PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rick Tapp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tapp comes to the cage accompanied by "Lukin"-Pearl Jam. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Tapp
vs
Stevenson

176 cm
19
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

177 cm
19
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rick Tapp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michael Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Gregory Folan and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevenson stuns Tapp with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Tapp looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Tapp shoots in for a takedown but Stevenson shows good takedown defense.
Stevenson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Stevenson with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Tapp walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A left lands for Stevenson.
Stevenson's corner calls for a 1-2. Stevenson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Nice shot by Stevenson.

Tapp has Stevenson up against the cage in a clinch.
Tapp stops a takedown attempt from Stevenson.

Tapp breaks the clinch.
Tapp misses with a hook
and Stevenson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stevenson doesn't manage to clinch there - Tapp circles away.
Stevenson tries to clinch but Tapp is having none of it.
Tapp is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tapp keeps the fight on the outside.
Stevenson wants to clinch up but Tapp keeps it at a distance.
Stevenson tries to clinch up but Tapp circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tapp tries to clinch but Stevenson moves away
and Tapp takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tapp walks into a straight right hand from Stevenson.
Stevenson scores with a three punch combo!

Tapp is rocked!
Stevenson jabs Tapp right on the nose. Tapp blinks but takes it well.
Oh Tapp is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Tapp gets caught flat footed, as Stevenson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Stevenson is working Tapp over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Tapp throws his legs up looking for a submission but Stevenson uses it to pass to side control.
Tapp seems to have got his legs back now.
Tapp is trying to work for a sweep but Stevenson has mounted him!
Stevenson dominating with strikes here.
Stevenson lands a heavy elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stevenson wants to control the pace but Tapp is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tapp can't escape the position.
Tapp is squirming around, avoiding Stevenson's attempts to control the action.
Tapp wants to control but Stevenson is having none of it.
Tapp regains half guard.
Tapp is trying to stand back up but Stevenson is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Tapp makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Tapp misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stevenson tries to clinch but Tapp moves away

and Tapp decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Stevenson's guard.
Stevenson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tapp. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tapp trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevenson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tapp is really struggling to control Stevenson but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Tapp working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stevenson's head.
Tapp trying to control but Stevenson is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Stevenson doesn't manage to clinch there - Tapp circles away.
Tapp feints and then cracks Stevenson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Stevenson down.
Tapp misses with a takedown attempt
and Stevenson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A punch lands to the side of Tapp 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Tapp tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stevenson swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Tapp. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stevenson lands with an overhand left.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stevenson misses with a hook. Tapp ducked under it nicely.
Stevenson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevenson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rick Tapp seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stevenson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tapp throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Stevenson tries to keep at a distance but Tapp has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Stevenson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tapp drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Stevenson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Tapp.
Stevenson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Tapp looks to land a combination but Stevenson avoids it well.
Stevenson throws a series of punches but Tapp moves out of range.
Tapp has his takedown stuffed
and Stevenson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stevenson misses with a double jab.
Stevenson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tapp misses with a body shot
and Stevenson counters with a two punch combo.
Tapp tries for a takedown but Stevenson circles away easily

and Stevenson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Stevenson.
Stevenson tries to break the clinch but Tapp is controlling the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stevenson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tapp tries to pull guard but Stevenson holds him up against the cage and eventually Tapp drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Tapp. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stevenson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tapp misses with a hook to the ribs.

Tapp breaks from the clinch.
Tapp throws a head kick that misses.
Stevenson closes the distance looking to clinch

and Tapp counters with a takedown into side control.
Stevenson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Stevenson is trying to maintain the position but Tapp is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stevenson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Tapp lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tapp passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Stevenson!
Tapp wants to take his opponent's back but Stevenson doesn't allow it.
Stevenson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson tries to improve his position but instead Tapp has taken his back!
Tapp really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Stevenson.
Tapp is trying to control but Stevenson is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Stevenson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Rick Tapp overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stevenson tries to get to full guard but Tapp has control of the leg.
Tapp is controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tapp winds up and cracks Stevenson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Stevenson is trying to get back to full guard.
Tapp is pressing down on Stevenson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Stevenson is holding on for now.
Tapp not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Tapp dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Stevenson tries to keep at a distance but Tapp has taken the fight into the clinch.
Stevenson can't get the takedown.

Tapp manages to break the clinch.
Tapp throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Stevenson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Stevenson tries to move to mount but Tapp blocks the move with his legs.
Tapp is not content to let Stevenson control the position.
Tapp wants to control but Stevenson postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tapp sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tapp holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Stevenson wants to control but Tapp is keeping him busy.
Stevenson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Tapp moves into full guard.
Stevenson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Stevenson postures up in Tapp's guard and throws a big left but Tapp blocks it.
Tapp has a closed guard, preventing Stevenson from standing up.

Stevenson stands up from Tapp's guard - Stevenson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Stevenson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tapp looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Stevenson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tapp sprawls well initially but Stevenson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Tapp wants to control but Stevenson is keeping busy.
Stevenson stops Tapp from getting back to his feet.
Tapp gets back to full guard.
Tapp manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stevenson manages to get himself to full guard.
Stevenson keeping moving, preventing Tapp from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tapp stopping the sweep attempt from Stevenson.
Tapp wants to control from the top but Stevenson keeps moving.

Tapp decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tapp as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tapp tries for a takedown but Stevenson circles away easily
and Stevenson counters with a stiff right hand.
No joy there for Stevenson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stevenson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Stevenson lands a lovely overhand right.
A head kick misses from Tapp.
Tapp showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stevenson.
Tapp lands with a thumping leg kick.
Tapp shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Tapp. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stevenson has a takedown stuffed.
Tapp gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Stevenson to counter with a crisp jab.
Stevenson scores with a punch to the head.
A right-left combo lands from Stevenson.
Stevenson punishes Tapp's body with a nice straight punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Stevenson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Stevenson 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Stevenson!