PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lucky Charm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Stevens will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Charm
vs
Stevens

150 cm
22
142 lbs
6 - 11 - 0

178 cm
25
145 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

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 6 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lucky Charm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens dodges the punch combination from Charm.
Charm throws a series of punches but Stevens avoids them all with ease.
Stevens is trying hard to land a takedown here. Charm sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jab, jab by Charm - just one landing.
Stevens shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Charm fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Charm swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stevens throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Charm.
Charm displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Charm turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Stevens fails to land with a series of punches.
Stevens misses with a two punch combination.
Lucky Charm seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Charm displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Charm stuffs the takedown attempt from Stevens. Stevens gets slowly back to his feet.
Stevens misses with a double jab.
Stevens takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Stevens just misses with a punch to the body.
Stevens will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stevens lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Charm throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Stevens counters by moving into the clinch.
Charm can't break the clinch.
Charm wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Stevens jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Charm walks away with a smile on his face. Stevens gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Lucky Charm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Stevens.
Charm looks to land a combination but Stevens avoids it well.
Charm misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Charm swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Charm misses with the combination.
Charm swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Charm lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Stevens misses with a few strikes there.
Charm plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Charm misses with a two punch combination.
Charm connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Stevens misses with a low kick.
Stevens showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Charm.
Stevens dodges the punch combination from Charm.
Charm misses with a double jab.
Stevens rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Charm moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Charm throws a right and a left that Stevens avoids nicely.
No joy there for Charm, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stevens slips a jab and a cross from Charm.
Charm chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A punch combination from Stevens misses.
Charm tries a head kick but it misses.
Charm swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stevens wants to clinch up but Charm keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charm buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Charm throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Stevens shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Charm's guard.
Stevens pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Charm is keeping the position for now.

Charm kicks Stevens off and gets to his feet.
Stevens is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Charm.
Stevens falls off balance throwing a combination
and Charm counters with an outside leg kick.
Charm will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Charm swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Stevens counters with a one-two to the body.
Stevens misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Charm misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lucky Charm is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Charm lands a jab-cross combination.
Stevens shoots and misses
and Charm counters with a thumping low kick.

Stevens rushes Charm and presses him up against the cage.

Charm pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stevens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Charm lands with a slapping head kick.
Charm slips a jab and a cross from Stevens.
Charm throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Charm defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stevens.
Stevens looks gassed!
Stevens blocks a head kick by Charm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charm works over Stevens's head and body with a nice combination.
Stevens stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Charm.
Stevens has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Charm lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stevens circles away quickly and effectively.
Stevens wants to clinch.
Stevens misses with a head kick.
A right-left combo lands from Charm.
Charm looks to land a combination but Stevens avoids it well.
Charm is working the combinations to good effect here.
Left hook, right uppercut from Charm.
Charm misses with a double jab

and Stevens counters by moving into the clinch.

Charm's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stevens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Charm will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Left hook, right uppercut from Charm.
Good leg kick by Charm there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Charm throws a right and a left that Stevens avoids nicely.
Stevens throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Charm throws a nice looking combination but Stevens bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A punch combination from Charm misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Charm.
Charm swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Charm swinging wildly here.
A right-left combo lands from Charm.
Charm misses with a series of wild punches.
Stevens throws a front kick aimed at Charm's knee but Charm avoids it well.
Charm misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Charm throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stevens throws a leg kick
and Charm counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Charm lands with a thumping leg kick.
Charm thumps Stevens with a low kick.
Charm misses with a head kick.
Charm misses with a jab, cross combination.
Charm tries to bum rush Stevens with a series of wild strikes but Stevens uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stevens tries for a takedown but Charm sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch but Charm swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A nice leg kick lands there from Charm.
A good leg kick by Charm.
Charm throws a series of punches but Stevens moves out of range.
Charm with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Charm scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucky Charm dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Charm tries to bum rush Stevens with a series of wild strikes but Stevens uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stevens throws a right hand that Charm ducks under and follows up with a left that Charm also avoids with ease.
Lucky Charm is winning the standup battle so far.
Charm rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stevens moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Charm lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Stevens fails with an attempt to clinch.
Charm takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Charm closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Charm scores with a leg kick.
Charm throws a right hand that Stevens ducks under and follows up with a left that Stevens also avoids with ease.
Charm throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stevens.
Stevens is looking to clinch.
Charm throws a right and a left that Stevens avoids nicely.
Charm misses with a series of wild punches.
Some wild striking there from Charm.
Stevens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Charm lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stevens circles away quickly and effectively.

Stevens shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Charm is trying to defend but Stevens finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Stevens is keen to just control but Charm is a slippery customer.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Stevens sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charm is trying to stand.
Charm tries to roll over but Stevens keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Charm is trying to stand up here but Stevens is controlling him well.
Charm wants to get back to full guard.
Charm won't allow Stevens to pass to mount.
Charm is trying to stand up here but Stevens is controlling him well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Charm swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Charm slips a jab and a cross from Stevens.
Charm swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stevens is looking to clinch.
Stevens falls off balance throwing a combination
and Charm counters with a good low kick that Stevens was not able to check.
Stevens tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Charm throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stevens.
Charm's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Charm duly obliges.
Stevens throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Charm.

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.
Stevens throws a right hand that Charm ducks under and follows up with a left that Charm also avoids with ease.
Charm misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stevens just misses with a punch to the body.
Charm lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A combination from Charm does no damage.
Stevens takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Charm blocks a head kick by Stevens.
Stevens pivots, looking for a leg kick but Charm is out of range and Stevens settles back down.
Stevens throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Charm fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Charm throws a right and a left that both miss.
Stevens's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Danga de danga de dang - Charm scores with a four punch combination!
Stevens wants to clinch up but Charm keeps it at a distance.
Charm misses with a combination
and Stevens counters with a series of strikes. Charm will be more careful next time no doubt.
Stevens fails with a takedown attempt.
Stevens is breathing heavily.
Charm fails to land with a series of punches.
Stevens takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Charm tries to bum rush Stevens with a series of wild strikes but Stevens uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch but Charm swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Charm lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Stevens backs up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charm misses with a jab, cross combination.
Charm throws a right and a left that Stevens avoids nicely.

Stevens has managed to clinch.
Stevens tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Stevens fails to pull guard.
Lucky Charm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Stevens.

Stevens pulls Charm into guard.
Charm wants to stand but Stevens has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Stevens is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Charm wants to control from the top but Stevens keeps moving.
Stevens has a closed guard, preventing Charm from standing up.

Charm stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Charm misses with a double jab.
Stevens steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Charm. That one must have hurt.
Charm throws a head kick but Stevens moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charm feints and then cracks Stevens's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Stevens down.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stevens looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Charm connects with a solid leg kick.
Charm throws a leg kick which misses Stevens's front leg but catches the back leg as Stevens tries to avoid it.
Stevens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Charm pinned against the cage. Charm gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Stevens takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Charm throws a series of punches but Stevens moves out of range.
Stevens on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Left hook, right uppercut from Charm.
A telegraphed right hand from Stevens misses the target.
Charm fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Charm looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Charm swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stevens misses with a two punch combination.
Charm misses with a double jab.
Charm keeps the fight on the outside.
Lucky Charm is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Stevens clinches up with Charm and pushes him back against the cage.

Stevens successfully pulls guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucky Charm dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

A slapping leg kick lands for Charm.
A solid leg kick lands there for Charm.
A head kick misses from Charm.
No joy there for Stevens, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stevens fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Charm avoids it really well and circles away.
Stevens has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Charm throws a push kick but Stevens slaps the foot to one side.
Stevens tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Charm misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stevens fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Charm cracks the inside of Stevens's front leg.
Charm fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Charm throws a left and a right that both miss

and Stevens counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Charm!
Charm is trying to stand up.

Stevens wants to finish this one by submission but Charm is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Stevens.
You get the feeling that Charm really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Stevens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Charm regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charm manages to get to full guard.
Charm is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Charm uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Charm moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Charm tries to bum rush Stevens with a series of wild strikes but Stevens uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Charm rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stevens moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nice body punch from Charm.
Charm displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Good leg kick by Charm there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Charm moves away from the strike by Stevens.
Charm connects with a solid leg kick.
Stevens looks to land a combination. Charm sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Stevens avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens tries to clinch but Charm is having none of it.
Stevens takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Charm rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stevens moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Stevens fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Charm is out of range.
Stevens stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Charm.
Charm misses with a double jab.
Charm avoids the body shot from Stevens.
Charm lands a nice leg kick that just misses Stevens's sensitive parts.
Charm avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stevens tries to clinch up but Charm circles away and keeps his distance.
Charm looks to land a combination but Stevens avoids it well.
Charm throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Stevens counters with a left to the body.
Stevens is looking to chop away at Charm's legs.
Stevens fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
No joy there for Stevens, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stevens throws a right and a left that both miss.
Charm chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Charm throws a right hand that Stevens ducks under and follows up with a left that Stevens also avoids with ease.
Charm fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charm smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Stevens fails to land the takedown.
Lucky Charm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Stevens.
Charm moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Charm throws a nice looking combination but Stevens bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Stevens misses with the combination.
Charm looks to land a combination but Stevens avoids it well.
Charm misses with a double jab.
Charm lands with a nice combination. Stevens backs away looking to recover.
Matt Stevens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stevens avoids the head kick by Charm.
Stevens takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Charm rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stevens moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Charm feints and then cracks Stevens's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Stevens down.
Charm misses with a double jab.
Stevens works Charm's body with a nice hook.
Charm moves out of range of the body kick from Stevens.
Stevens dodges the punch combination from Charm.
Charm misses with a series of wild punches.
Charm connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charm misses with a double jab.
A punch combination from Charm misses.
Stevens tries to clinch but Charm is having none of it.
Stevens throws a leg kick that is checked
and Charm counters with a three punch combo that has Stevens backing up. Stevens nods at Charm to acknowledge the strikes.
A left and a right from Charm both land. Nice combination.
Charm connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Charm.
Charm misses with a series of wild punches.
Charm throws a right hand that Stevens ducks under and follows up with a left that Stevens also avoids with ease.
Stevens stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Charm.
Charm throws a combination. Stevens tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Charm works over Stevens's head and body with a nice combination.
Charm scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Stevens throws a right and a left that Charm avoids nicely.
Charm fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stevens wants to clinch.
Stevens takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lucky Charm showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Charm, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lucky Charm!