PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Clifford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Stevens
vs
Clifford

178 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

183 cm
20
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steven Clifford!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Damien Edna and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stevens has closed the distance and engaged Clifford in a clinch.
A short body shot lands from Stevens as the two fighters clinch.
Stevens misses with a punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Clifford scores with a nice short uppercut.
Stevens is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Clifford blocks a body shot from Stevens.
Stevens swings wildly with an uppercut but Clifford uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stevens tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A bit of stalling here from Stevens.
Clifford drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stevens gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nice body punch from Stevens.
Clifford is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Clifford tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Steve Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Clifford.

Clifford gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Stevens tries to kick Clifford off but Clifford keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Stevens tries to roll over but Clifford keeps him under control.
Stevens regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Clifford.
Stevens controls Clifford momentarily but Clifford frees himself.
Clifford trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Stevens manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Clifford keeps moving.
Clifford keeping full guard, as Stevens tries to pass.
Stevens is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Clifford looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Clifford keeps moving.
Stevens distracts Clifford with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two 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.
Stevens looking to pass the guard.
Stevens controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Clifford wants to get back to his feet but Stevens passes into half guard.

Stevens wants to work for an arm triangle but Clifford is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Stevens is keen to just control but Clifford is a slippery customer.
Stevens is breathing heavily.
Clifford gets back to full guard.
Stevens stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Clifford swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Clifford is wriggling around but Stevens manages to pass to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clifford is trying to maintain the position but Stevens is very close to passing his half guard.

Clifford looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Stevens connects with a nice short shot to Clifford's temple.
Clifford controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Clifford tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Stevens wants to control but Clifford is keeping him busy.

That's four 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Clifford shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Stevens has hold of Clifford's hands but Clifford slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Clifford moves nicely into side control.

Clifford tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Clifford has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Clifford creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Stevens sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Steven Clifford will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Stevens fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stevens tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Clifford swivels and escapes.
Clifford fails with a takedown attempt.
Clifford with a lazy takedown attempt

and Stevens counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Clifford's guard now.
Clifford seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Clifford is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stevens is aware though and is defending well.
Clifford trying to keep a closed guard but Stevens is proving a slippery customer.
Clifford wants to hit a switch here but Stevens passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Clifford there!
Clifford is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stevens with shots to the head and body - Clifford looks very uncomfortable down there.
Clifford is trying to stand up.
Clifford is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Clifford regains half guard.
Clifford is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Clifford manages to get to full guard.
Stevens tries to free his leg and advance position but Clifford is retaining full guard.
Clifford tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Clifford is looking to stand up but Stevens isn't so interested in that idea.
Clifford wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens postures up.

Stevens avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stevens doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Clifford counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Stevens!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Clifford jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Stevens is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Stevens and Clifford has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Clifford looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Clifford working away.
Stevens tries to bench press Clifford off him but Clifford keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens is not content to let Clifford control the position.
Clifford working away.

Clifford stands up.
Stevens fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Clifford tries for a takedown but Stevens circles away easily

and Stevens counters with a takedown into side control.
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Clifford is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Clifford is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Steve Stevens will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Clifford shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Stevens slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Clifford is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Stevens preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stevens wants to sweep here but Clifford controlling him for the moment.
Clifford tries to free his leg and advance position but Stevens is retaining full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stevens working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Clifford.
Clifford looking to sit in guard and control but Stevens gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clifford looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stevens is one step ahead there.
Clifford looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Clifford shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Stevens counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Clifford!
Stevens avoids the attempt from Clifford to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clifford is trying to escape the mount.
Clifford wants to hold on but Stevens pushes him away.
Steve Stevens overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Clifford really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Clifford tries to hold on but Stevens pushes him away.
Clifford sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Clifford has one foot on Stevens's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Steve Stevens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Stevens decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Clifford is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clifford is looking to control Stevens's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Clifford avoid being mounted?
Stevens tries to pass to full mount but Clifford defends it.
Clifford is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stevens winds up and cracks Clifford with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Clifford kicks off Stevens and gets to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Clifford closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Stevens did well to prevent Clifford getting side control.
Clifford prevents Stevens from improving his position.
Stevens is trying to control but can't.
Clifford wants to control but Stevens is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevens trying to control but Clifford postures up.
Clifford looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Clifford winds up and cracks Stevens with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Clifford stalling away here and it's allowed Stevens to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stevens.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Steve Stevens.
I think Stevens 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Stevens!