PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Perfect Plex (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Steven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Steven's choice of entrance music: "Hip To Be Square," by Huey Lewis and the News. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Mike Steven was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Plex
vs
Steven

190 cm
24
218 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
208 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great low kicks
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Win Nutritional - proof of quality
Win Nutritional - proof of quality

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Perfect Plex!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Steven!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Edson Gomes and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Plex throws a sloppy head kick and Steven moves out of range easily.
Plex tries to clinch but Steven is having none of it.
Plex throws a head kick that Steven semi-blocks.

It looks like Mike Steven has been cut.
Plex tries to close the distance and clinch but Steven swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Plex tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Steven paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Plex tries to clinch up.
Perfect Plex seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Plex misses.
Steven with a jab.
Plex tries to clinch but Steven is having none of it.
Plex wants to clinch up but Steven keeps it at a distance.
Steven showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Plex.
Steven throws a series of punches but Plex moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Plex.
Steven tries to bum rush Plex with a series of wild strikes but Plex uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Steven keeps the fight on the outside.
Plex misses the jab.
Steven avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plex fails with an attempt to clinch.
Plex throws a sloppy head kick and Steven moves out of range easily.
Plex scoring well with a low kick there.
Plex tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Plex looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Plex plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Plex tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steven swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Plex wants to clinch.
Plex throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Steven swats away the attempt to clinch by Plex.
Plex doesn't manage to clinch there - Steven circles away.
Plex throws a nice head kick!
Plex misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steven looks to score with a jab to the body but Plex is just out of range.
Steven just misses with a punch to the body.
Steven scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Plex moves in looking to clinch but Steven pushes him off.
Steven swats away the attempt to clinch by Plex.
Plex wants to clinch up but Steven keeps it at a distance.
Plex connects with a high kick.
Steven fails with a takedown attempt.
Plex tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Steven paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Steven throws a body punch but Plex moves out of range.
Plex is looking to clinch but Steven is avoiding it.
Steven swats away the attempt to clinch by Plex.
Plex pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steven keeps the fight on the outside.
Plex tries to clinch there but Steven circles away.
Plex is looking to clinch but Steven is avoiding it.
Perfect Plex is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Steven just misses with a punch to the body.
Plex throws a sloppy head kick and Steven moves out of range easily.
Steven misses with a takedown attempt - Plex sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Plex tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Steven misses the shot to the body.
Steven lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Plex at a distance.
Steven throws a hook but Plex blocks it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Plex looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Steven scores with a jab to the head.
A head kick misses from Plex.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steven misses with a wild body shot.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Steven.
Steven misses with a body shot.
Plex lands with a slapping head kick.
Plex scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Steven takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Plex tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Steven ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Steven on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Plex. Plex obviously looking to wear him down.
Steven lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Plex at a distance.
Plex throws a head kick that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Plex tries a head kick but it misses.
Plex tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Steven closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Plex is breathing heavily.
Plex on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Steven will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mike Steven's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Steven looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Plex is trying to control but can't.
Steven thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Plex's head.
Steven landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Steven is working for a kimura but Plex is defending it quite comfortably.
Plex is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Steven's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Steven's back!
Plex controls the action.
Steven tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Plex prevents Steven from getting the reversal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plex looking to control but Steven is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Steven slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Plex prevents Steven from improving his position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Plex tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Steven.
Steven regains full guard. Nicely done.
Steven is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Plex is looking to improve his position.
Plex blocking the ground and pound attempt from Steven.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steven thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Plex's head.
Plex taking some punishment here, with Steven in his half guard.
Steven moves nicely into side control.
Plex gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Plex has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Steven is working away from the top position though.
Plex is looking to improve his position.
Steven takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Steven not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Plex is pressing down on Steven's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Steven connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plex wants to stand and escape but Steven is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Steven has gone for a leg lock! Plex slips out almost immediately though and dives into Steven's guard.
Plex won't allow Steven to sweep him here.
Plex looking to sit in guard and control but Steven gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Plex wants to stand up but Steven is controlling him.
Steven throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Plex preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Steven drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Plex dives on top into guard.

Steven has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Plex can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

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

Steven working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Plex doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Plex manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Steven is trying to keep Plex in close.

Steven looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Steven keeping full guard, as Plex tries to pass.

Steven is looking for a triangle but Plex pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Steven showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mike Steven's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Plex misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Plex lands a head kick. Steven smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Perfect Plex is winning the standup battle so far.
Steven keeps the fight on the outside.
Steven circles away from the clinch attempt.
Plex fails in his attempt to clinch.
Plex doesn't manage to clinch there - Steven circles away.
Plex pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Plex misses with a head kick.
Steven swats away the attempt to clinch by Plex.
Steven comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Steven swats away the attempt to clinch by Plex.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Plex misses with a double jab
and Steven counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Plex thinking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steven thows a body shot but no joy.
Steven works the jab nicely.
Plex displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Steven.
A bone on bone clash there as Steven blocks the leg kick.
Steven checks the leg kick nicely there.
Plex wants to clinch but Steven slips to the side
and Steven counters with a series of strikes. Plex will be more careful next time no doubt.
Steven throws a looping overhand right but Plex ducks down to avoid it.
Plex blocks the body kick.
Steven throws a shot to the body.
Steven ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Steven throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Plex on the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Plex takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Steven decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Perfect Plex has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Plex keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Steven lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Plex is trying to stand back up but Steven is controlling him
Steven working over Plex with some ground and pound. Plex looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Mike Steven is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Steven stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Plex is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Steven jumps into side control!
Steven controlling the position from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steven's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Plex stops Steven from passing to mount.
Steven is looking to take a break and control but Plex is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Plex is trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steven taking a breather here.
Steven is looking to take a break and control but Plex is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mike Steven just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Plex takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Steven is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Plex rather than just go for the knockout.
Steven lets loose with a powerful body kick. Plex will feel that in the morning.
Plex takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Steven shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Plex but Plex pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Plex tries to clinch but Steven moves away
and Steven counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Plex throws a jab but it's blocked by Steven.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steven comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Steven digs a good body shot into Plex's ribs.
Plex throws a leg kick
and Steven counters with a nice body shot.
Steven shoots in for a takedown but Plex shows good takedown defense.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Steven comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Steven has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Steven!