stevens moves away.
Stevens tries for a takedown but Pagan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four 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.
Pagan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pagan tries a head kick but it misses.

Stevens shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Stevens showed some decent athleticism there.
Stevens content to control rather than advance.

Stevens is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pagan doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Stevens.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Justin Pagan will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Stevens.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A combination from Pagan does no damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pagan defends it nicely.

Stevens shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Stevens was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Stevens looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Stevens working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Stevens throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Pagan because Stevens loaded up on that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Pagan is wriggling around trying to escape.
Stevens content just to control the position here.
Stevens with good strikes from the mount here!
Stevens with good strikes from the mount here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Stevens looking for a guillotine from mount but Pagan is having none of it.
Stevens breaks from Pagan's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens controlling the pace for now.

Stevens has hold of Pagan's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Pagan manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Pagan is looking to improve his position but Stevens isn't that keen on the idea.

Stevens quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Stevens but it's paid off an Pagan is forced to tap! Nice work by Stevens.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). John Stevens!