PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Olenev Stepanovich (ranked 369 p4p, 1502 weight class) and Joey Chandler (ranked 60 p4p, 204 weight class). Stepanovich's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Swallowing Dust. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Stepanovich
vs
Chandler

186 cm
30
165
20 - 7 - 1

178 cm
26
160
14 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Olenev Stepanovich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joey Chandler!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chandler scores with a hook.
Stepanovich misses with a hook. Chandler ducked under it nicely.
Stepanovich throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Chandler with the counter takedown but Stepanovich avoids it easily.
Chandler moves out of range of the strikes.
Stepanovich scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Chandler doesn't seem bothered though.
Stepanovich blocks a jab.
Stepanovich swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Chandler throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Stepanovich counters with an outside leg kick.
Chandler lands a glancing blow to the side of Stepanovich's head.
Chandler throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Stepanovich stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Chandler moves out of range of the strikes.
Stepanovich throws the left hand but Chandler avoids the punch easily.
Chandler drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Stepanovich defends it well.
Stepanovich misses with a looping right.
Chandler shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stepanovich but Stepanovich pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Stepanovich throws a low kick but Chandler moves out of range easily.
Stepanovich missing with a left hand there. Chandler was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chandler throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stepanovich sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice defenses there by Chandler.
Stepanovich throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Chandler sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Chandler changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Stepanovich moves out of range as Chandler strikes.
Chandler walks into a left hand.
Stepanovich takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Stepanovich throws a jab when Chandler was well out of range.
And Chandler tries to counter it with a takedown but Stepanovich pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Nice uppercut there from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich misses with a straight right.
Chandler connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Chandler fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stepanovich manages to avoid it.
Chandler doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Stepanovich cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stepanovich throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Chandler jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Stepanovich on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Stepanovich throws out a loose jab but Chandler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Chandler throws a body shot but no joy.
A telegraphed right hand from Stepanovich misses the target.
Chandler tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Olenev Stepanovich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stepanovich cracks Chandler with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Stepanovich moves away from the strike by Chandler.
Chandler takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Stepanovich misses with a wild body shot.
Stepanovich throws a body shot but no joy.

Chandler shoots in and bounces Stepanovich off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Chandler postures up in Stepanovich's guard and throws a big left but Stepanovich blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Stepanovich wriggles free and stands up.
Chandler shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stepanovich as he jumps to the side.
It looked like Stepanovich was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Chandler.
Olenev Stepanovich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joey Chandler.
Chandler throws a hook but Stepanovich avoids it easily.
Chandler tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stepanovich sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Chandler somewhat.

Chandler throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Stepanovich tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Chandler is in Stepanovich's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stepanovich is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Stepanovich keeping moving, preventing Chandler from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich pulls Chandler in close to his closed guard and prevents Chandler from doing any damage or advancing position.
Chandler working some strikes from top position.
Stepanovich looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chandler working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stepanovich's head.
Stepanovich is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stepanovich has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Chandler pushes down on Stepanovich's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Stepanovich trying to hold on to Chandler's head to control him but Chandler postures up.
Chandler drops an elbow to the side of Stepanovich's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ground and pound from Chandler.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Olenev Stepanovich will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Stepanovich looks to land a left hand but Chandler moved out of range nicely.
Stepanovich keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stepanovich is looking to counter punch.
Stepanovich fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Chandler manages to avoid it.
And Chandler tries to counter it with a takedown but Stepanovich pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Stepanovich lands a jab to the nose.

Chandler gets a takedown into half guard.

Stepanovich makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Stepanovich with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Chandler throws a looping overhand right but Stepanovich ducks down to avoid it.
Stepanovich scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Chandler misses with a takedown attempt
and Stepanovich counters with a nice uppercut.
Stepanovich is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Chandler.

Chandler dives in and scores a takedown into Stepanovich's guard.
Stepanovich is trying to keep Chandler in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stepanovich is on top in guard.

Chandler controls Stepanovich momentarily but Stepanovich frees himself.
Stepanovich makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Chandler trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Stepanovich trying to control but Chandler is working from the bottom.
Stepanovich works over Chandler with some ground and pound from guard.
Chandler keeping moving, preventing Stepanovich from controlling successfully.
Stepanovich stopping the sweep attempt from Chandler.
Chandler keeping moving, preventing Stepanovich from controlling successfully.
Chandler is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Stepanovich wants to stand but Chandler has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Chandler preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stepanovich throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Chandler works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Chandler tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stepanovich not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Stepanovich throwing strikes from guard but Chandler blocks nicely.
Stepanovich passes into half guard.
Chandler is trying to get back to full guard.
Chandler is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chandler is still trying to improve position.
Chandler is pressing down on Stepanovich's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Stepanovich won't allow Chandler to sweep him here.
Chandler pulls Stepanovich in close to his closed guard and prevents Stepanovich from doing any damage or advancing position.
Stepanovich is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Chandler can do to turn this around?
Stepanovich working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Chandler's head.
Stepanovich won't allow Chandler to sweep him here.
Stepanovich is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Stepanovich gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Stepanovich avoids the body shot from Chandler.
Stepanovich looks to throw the jab but Chandler is out of range.
Chandler keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stepanovich 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.
Chandler tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Stepanovich.
Chandler avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Stepanovich looks to score with a jab to the body but Chandler is just out of range.
Chandler changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Olenev Stepanovich is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A jab from Stepanovich misses.
Chandler lands with a cross.
Stepanovich thows a left - swing and a miss!
Stepanovich moves away from the strike by Chandler.
Stepanovich swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stepanovich throws a hook to the side of Chandler's head but Chandler sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Stepanovich swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Chandler looks to land a right hand but Stepanovich moved out of range.
Chandler throws the left hand but Stepanovich avoids the punch easily.
Stepanovich misses with a straight left.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Olenev Stepanovich dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Chandler shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stepanovich but Stepanovich pushes him off and we're back to square one.
An attempted straight right counter from Stepanovich misses the target.
Chandler throws a hook but Stepanovich avoids it easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Stepanovich misses its target.
Stepanovich lands a nice looking body shot.
Chandler keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stepanovich waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Chandler.
Chandler drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Stepanovich defends it well.
Stepanovich walks into a jab.
Chandler throws a hook but Stepanovich avoids it easily.
Stepanovich slips a jab from Chandler.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Decent striking displayed by Chandler there.

Chandler fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Stepanovich sprawls well initially but Chandler persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Stepanovich pushes Chandler off and gets back to his feet.
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!
Good shot there by Stepanovich.
Chandler bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Stepanovich's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Stepanovich misses its intended target.
Stepanovich slips under a jab.
Chandler keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Chandlers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Stepanovich misses with a straight left.
Chandler throws a body shot but no joy.
Some bone on bone action there as Chandler checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Chandler ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Chandler misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Chandler.
Stepanovich scores with a leg kick.
Chandler fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nice shot lands for Stepanovich.
Joey Chandler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich connects with a leg kick.
Stepanovich ducks under a wild hook from Chandler.
Chandler slips under a jab from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich misses with a low kick.
Stepanovich swings and misses with a hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Decent striking displayed by Chandler there.
Chandler digs a good hook to Stepanovich's body.
Chandler is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Stepanovich misses with an uppercut. Chandler saw that one coming.
Chandler takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Stepanovich ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Chandler moves away.
Chandler uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stepanovich.
Chandler drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Stepanovich defends it well.
Stepanovich is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Chandler.
Chandler drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Stepanovich defends it well.
Olenev Stepanovich is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich misses with a straight left.
Stepanovich feints and then cracks Chandler's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Chandler down.
Stepanovich catches Chandler with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Stepanovich misses with an uppercut. Chandler saw that one coming.
Chandler uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stepanovich.
And Chandler tries to counter it with a takedown but Stepanovich pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Chandler smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Stepanovich thumps Chandler with a low kick.
Stepanovich digs a good body shot into Chandler's ribs.
Chandler ducks under a wild hook from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich throws a quick inside leg kick.
Chandler moves out of range as Stepanovich strikes.
Stepanovich on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich throws a shot from downtown. Chandler moves away and avoids it.
Chandler drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Stepanovich defends it well.
Chandler walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chandler takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Chandler darts in looking for a takedown but Stepanovich gets double underhooks and turns Chandler into the cage.
Stepanovich dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Stepanovich scores with a hook to the body. Chandler takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Chandler just misses with a punch to the body.
It looked like Stepanovich was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Chandler.
Chandler misses with a body shot.
Stepanovich throws out a powerful jab.
Stepanovich connects with a looping right hand.
Stepanovich scores with a body shot.
Chandler throws a jab when Stepanovich was well out of range.
Stepanovich jabbing away but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Olenev Stepanovich showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Stepanovich 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Olenev Stepanovich!
A relieved looking Olenev Stepanovich thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.