Doom 1: Stephens vs Maksimov PBP Commentary

Undercard bout

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirko Maksimov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maksimov has chosen The Reaper as his entrance music. Steve Stephens is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Stephens
vs
Maksimov

200 cm
18
265 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

198 cm
20
255 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Top Dogs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steve Stephens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mirko Maksimov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Illya Tyunina and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Maksimov.
Maksimov doesn't manage to clinch there - Stephens circles away.

Stephens clinches with his opponent.
Maksimov tries to pull guard but Stephens won't allow it.

Stephens breaks the clinch.
Maksimov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stephens paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Maksimov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Stephens to the mat! Stephens manages to get full guard.
Maksimov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Maksimov trying to control but Stephens is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephens wants to sweep but no luck.
Stephens trying to control the position.

Maksimov content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Stephens has locked up a guillotine! Stephens's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Maksimov is holding on here and Stephens must be using up a lot of energy. Maksimov has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Stephens gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Steve Stephens!
Steve Stephens managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Top Dogs, into his post fight interview.

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
57%

Undercard bout

Co-main event

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Subotai Hyrkanian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rauno Taurkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Subotai Hyrkanian has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hyrkanian
vs
Taurkonen

163 cm
17
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

218 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

V-Mask Clothing + 70% laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Subotai Hyrkanian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rauno Taurkonen!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taurkonen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Taurkonen has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Taurkonen swats away the attempt to clinch by Hyrkanian.
Horrible takedown attempt by Taurkonen or perhaps it was just good defense by Hyrkanian, which made it look bad.
Hyrkanian throws a jab but it's blocked by Taurkonen.
Hyrkanian throws a body punch but Taurkonen moves out of range.
Taurkonen misses with a two punch combination.
Taurkonen fails to land the takedown.
Taurkonen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hyrkanian.
Hyrkanian leaves Taurkonen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Subotai Hyrkanian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rauno Taurkonen.

Taurkonen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Hyrkanian manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Taurkonen is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hyrkanian takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Taurkonen wants to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hyrkanian in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hyrkanian wants to take a breather but Taurkonen is having none of it.
Taurkonen wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hyrkanian with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Taurkonen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hyrkanian 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.
Hyrkanian trying to control the action but Taurkonen is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Taurkonen can do anything to dispel that myth.
Taurkonen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hyrkanian.
Hyrkanian trying to control the action but Taurkonen is working from the bottom.
Taurkonen wants to control but Hyrkanian is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hyrkanian perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hyrkanian lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two 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.
Taurkonen wants to control but Hyrkanian is keeping busy.
Hyrkanian throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hyrkanian missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hyrkanian is taking a breather. Taurkonen says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Taurkonen shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Taurkonen is rocked!
Hyrkanian jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Taurkonen is still on wobbly legs! Can Hyrkanian finish him?
Taurkonen shoots in but Hyrkanian avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Taurkonen looks winded!
Hyrkanian tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taurkonen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hyrkanian lands a brutal uppercut that launches Taurkonen off his feet! Taurkonen tumbles to the floor, barely conscious - the referee jumps in to save him from a beating! Wow, what an ending!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Subotai Hyrkanian!
Subotai Hyrkanian seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
39%

Main event

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Drake Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Meade (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Silva
vs
Meade

193 cm
18
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Drake Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Josh Meade!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksandr Martynov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva has closed the distance and engaged Meade in a clinch.
Silva stalling against the cage.
Meade wants to get back to striking at distance but Silva won't allow it.
Meade is trying to break the clinch but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Silva misses with a knee strike.
Meade looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Meade misses with a hook to the ribs.
Meade has had enough of the clinch but Silva keeps him there for the moment.
Meade tries to break the clinch but Silva is controlling the position.

Silva pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Meade misses with a hook. Silva ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Silva forces Meade back against the cage and clinches.
Meade tries to break the clinch but Silva is controlling the position.
Meade is trying to force a seperation but Silva has the dominant position.

Silva has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Meade uses from the top position.
Meade stands and throws Silva's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meade wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.
Meade tries to advance to mount but Silva denies him.
Meade tries to score with some ground and pound. Silva controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Meade has eaten all the pies!
Meade in side control, throwing shots but Silva defends.
Meade tries to stand but Silva is controlling his head.
Meade trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Meade tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Meade wants to control but Silva is keeping him busy.
Meade throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Silva is breathing heavily.
The ground and pound from Meade seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Silva is looking to get back to his feet here but Meade is keeping cool and he's managed to take Silva's back.

Meade looking for the choke from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva covering up well under a series of strikes from Meade.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Meade biding his time, looking for the opening.
Silva staying busy and making it hard for Meade to control.
Meade has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Silva's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Silva is keeping busy.
Silva knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Meade on the ground.

Silva preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Meade.

Silva showing good submission defense here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
What can Silva do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Meade dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Meade lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Drake Silva has been cut.
Meade fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Meade throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Silva.
Meade thuds a left hand into Silva's body.
Meade lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Silva at a distance.
Meade cracks a nice hook into Silva's ribs.
Meade lands a two punch combo.
Meade fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silva takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Meade dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Silva slips a jab and a cross from Meade.
Meade lands an overhand right.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Meade.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A right-left combo lands from Meade.
Meade lands with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Nice cross by Meade.

Silva is rocked!
Silva takes one to the side of the head.
Oh Silva is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Silva avoids a punch combination nicely.
Silva seems to have got his legs back now.
Meade rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Silva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Meade misses with a double jab.
Meade scores with a body shot.
Meade works Silva's body with a nice hook.
Meade scores with a shot to the body.
Meade lands with a nice combination. Silva backs away looking to recover.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Meade fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Meade connects with a body shot that sends Silva's belly button to the back.
Silva moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Drake Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meade's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Meade duly obliges.
Drake Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Meade lands a jab to the head.
Silva takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Meade dips to his left and cracks Silva with an uppercut!
Meade lands with a shot to the body.
Silva slips a jab and a cross from Meade.
Meade misses with a double jab.
Nice uppercut there from Meade.
Meade is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Silva rather than just go for the knockout.
Meade throws a right and a left that Silva avoids nicely.
Meade lands a nice shot that snaps Silva's head back.
Meade scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Left hook, right uppercut from Meade.
No joy there for Meade, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Meade scores with a body shot.
Meade stalks Silva and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Silva's face. Silva staggers backwards, shaken.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Meade misses with a wild combination.
Meade lands a nice shot that snaps Silva's head back.
Meade has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Meade ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Meade throws a series of punches but Silva moves out of range.
Meade jabs at Silva's body.
Meade jabs Silva to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A left lands for Meade.
Silva takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Meade darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Meade moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Meade rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Silva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Meade stalks Silva and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Silva's face. Silva staggers backwards, shaken.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meade lands a glancing blow to the side of Silva's head.
Silva walks into a stiff left hand from Meade.
Silva looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Meade looks to land a combination. Silva sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Meade closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Josh Meade is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Silva takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Meade displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Meade with a nice cross.
Meade misses with the combination.
Silva avoids a punch combination nicely.
Meade fails to land with a series of punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Meade lands with a right hand.
Sloppy strikes from Meade. Those never looked like landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Meade showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Drake Silva's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Meade lands a body shot.
Meade circles away from the clinch attempt.
Meade scores with a nice right hand.
Meade throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Silva.

Silva clinches up against the cage.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Josh Meade has been cut.
Meade working hard to break the clinch.
Meade looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Meade is trying to break free.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Silva jumps into guard, dragging Meade to the mat.
Silva will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Meade has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Silva is proving hard to escape from.
Meade throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meade controlling from the top position.
Meade slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Meade staying calm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Meade tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Meade lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva avoids a punch combination nicely.
Meade scores with a crisp jab that stopped Silva in his tracks.
Meade throws a right and a left that both miss.
Meade will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Josh Meade seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Meade throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Silva takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Meade scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Silva walks into a straight right hand from Meade.
Meade bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Silva's head.
Left hook, right uppercut from Meade.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Meade scores with a three punch combo!
Meade lands with a right hand.
Meade throws a one two combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meade scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Meade is working the combinations to good effect here.
Meade throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Silva stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Meade scores with a jab. Silva acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Silva takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Silva is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Meade.
Silva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Meade.
Josh Meade is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Meade swats away the attempt to clinch by Silva.
A decent looking cross lands there for Meade.
A jab from Meade does it's job there.
Drake Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Meade lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Meade comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Meade winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 26:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Meade!