PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sandor Clegane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Stephens has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Clegane
vs
Stephens

185 cm
19
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Knockout Fight Gear
5th Round

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sandor Clegane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Hugh Johnson and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stephens tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Clegane paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Clegane shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stephens as he jumps to the side.

Clegane gets caught flat footed, as Stephens shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Stephens trying to control but Clegane is working from the bottom.
Stephens sitting in guard here, content to control.
Stephens wants to control from the top but Clegane keeps moving.
Clegane seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Clegane keeping moving, preventing Stephens from controlling successfully.
Clegane is trying to control the position but Stephens postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens trying to control the position from guard on top but Clegane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stephens pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Clegane is keeping the position for now.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Clegane on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Clegane avoids the body shot from Stephens.
Stephens tries to clinch but Clegane moves out of range.
Clegane gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Stephens counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Stephens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Clegane swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Stephens clinches up against the cage.
Clegane tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sandor Clegane. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stephens pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stephens misses with a takedown

and Clegane counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stephens won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clegane working the ground and pound but Stephens is defending the strikes.

Clegane looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Stephens is trying to get back to half guard.
Stephens wants to control but Clegane postures up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Stephens regains half guard.

Clegane is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Stephens doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Clegane.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stephens is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clegane is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Stephens is looking to get to half guard.
Stephens looks gassed!

Clegane with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Stephens has given up his back. Will we see Clegane going for some submissions?

Clegane looking to break Stephens's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Stephens remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Clegane will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Clegane is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Stephens knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Stephens for a finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

Stephens showing good submission defense here.
Stephens rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Well, if Clegane is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Stephens wants to improve his position but Clegane is controlling well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stephens keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sandor Clegane dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Clegane shoots and misses

and Stephens counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Clegane manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Stephens wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Clegane.
Clegane looking to control but Stephens is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Clegane tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Clegane trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Stephens defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Clegane.
Sandor Clegane overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stephens can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Clegane trying to mount his opponent but Stephens defends it.

Stephens is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Clegane pulls his head out easily.
Stephens wants to control but Clegane is keeping busy.
Clegane tries to pass the half guard into mount. Stephens knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Clegane prevents Stephens from improving his position.
Stephens is breathing heavily.

Clegane is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Stephens has managed to free his arm - good work.

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.
Clegane is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Stephens has closed the distance and engaged Clegane in a clinch.

Stephens breaks from the clinch.
Stephens tries to clinch up.

Stephens has managed to clinch.
Stephens tries to circle away but Clegane has him pinned against the cage.
Clegane goes for a takedown attempt but Stephens pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Stephens throws out a loose jab but Clegane uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stephens drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Clegane manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Clegane wants to take Stephens's back here but Stephens is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Clegane tries to control but Stephens wriggling away.
Clegane landing strikes from the mount.
Clegane trying to control but Stephens is having none of it.

Clegane swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Sandor Clegane!