PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Demarcus Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Mars (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Demarcus Stephens has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Stephens
vs
Mars

188 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

190 cm
18
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Demarcus Stephens!
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, Chris Mars!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Jonathan Paton and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stephens instigates a clinch.

Mars drags the fight down to the ground.
Stephens throws a strike but Mars rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Mars sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mars wants to control from the top but Stephens keeps moving.
Stephens lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Stephens is looking to stand up but Mars won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephens throwing strikes but missing.

Mars has his foot on Stephens's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stephens works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mars looking to control.
Stephens with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Stephens with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stephens has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mars is proving hard to escape from.
Mars looking to control but Stephens passes into half guard.
Stephens wants to control but Mars is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mars is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Stephens pulls his head out easily.
Mars blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stephens.
Mars has hold of Stephens's hands but Stephens slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stephens decides to stand and escape the position.

Mars feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Stephens has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mars won't allow Stephens to get back to his feet.
Stephens is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Stephens not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stephens lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Stephens is going to stand back up.
Stephens thows a huge punch but Mars dodges it nicely.
Mars wants to improve his position but Stephens is controlling well.
Stephens takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Stephens slips a nice elbow through Mars's hands, connecting with Mars's forehead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stephens tries to stand and escape but Mars is controlling the position.

Stephens decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Mars wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mars scores with a takedown into Stephens's guard.
Stephens keeping moving, preventing Mars from controlling successfully.
Stephens working a defensive guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stephens wants to stand and escape but Mars is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stephens moves into the clinch.
Stephens is trying to break the clinch but Mars is controlling him.
Stephens is trying to break free.
Stephens tries to circle away but Mars has him pinned against the cage.
Stephens is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mars can do to turn this around?
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Stephens working aggressively here.

Mars pulls guard effortlessly.

Mars is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mars is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephens landing with the ground and pound.
Mars tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mars is looking to sweep but instead, Stephens has passed into half guard.
Demarcus Stephens overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mars gets full guard.
Stephens is in close to Mars's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Stephens would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Stephens won't allow Mars to sweep him here.
Stephens scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mars is trying to control the position but Stephens postures up.

Mars has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Stephens is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Mars.
Mars is breathing heavily.
Stephens scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Mars to see if he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens is working Mars over with some ground and pound from side control.
Stephens wants to control but Mars is keeping him busy.

Stephens tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Stephens has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Stephens stands up and beckons Mars to his feet.

Stephens clinches up against the cage.

Mars manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens wants to stand but Mars has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Stephens postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Stephens gets to his feet. Mars looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Mars fails in his attempt to clinch.

Mars throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Stephens was covering up waiting for the punch and Mars finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Stephens trying to keep a closed guard but Mars is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mars is looking to pass into half guard but Stephens pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Stephens is in guard.

Stephens gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Mars tries to sprawl but Stephens drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Mars wants to control but Stephens is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Stephens connects with a nice short shot to Mars's temple.
Mars is not content to let Stephens control the position.

Stephens stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Mars to get to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Stephens has closed the distance and engaged Mars in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demarcus Stephens dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Stephens clinches up with Mars and pushes him back against the cage.

Mars drags the fight down to the ground.
Mars looking for a sweep. Not yet Mars, not yet.

Mars escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stephens gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Stephens has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mars is proving hard to escape from.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mars is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Stephens gets to his feet - Mars follows without any prompting.
Mars takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mars closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Mars scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Stephens pushes Mars off looking to stand but Mars dives back in and keeps control.
Stephens gets full guard.
Stephens wants to stand up but Mars is controlling him.
Mars looking to sit in guard and control but Stephens gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Stephens gets to his feet. Mars looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mars shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Mars was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Stephens is trying to control Mars's posture but Mars avoids it.
Stephens sneaks back into half guard.
Stephens trying to control here.
Mars is looking to advance position but Stephens won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens trying to control from the bottom.
Mars stalling away here and it's allowed Stephens to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Stephens lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Stephens lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Stephens keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mars's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Mars has a closed guard, preventing Stephens from standing up.
Stephens missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Stephens decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Stephens shoots in and drives through. Mars sprawls well.

Mars darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Mars throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Stephens to regain full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Chris Mars.
Well Stephens has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Demarcus Stephens!