PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between harris stephenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marius Zaromskis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marius Zaromskis is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

stephenson
vs
Zaromskis

190 cm
22
175 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
169 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Enjoys gardening

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, harris stephenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marius Zaromskis!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
stephenson swats away the attempt to clinch by Zaromskis.
No luck for Zaromskis with that takedown attempt.

Zaromskis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
stephenson prevents Zaromskis from breaking the clinch.

Zaromskis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

stephenson tries to keep at a distance but Zaromskis has taken the fight into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Zaromskis's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Zaromskis is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Zaromskis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zaromskis moves in looking to clinch but stephenson pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
stephenson takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Zaromskis fails in his attempt to clinch.
Marius Zaromskis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
stephenson fails with a takedown attempt.
Zaromskis shoots and misses

and stephenson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Zaromskis's guard now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

stephenson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and stephenson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

stephenson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and stephenson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
stephenson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
stephenson won't allow Zaromskis to get back to his feet.
Zaromskis is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
stephenson looking to pass the guard.
stephenson is breathing heavily.

stephenson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

stephenson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Zaromskis is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Zaromskis has escaped and now he's on top!
Zaromskis trying to stand up but can't free himself from stephenson's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

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

stephenson throws his legs up looking for a submission but Zaromskis uses it to pass to side control.

Zaromskis stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Zaromskis plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaromskis tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and stephenson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Zaromskis's guard now.
stephenson tries to free his leg and advance position but Zaromskis is retaining full guard.

stephenson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and stephenson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

stephenson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Zaromskis looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Zaromskis looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Zaromskis!

Zaromskis decides to take the fight back to the feet.
stephenson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zaromskis.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zaromskis fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with stephenson, pushing him back against the cage.
stephenson prevents the takedown attempt.
harris stephenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marius Zaromskis.
stephenson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Zaromskis prevents it.

Zaromskis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Zaromskis - that will leave a mark!
Zaromskis lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
stephenson shoots in for a double leg but Zaromskis sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice body kick from Zaromskis.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
stephenson tries for a takedown but Zaromskis sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that harris stephenson will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zaromskis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but stephenson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zaromskis throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by stephenson.
Zaromskis scores with a one two! stephenson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Zaromskis throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
stephenson shoots in and drives through. Zaromskis sprawls well.

Zaromskis gets a clinch.
Zaromskis tries for a takedown but stephenson manages to get underhooks.
Zaromskis is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. stephenson is defending well for now.

Zaromskis breaks from the clinch.
Zaromskis tries to clinch up but stephenson circles away and keeps his distance.
Zaromskis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
stephenson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zaromskis misses with a takedown

and stephenson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
harris stephenson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

stephenson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zaromskis is just riding it out for now. stephenson eventually gives up the hold.
Zaromskis really doesn't want to stay on the ground with stephenson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

stephenson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Zaromskis is trying to stand up here but stephenson is controlling him well.

That's two 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.

stephenson is looking for a kimura here.

stephenson is trying to work for a kimura but Zaromskis is defending well.
stephenson prevents Zaromskis from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
stephenson has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

stephenson looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Zaromskis defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from stephenson.

stephenson has hold of Zaromskis's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Zaromskis manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
stephenson won't let Zaromskis get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Zaromskis defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from stephenson.

stephenson looking for a guillotine from mount but Zaromskis is having none of it.

stephenson swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Zaromskis is now in stephenson's guard. A big mistake from stephenson there, giving up the dominant position!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

stephenson working for a triangle but Zaromskis defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

harris stephenson dominated that second round.
That's time! stephenson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Zaromskis gets a clinch.
Zaromskis tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and stephenson avoids it.
Zaromskis unloads a knee to the mid-section.

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

stephenson drives through with a takedown into guard.

stephenson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Zaromskis is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of stephenson, into his guard.

stephenson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zaromskis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zaromskis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
stephenson has a closed guard, preventing Zaromskis from standing up.

Zaromskis decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zaromskis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zaromskis is looking to clinch.
Zaromskis tries to clinch up.
Zaromskis lands a head kick. stephenson smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Zaromskis throws a sloppy head kick and stephenson moves out of range easily.
stephenson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zaromskis's waist but Zaromskis gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing stephenson off to one side.
Zaromskis tries to close the distance and clinch but stephenson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zaromskis tries to clinch up but stephenson circles away and keeps his distance.
Zaromskis fails in his attempt to clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Zaromskis.
stephenson sneaks back into half guard.

stephenson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

stephenson actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Zaromskis is going to stand back up.
stephenson regains full guard. Nicely done.
stephenson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zaromskis is one step ahead there.

stephenson looking for a guillotine here but Zaromskis defends easily.
Zaromskis trying to stand up but can't free himself from stephenson's guard.
Marius Zaromskis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.

Zaromskis decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Zaromskis throws a half hearted mid kick.
Zaromskis is looking to clinch but stephenson is avoiding it.
Zaromskis throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nice takedown defense from Zaromskis. No joy for stephenson on that attempt.
Zaromskis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
stephenson closes the distance and clinches up with Zaromskis, looking for a takedown. stephenson pushes Zaromskis against the cage but Zaromskis circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
harris stephenson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for harris stephenson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A combination from Zaromskis does no damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marius Zaromskis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think stephenson 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!