PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Youssef Hadji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hadji comes into the arena with The National Anthem of Morocco blaring out of the sound system. Stevenson has chosen System Of A Down - Science as his entrance music. Youssef Hadji has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Hadji
vs
Stevenson

179 cm
20
184 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

180 cm
23
170 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Youssef Hadji!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nick Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Joseph Jones and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hadji clinches with his opponent.
Hadji jumps guard but Stevenson stands there with Hadji around his waist. Hadji gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stevenson is trying to break the clinch but Hadji is controlling him.
Stevenson tries to break the clinch but Hadji is controlling the position.
Hadji jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stevenson walks away with a smile on his face. Hadji gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Stevenson connects with a jab.
Hadji tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stevenson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hadji somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Youssef Hadji. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hadji fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stevenson avoids it really well and circles away.
Hadji wants to clinch up but Stevenson keeps it at a distance.
Hadji is looking to clinch.
Stevenson takes one to the chin there.

Hadji closes the distance and pushes Stevenson back into the cage.
Stevenson can't break the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Stevenson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Stevenson pushes Hadji back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stevenson breaks from the clinch.
Hadji shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stevenson but Stevenson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Stevenson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Stevenson slips a jab and a cross from Hadji.
Stevenson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hadji ducks under a wild hook from Stevenson.
Hadji pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stevenson misses with a few strikes there.
Some wild striking there from Stevenson.
Stevenson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hadji.
Hadji swings for the body but Stevenson moves out of range.
Nick Stevenson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stevenson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stevenson slips a jab and a cross from Hadji.
Stevenson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hadji misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

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.
Stevenson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hadji takes a swing at Stevenson's ribcage but misses.
Hadji thows a left - swing and a miss!
Stevenson connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Stevenson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hadji lands with a cross.
Hadji connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Stevenson's hands.
Hadji is looking to clinch.
Hadji throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stevenson looks to score with a jab to the body but Hadji is just out of range.

Hadji moves into the clinch successfully.
Hadji has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stevenson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hadji is breathing heavily.
Hadji changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Stevenson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Stevenson misses with a double jab

and Hadji counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson trying to hold on to Hadji's head to control him but Hadji postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hadji is looking to take a break and control but Stevenson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Stevenson tries to get to full guard but Hadji has control of the leg.
Hadji is controlling the pace.
Stevenson desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's four 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.
Stevenson tries to get to full guard but Hadji has control of the leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hadji fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Stevenson checks it well.
Stevenson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Stevenson misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Hadji counters with a takedown into side control.

Hadji tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hadji taking a breather here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Youssef Hadji dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hadji misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hadji fails to land the takedown.
Hadji wants to clinch.
Stevenson throws a nice looking combination but Hadji bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hadji is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stevenson misses with a looping right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hadji gets a clinch.
Hadji has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Stevenson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hadji tries to pull guard but Stevenson holds him up against the cage and eventually Hadji drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Youssef Hadji. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good body shot from Hadji.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Stevenson.
Stevenson has a couple of punches blocked by Hadji.
Hadji is trying to stall.
Stevenson cracks Hadji with a nice body shot.
Stevenson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Stevenson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Stevenson slows down the pace here.
Hadji unloads a knee to the mid-section. Stevenson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A frustrated look appears on Stevenson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hadji tries for a takedown but Stevenson manages to get underhooks.
Stevenson wants to break free but Hadji has control.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hadji is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Stevenson is keeping busy.
Hadji tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stevenson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Stevenson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hadji is keeping busy.
Stevenson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Left hook, right uppercut from Hadji.
Stevenson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hadji tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stevenson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hadji tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stevenson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stevenson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hadji to score with a decent uppercut.
Stevenson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hadji cracks Stevenson with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Hadji is looking to clinch but Stevenson is avoiding it.
Youssef Hadji seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hadji throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Stevenson tests Hadji's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hadji gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Hadji dives in and grabs Stevenson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stevenson pushes down on Hadji's head and hops out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hadji is looking to clinch.
Hadji tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hadji rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stevenson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hadji tries to clinch but Stevenson is having none of it.
Hadji tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stevenson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stevenson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Hadji with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Stevenson to score with a decent uppercut.
Stevenson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Hadji is rocked!
Stevenson is looking for an opening here. He's unloaded a big left hand that catches Hadji flush on the jaw and sends him tumbling to the canvas! Hadji is out cold! Stevenson holds back from landing any unnecessary shots to his unconscious opponent, as the referee reacts slowly to the situation. A brutal knockout and then some excellent sportsmanship - this guy is my new favorite fighter!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Nick Stevenson!