PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gunnar Owens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stevenson has chosen Higher Ground - Red Hot Chili Peppers as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Owens
vs
Stevenson

188 cm
19
170 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

175 cm
18
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid 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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gunnar Owens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joseph Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stevenson feints and as Owens raises his hands in defense, Stevenson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Stevenson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Owens tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stevenson trying to control the position from guard on top but Owens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Owens 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.

Owens had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Stevenson is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Owens Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Stevenson's back instead.

Stevenson fending off the submission attempt from Owens.

Owens is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Stevenson defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Stevenson looking very determined here, making life difficult for Owens.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson turns into Owens and is now in his guard.

Owens looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Stevenson advances to half guard.
Owens is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Stevenson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Stevenson's back!
Stevenson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Stevenson tries to lock up and control but Owens gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Owens looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Owens is breathing heavily.
Stevenson gets back to half guard.
Stevenson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Stevenson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Owens advances to half guard.

Owens is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Stevenson actively working from the bottom here.
Stevenson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Stevenson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Owens's guard.
Stevenson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Owens's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevenson throwing shots but Owens is blocking nicely.

Owens looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Stevenson stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Owens to get to his feet.
Owens shoots for a takedown but Stevenson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens shoots and misses

and Stevenson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Owens is looking to control Stevenson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Owens avoid being mounted?
Owens tries to get to full guard but Stevenson has control of the leg.
Stevenson is thwarting Owens's attempts to control the position.

Owens looking for submissions off his back.
Owens is pressing down on Stevenson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Stevenson wants to stand but Owens is controlling his posture from full guard.

Owens 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Owens throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Owens controls Stevenson momentarily but Stevenson frees himself.
Owens looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stevenson is one step ahead there.
Owens avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Owens throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Stevenson forces his way into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joseph Stevenson will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Stevenson throws a sloppy head kick and Owens moves out of range easily.

Owens gets caught flat footed, as Stevenson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Stevenson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Owens sneaks back into half guard.
Owens works his way to full guard. Good work.

Stevenson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Owens bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stevenson's guard.

Stevenson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Owens can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Owens works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Owens escapes and gets back to his feet.
Stevenson misses with a double jab.
Stevenson misses with a takedown attempt

and Owens counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson is trying to improve his position.
Stevenson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Owens off and has taken his back!
Owens trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Owens covers up after that shot from Stevenson.

Owens is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Stevenson gets his way!
Owens tries to roll but Stevenson sticks to his back.
Stevenson is looking to control Owens but Owens is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Owens is trapped and Stevenson is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Stevenson is working the ground and pound. Can Owens escape?
Stevenson is trying to stick to Owens's back but Owens is turning into Stevenson. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Stevenson's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Owens.
Owens won't allow Stevenson to sweep him here.
Stevenson keeping full guard, as Owens tries to pass.

Stevenson looking for a guillotine here but Owens defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stevenson is on top in guard.
Joseph Stevenson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stevenson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Owens is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Stevenson has his hands clasped together but Owens extends an breaks Stevenson's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Owens.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Gunnar Owens!