PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Caleb Emmanuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christopher Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Caleb Emmanuel has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Emmanuel
vs
Stevenson

181 cm
19
168 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
164 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Asphyxiation Ltd. Clothing
Hell's Balls Nutrition

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Caleb Emmanuel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Christopher Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Richard Clark and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Emmanuel gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Stevenson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Stevenson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Stevenson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevenson thows a big elbow that misses.
Emmanuel trying to keep a closed guard but Stevenson is proving a slippery customer.

Emmanuel throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Stevenson postures up.
Emmanuel will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Stevenson thows a big elbow that misses.
Stevenson throwing strikes from guard but Emmanuel blocks nicely.
Stevenson scoring with some ground and pound.

Emmanuel is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Emmanuel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stevenson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Emmanuel working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stevenson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stevenson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Emmanuel is breathing heavily.
Emmanuel lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Stevenson!
Stevenson throwing hammer fists to the chest of Emmanuel. What's that going to do exactly?

Emmanuel working for a guillotine from mount but Stevenson is in no mood to give up.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Emmanuel looking to secure an arm triangle but Stevenson defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stevenson can do anything to dispel that myth.

Emmanuel working for a guillotine from mount but Stevenson is in no mood to give up.
Stevenson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Stevenson throwing hammer fists to the chest of Emmanuel. What's that going to do exactly?
Stevenson throwing hammer fists to the chest of Emmanuel. What's that going to do exactly?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Emmanuel working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Stevenson is looking to improve his position but Emmanuel isn't that keen on the idea.
Emmanuel blocks Stevenson's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Stevenson is in all sorts of trouble here.

Emmanuel has control of Stevenson's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Stevenson regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Stevenson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stevenson srikes from the bottom but he's lost position and has given up his back.
Stevenson tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Stevenson staying busy and making it hard for Emmanuel to control.
Stevenson manages to reverse the position and now he's in Emmanuel's guard. Nice work there by Stevenson.

Emmanuel looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Stevenson passes into half guard.

Emmanuel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Stevenson drops an elbow to the side of Emmanuel's head.
Emmanuel tries to get to full guard but Stevenson has control of the leg.
Stevenson winds up and cracks Emmanuel with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caleb Emmanuel dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Stevenson tries to clinch up.

Emmanuel looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Stevenson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Stevenson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Emmanuel. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Stevenson 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.
Emmanuel advances position into side control!

Emmanuel working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Stevenson throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Emmanuel wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Stevenson, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emmanuel blocks the strikes from Stevenson.
Stevenson is trying to improve his position.
Emmanuel throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Stevenson tries to improve position but can't.
Stevenson throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Stevenson tries to bench press Emmanuel off him but Emmanuel keeps the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Emmanuel misses with a takedown attempt

and Stevenson counters with a takedown into side control.
Stevenson working the head and body with strikes.
Emmanuel is looking for a sweep.
Emmanuel sneaks back into half guard.
Emmanuel on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson throwing shots but Emmanuel is blocking nicely.
Emmanuel makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Emmanuel.
Stevenson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Emmanuel 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.
Stevenson lands a couple of digs.
Stevenson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Emmanuel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stevenson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Emmanuel's head.
Stevenson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emmanuel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stevenson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Emmanuel drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Stevenson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Stevenson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Emmanuel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stevenson is keeping the position for now.
Emmanuel controlling from the top position.
Stevenson punching to the body, from the bottom.
Stevenson 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.

Stevenson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Caleb Emmanuel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson keeping moving, preventing Emmanuel from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Emmanuel shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Stevenson is trying to defend but Emmanuel finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Stevenson wants to get back to full guard.
Emmanuel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Emmanuel is trying to control the action in half guard but Stevenson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Stevenson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emmanuel is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Emmanuel is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Stevenson is just riding it out for now. Emmanuel eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caleb Emmanuel dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stevenson.
Stevenson works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Emmanuel defending against the ground and pound.
Stevenson looks up at the clock and then as Emmanuel takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Stevenson smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Stevenson working the ground and pound but Emmanuel is defending the strikes.
Emmanuel is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Emmanuel parries the strikes from Stevenson easily there. Stevenson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Emmanuel to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson lands an elbow.
Emmanuel defending against the ground and pound.
Emmanuel is trying to control Stevenson's posture but Stevenson avoids it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stevenson misses with a two punch combination.
Emmanuel shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Stevenson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Emmanuel won't be happy with that.
Stevenson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Emmanuel parries the strikes from Stevenson easily there. Stevenson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Emmanuel to escape.
Emmanuel gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Emmanuel wants to improve his position but Stevenson is controlling well.
Stevenson thows a huge punch but Emmanuel dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emmanuel moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Emmanuel had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Stevenson is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Emmanuel Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Stevenson's back instead.
Stevenson can't escape the position.

Stevenson preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Emmanuel.
Emmanuel controlling well, preventing Stevenson from escaping the position.
Stevenson manages to reverse the position and now he's in Emmanuel's guard. Nice work there by Stevenson.
Stevenson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Christopher Stevenson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Emmanuel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Emmanuel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Stevenson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Stevenson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Emmanuel is on top in guard.

Emmanuel drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Stevenson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Emmanuel has Stevenson in his guard.
Stevenson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emmanuel trying to keep a closed guard but Stevenson is proving a slippery customer.
Stevenson postures up in Emmanuel's guard and throws a big left but Emmanuel blocks it.

Stevenson drops back looking for a leg! Emmanuel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Emmanuel manages to kick Stevenson off! Stevenson jumps back into Emmanuel's guard.
Stevenson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Emmanuel is trying to keep Stevenson in close.

Emmanuel has his foot on Stevenson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stevenson works his way back into a safe position though.
Caleb Emmanuel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stevenson is looking to work some ground and pound but Emmanuel has wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Christopher Stevenson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Emmanuel has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Caleb Emmanuel!