PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Energy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buddy Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Energy
vs
Stevens

175 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

155 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Andrei Energy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Buddy Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Colin Fray and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Energy checks a leg kick.
Stevens tries to score with a low kick but Energy moves his leg out of the way.
Energy blocks a head kick by Stevens.
Energy shoots in for a takedown but Stevens shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stevens defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Energy.
Energy shoots in looking for a takedown but Stevens manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Energy's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrei Energy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Energy shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Stevens counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Stevens stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Horrible takedown by Energy or perhaps it was just good defense by Stevens which made him look bad.
Energy is breathing heavily.

Stevens rushes Energy and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Energy ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Energy no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Stevens trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stevens throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Energy works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stevens working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Energy keeps moving.
Stevens is looking to stand up but Energy won't let him.
Stevens trying to control but Energy is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Buddy Stevens.
Stevens pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Stevens scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Stevens throws a low kick, looking for Energy's leg but Energy calmly moves out of range.

Stevens drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Stevens taking a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens trying to control the position but Energy is working away.
Stevens might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Energy kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A lull in the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Buddy Stevens has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Horrible takedown by Energy or perhaps it was just good defense by Stevens which made him look bad.

Stevens shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Stevens wants to pass the guard but Energy is keeping the position.

Energy pushes Stevens off and gets back to his feet.

Stevens feints and as Energy raises his hands in defense, Stevens changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens pushes down on Energy's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Stevens decides to return to a standing position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stevens misses with a series of wild punches.

Stevens scores with a takedown into Energy's guard.
Stevens throws a big right hand that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevens stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Energy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stevens 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.
Energy fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stevens avoids it really well and circles away.
Energy fails with an attempt to clinch.
Energy blocks the body kick.
Stevens fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Stevens slaps away a takedown attempt from Energy, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Andrei Energy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stevens paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stevens throws a low kick but Energy avoids it.
Stevens swinging wildly here.
Energy shoots for a double leg takedown but Stevens sprawls well. He's pushed Energy's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrei Energy. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stevens clinches with his opponent.

Energy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stevens dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Energy. That did some damage!
Stevens shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Energy as he avoids it easily.
Stevens wants to clinch.
Energy with a lazy takedown attempt
and Stevens counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Stevens just misses with a punch to the body.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Energy paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stevens throws a body kick that misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Stevens.

Stevens bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Stevens taking a breather here.
Stevens trying to control the action but Energy is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
You can see the frustration on Energy's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Stevens is trying to get an arm triangle but Energy is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens controlling from side mount.
Stevens tries to move to mount but Energy blocks the move with his legs.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Stevens wants to control but Energy is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Energy taking a bit of punishment here - Stevens scoring with strikes.
Energy is trying to control Stevens's posture but Stevens avoids it.
Energy stops Stevens from passing to mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Stevens is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Energy knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buddy Stevens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Energy tries for a takedown but Stevens circles away easily
and Stevens counters with a straight right hand.
Stevens throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Stevens takes the fight into the clinch.
Stevens is trying to pull guard but Energy turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Energy is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Energy fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Energy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Energy tries to clinch there but Stevens circles away.
Stevens has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Energy shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stevens but Stevens pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrei Energy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Energy doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Stevens cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Energy avoids a punch combination nicely.

Stevens shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Energy manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Energy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Energy wants to control but Stevens passes easily into half guard.
Stevens prevents Energy from improving his position.
Stevens trying to control from half guard but Energy is working away.
Energy avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stevens.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stevens decides to stand up.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Stevens has eaten all the pies!
Stevens lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Sloppy strikes from Stevens. Those never looked like landing.
Energy misses with a takedown

and Stevens counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Stevens stands up out of the half guard.
Energy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stevens thumps Energy with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens throws a body kick that misses.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Energy sprawls well. Energy wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stevens gets slowly back to his feet.
Energy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stevens looks to land a body kick but Energy moved away.

Stevens feints and as Energy raises his hands in defense, Stevens changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Energy will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Energy is controlling Stevens's posture.
Stevens trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Energy wriggles free and stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens slaps away a takedown attempt from Energy, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Stevens closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stevens not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Energy trying to control but Stevens postures up.
Energy is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Stevens is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Buddy Stevens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stevens 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 Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Buddy Stevens!