PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Brian Blessed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Stephenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stephenson has chosen The Black Stymphalian - Deadlock (The Fall of Angels) as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Blessed
vs
Stephenson

175 cm
22
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
135 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Q159 just 100$ --> Elite Nutrition Company
Phoenix Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Brian Blessed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, James Stephenson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blessed connects with a right hand. Stephenson shakes it off.
The crowd cheers as Blessed lands an impressive looking overhand right. Stephenson doesn't seem phased though.
Blessed lands a two punch combo.
Blessed lands a glancing blow to the side of Stephenson's head.
Blessed connects with a right hand. Stephenson shakes it off.
Blessed scores with a hook.
Stephenson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Blessed wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Stephenson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Stephenson walks into a left hand.
Stephenson misses with a head kick.
Stephenson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stephenson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Blessed lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Stephenson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Blessed swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Blessed keeps the fight on the outside.
A jab lands there for Blessed.
Blessed lands a jab-cross combination.
Blessed is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Stephenson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Blessed scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Stephenson tries to clinch there but Blessed circles away.
Stephenson looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blessed lands a lovely overhand right.
Blessed sizes up Stephenson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Stephenson on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Nice body punch from Blessed.
Blessed avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Blessed throws a series of strikes that have Stephenson backpedaling.
Blessed bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Stephenson's head.
Stephenson walks into a jab.
Blessed darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Stephenson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A left lands for Blessed.
Blessed lands with a good body shot.
Stephenson tries to move into range but Blessed moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Blessed really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Blessed throws a combination. Stephenson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Blessed looks to land a combination. Stephenson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Blessed bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Stephenson's head backwards.
Blessed darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A punch lands to the side of Stephenson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The crowd cheers as Blessed lands an impressive looking overhand right. Stephenson doesn't seem phased though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stephenson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Blessed cracks a nice hook into Stephenson's ribs.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stephenson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Blessed lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Blessed throws a one two combo.
Stephenson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Stephenson takes one to the chin there.
Blessed scores with a one two! Stephenson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
The crowd cheers as Blessed lands an impressive looking overhand right. Stephenson doesn't seem phased though.
Stephenson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Blessed goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
James Stephenson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blessed lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Stephenson takes one to the chin there.
Blessed lands with a good body shot.
Stephenson walks into a left hand.
Left hook, right uppercut from Blessed.
Stephenson walks into a stiff left hand from Blessed.
Blessed scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Blessed looks to land a combination. Stephenson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blessed works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Blessed jabs Stephenson right on the nose. Stephenson blinks but takes it well.
Blessed moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Blessed works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Blessed moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Blessed looks to land a combination. Stephenson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Stephenson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Stephenson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Blessed scores with a jab to the jaw.
Blessed lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Stephenson at a distance.
Blessed is working the combinations to good effect here.
Stephenson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Blessed scores with a one two! Stephenson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Stephenson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
The fighters circle momentarily. Blessed darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Blessed scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Blessed stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blessed lands with a cross.
Blessed cracks Stephenson with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blessed slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Stephenson on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Stephenson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Stephenson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Blessed with a nice cross.
Blessed's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Blessed duly obliges.
Blessed scores with a crisp jab that stopped Stephenson in his tracks.
Blessed connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A lazy left from Blessed finds it's target.
Blessed's corner calls for a 1-2. Blessed obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Blessed fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Stephenson on the side of the head.
Stephenson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Blessed lands with a good body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stephenson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Stephenson needs to keep his hands up - Blessed had a free shot at his head there.
Blessed throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Stephenson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Left hook, right uppercut from Blessed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Blessed dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Blessed moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Stephenson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Blessed swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A left and a right from Blessed both land. Nice combination.
Blessed connects with a crisp jab.
Blessed moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Blessed stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Stephenson misses with a body kick.
Blessed connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Stephenson momentarily.
Brian Blessed is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blessed scores with a nice head shot.
A left lands for Blessed.
Blessed swats away the attempt to clinch by Stephenson.
Stephenson takes one to the chin there.
Stephenson is breathing heavily.
Blessed scores with a one two! Stephenson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Blessed misses with the combination.
Stephenson shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blessed throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Blessed scores with a one two! Stephenson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Blessed works over Stephenson's head and body with a nice combination.
Blessed connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Stephenson's hands.
Blessed is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stephenson can do to turn this around?
Stephenson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Blessed comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Stephenson walks into a stiff left hand from Blessed.
Brian Blessed is winning the standup battle so far.
Stephenson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Blessed to score with a decent uppercut.
Stephenson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Blessed.
Blessed's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Blessed duly obliges.
Stephenson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Stephenson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Blessed closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Danga de danga de dang - Blessed scores with a four punch combination!
Blessed scores with a one two! Stephenson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Blessed scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Blessed scores with a jab to the head.
Left hook, right uppercut from Blessed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blessed lands with a nice combination. Stephenson backs away looking to recover.
Blessed throws out a powerful jab.
Blessed moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A jab from Blessed does it's job there.
Blessed misses with a double jab.
Blessed connects with a crisp jab.
Blessed stalks Stephenson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Stephenson's face. Stephenson staggers backwards, shaken.
Blessed digs a good hook to Stephenson's body.
Stephenson ducks right into an uppercut from Blessed.
Blessed lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Stephenson backs up against the cage.
Stephenson ducks right into an uppercut from Blessed.
Stephenson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Blessed finds it's way round the side to connect with Stephenson's head.
Nice cross by Blessed.
Stephenson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Blessed to score with a decent uppercut.
Blessed works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Blessed stalks Stephenson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Stephenson's face. Stephenson staggers backwards, shaken.
Stephenson takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Stephenson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Stephenson is looking to clinch.
Blessed stalks Stephenson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Stephenson's face. Stephenson staggers backwards, shaken.
Blessed lands with a nice combination. Stephenson backs away looking to recover.
Stephenson takes one to the side of the head.
Stephenson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A nice combination there by Blessed.
Blessed lands a jab.
Blessed uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Blessed fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Stephenson on the side of the head.
Blessed is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Stephenson takes one to the chin there.
Stephenson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Blessed stalks Stephenson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Stephenson's face. Stephenson staggers backwards, shaken.
Blessed throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Blessed lands with a cross.
Nice uppercut there from Blessed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blessed connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A nice combination there by Blessed.
Blessed lands with a hook. Stephenson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A cross from Blessed lands.
Stephenson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Blessed cracks Stephenson with a right hand to the side of the head.
Blessed with a hook.
Stephenson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Blessed scores with a sloppy right hand. Stephenson should have avoided that one.
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!
Blessed displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Stephenson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Blessed moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Blessed lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Stephenson backs up against the cage.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Stephenson might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Blessed has got the better of the exchanges.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blessed lands with a nice combination. Stephenson backs away looking to recover.
Blessed connects with a nice looking jab.
Blessed connects with a nice looking jab.
Blessed looks to land a combination. Stephenson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Stephenson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Blessed dominated that second round.
That's time! Blessed's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Blessed connects with a right hand. Stephenson shakes it off.
Stephenson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Blessed lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A leg kick checked by Blessed.
Blessed slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Stephenson walks into a jab.
Blessed moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Blessed lands a nice looking body shot.
Stephenson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Blessed with a nice cross.
Blessed throws a good cross that connects.
Stephenson misses with a kick to the body.
Blessed stalks Stephenson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Stephenson's face. Stephenson staggers backwards, shaken.
Stephenson walks into a jab.
Blessed lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Blessed scores with a three punch combo!

Stephenson is rocked!
Blessed scores with a jab to the head.
Stephenson is still on wobbly legs! Can Blessed finish him?
Stephenson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Blessed scores with a three punch combo!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blessed throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Blessed connects with a single shot there.
Stephenson seems to have recovered his senses.
Blessed cracks Stephenson with a right hand to the side of the head.
Stephenson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Blessed thuds a left hand into Stephenson's body.
Blessed scores with a jab to the body.
Blessed displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Blessed works the jab nicely.
Blessed scores with a nice strike.
Blessed lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Stephenson takes one on the button.
Blessed throws a combination. Stephenson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Blessed lands with a right hand.
Stephenson is looking to clinch.
Blessed scores with a nice head shot.
Blessed misses with a wild combination.
Blessed lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blessed scores with a one two! Stephenson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Blessed connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Stephenson momentarily.
Blessed lands with a nice body punch.
Blessed scores with a jab. Stephenson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Blessed lands a jab.
Blessed scores with a shot to the body.
Blessed lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Blessed changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A right-left combo lands from Blessed.
Blessed connects with a crisp jab.
Blessed lands with a straight right. Stephenson didn't see that one coming.
Blessed moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Blessed scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Blessed lands a jab to the nose.
Stephenson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Blessed finds it's way round the side to connect with Stephenson's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Blessed uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Blessed looks to land a combination. Stephenson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Blessed digs a good hook to Stephenson's body.
Blessed lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Blessed keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Stephenson misses with a head kick.
Blessed scores with a hook.
Nice shot by Blessed.
Blessed fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Stephenson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Blessed scores with a three punch combo!
Stephenson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Stephenson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A left and a right from Blessed both land. Nice combination.
Blessed lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Blessed throws a one two combo.
Blessed lands a nice looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blessed thuds a left hand into Stephenson's body.
Blessed's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Blessed duly obliges.
Stephenson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Blessed.
Blessed connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Blessed thuds a left hand into Stephenson's body.
Blessed throws a one two combo.
Blessed lands a jab-cross combination.
Stephenson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stephenson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Blessed.
Blessed scores with a decent looking hook.
Blessed lands with a straight right. Stephenson didn't see that one coming.
Blessed moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
James Stephenson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blessed lands with an uppercut that bounces Stephenson off the cage and back into rage.
Blessed connects with a right hand. Stephenson shakes it off.
Blessed moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Blessed lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian Blessed showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Blessed has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:24
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:24
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Blessed!