PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lei Makana (ranked 3319 p4p, 337 weight class) and Darren Stephens (ranked 23883 p4p, 578 weight class). Stephens has chosen The A-Team as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Makana
vs
Stephens

172 cm
26
168 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

184 cm
27
168 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lei Makana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Darren Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makana shoots in for a double leg but Stephens sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Makana shoots in looking for a takedown. Stephens tries to sprawl out of it but Makana keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stephens manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Makana gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Makana has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lei Makana. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stephens connects with a body shot that sends Makana's belly button to the back.
Stephens misses with a leg kick.
Stephens will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Makana appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephens cracks Makana with an open hand slap.
Stephens connects with a single shot there.
Stephens defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Makana.
Makana ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Stephens throws a sloppy head kick and Makana moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Makana gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stephens is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Makana is defending well.

Makana has picked Stephens up - he's going for a ride! Makana dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Makana is keen to just control but Stephens is a slippery customer.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stephens can do anything to dispel that myth.

Makana is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Stephens is trying to get back to full guard.

Makana decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Makana dives in and grabs Stephens's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stephens pushes down on Makana's head and hops out.
Nice uppercut lands for Stephens. That snapped Makana's head back.
Stephens digs a good body shot into Makana's ribs.
Stephens getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Makana swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makana gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Stephens.
Stephens slaps away a takedown attempt from Makana, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Makana goes for a double leg but Stephens avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Stephens continues to drive forward.
As Makana backs off Stephens throws a huge counter combo but Makana manages to avoid it all.
Darren Stephens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stephens comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Makana has a takedown stuffed.
Makana shoots in but Stephens avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Stephens has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Makana fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stephens tries to counter by closing the distance.
Makana shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stephens connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Makana shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stephens as he jumps to the side.
Stephens lands a jab-cross combination.

Makana is rocked!
Makana avoids the head kick by Stephens.
Oh Makana is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Stephens moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makana walks straight into a right hand from Stephens - that's dropped him! Stephens jumps into mount and starts pounding away - can he finish?! More strikes go undefended and the referee has to dive in to save Makana from any more punishment! Makana complains about the stoppage but falls over as he tries to stand back up, so it was clearly a good stoppage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:08 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Darren Stephens!
A relieved looking Darren Stephens thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.