PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jebidiah Knepp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stevenson kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Higher Ground - Red Hot Chili Peppers. Knepp has chosen Amish Paradise as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stevenson
vs
Knepp

175 cm
23
182 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

185 cm
23
178 lbs
8 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
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 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joseph Stevenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jebidiah Knepp!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Alec Ball and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knepp avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Knepp scores with a hook.
A telegraphed right hand from Stevenson misses the target.
Stevenson avoids the head kick by Knepp.
Knepp misses with a double jab.
Knepp misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stevenson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Knepp counters with a nice uppercut.
Knepp lands a nice looking body shot.
Knepp misses with a low kick.
Stevenson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Knepp.
Stevenson tries a head kick but it misses.
Knepp scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Stevenson doesn't seem bothered though.
Knepp scores with a jab to the head.
Knepp throws a combination that misses

and Stevenson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Knepp!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stevenson avoids the attempt from Knepp to control.
Knepp is trying to escape the mount.
Knepp slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stevenson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Knepp defends it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knepp tries to get to full guard but Stevenson has control of the leg.
Knepp is looking to control Stevenson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Knepp avoid being mounted?
Stevenson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Stevenson wants to take a breather but Knepp is having none of it.
Stevenson thows a huge punch but Knepp dodges it nicely.
Knepp is trying is best to control the position here.
Knepp is trying to maintain the position but Stevenson is very close to passing his half guard.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Knepp ducks under a wild hook from Stevenson.
Stevenson misses with a hook.
Knepp misses the shot to the body.
Knepp doesn't manage to clinch there - Stevenson circles away.
Knepp throws a good cross that connects.
Stevenson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Knepp circles away quickly and effectively.
Stevenson misses with a leg kick
and Knepp counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Knepp misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stevenson bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Knepp's head.
Stevenson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Knepp sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Stevenson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Knepp misses with a wild combination.
Stevenson throws a leg kick
and Knepp connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jebidiah Knepp is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Knepp throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Knepp scores with a body shot.
Stevenson misses with a kick to the body
and Knepp counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knepp throws a nice head kick!
Knepp slips a straight right by Stevenson.
Stevenson looks to land a right hand but Knepp moved out of range.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Knepp!
Stevenson is breathing heavily.
Knepp lands a jab to Stevenson's midsection.
Knepp has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Stevenson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stevenson closes the distance and clinches up with Knepp, looking for a takedown. Stevenson pushes Knepp against the cage but Knepp circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Knepp cracks a nice hook into Stevenson's ribs.
Knepp fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Knepp is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Stevenson had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knepp scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Stevenson doesn't seem bothered though.
Knepp lands with a nice combination. Stevenson backs away looking to recover.
Stevenson throws a sloppy head kick
and Knepp counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Knepp dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Knepp lands with a nice body punch.
Knepp's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Knepp duly obliges.
Stevenson takes one on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Knepp.
Knepp scores with a crisp jab that stopped Stevenson in his tracks.
Stevenson with a poor takedown
and Knepp counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Knepp works Stevenson's body with a nice hook.
Knepp chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Knepp lands a nice shot that snaps Stevenson's head back.
Knepp fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Stevenson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Stevenson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Stevenson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Knepp scores with a nice body kick.
Joseph Stevenson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Knepp lands a jab to Stevenson's midsection.
Knepp misses with a body kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Knepp paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Knepp keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Stevenson misses with a takedown
and Knepp counters with a lovely shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jebidiah Knepp dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Knepp works Stevenson's body with a nice hook.
Left hook, right uppercut from Knepp.
Jebidiah Knepp seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Knepp ducks under a wild hook from Stevenson.
Knepp's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Knepp duly obliges.

Knepp closes the distance and pushes Stevenson back into the cage.
Stevenson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Knepp lands a nice uppercut.
Stevenson misses with a knee to the head.
Knepp unloads a knee to the mid-section. Stevenson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Stevenson throws an elbow but it misses.
Knepp working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Knepp scores with a shoulder strike.
Knepp lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Knepp just misses with a elbow thrown towards Stevenson's brow.
Stevenson tries a knee to the head but Knepp blocks it.
Knepp working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stevenson trying to stall but Knepp improves his position.
Knepp lands a hook to the side of the head.
Knepp scores with a shot to the side of Stevenson's head.
Knepp blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Stevenson blocks an elbow strike.
Knepp lands a nice knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knepp is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Knepp presses Stevenson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Knepp works on Stevenson's body with a couple of short punches.
Knepp lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Knepp lands a right hand that snaps the head of Stevenson backwards.
Knepp lands a right hand.
Knepp lands a right hand that snaps the head of Stevenson backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Stevenson fails to land.
Stevenson is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Knepp's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
A short body shot lands from Knepp as the two fighters clinch.
Stevenson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Knepp works on Stevenson's body with a couple of short punches.
Knepp scores with a hook to the body.
A short body shot lands from Knepp as the two fighters clinch.
Knepp pushes Stevenson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A right handed body shot lands from Knepp.
Knepp lands a body punch in the clinch.
Knepp working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Knepp gets through Stevenson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Knepp throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Stevensons head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Knepp creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Knepp scores with a shot to the side of Stevenson's head.
Knepp lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Stevenson throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Stevenson misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knepp lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Knepp misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stevenson.
Stevenson tries to land a knee to the head but Knepp blocks with his arms.
Knepp lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Knepp lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Stevenson or not.
Good body shot from Knepp.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A hook to the body from Knepp.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Knepp creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Knepp working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Stevenson blocks an elbow strike from Knepp.
Knepp lands with a right to the head.
A short body shot lands from Knepp as the two fighters clinch.
Knepp throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stevenson blocks it with crossed arms.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Knepp creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Knepp with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Knepp throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Stevensons head.
Knepp lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Stevenson backwards.
Knepp with a knee to the head.
A hook to the body from Knepp.
A nice right hand lands inside from Knepp.
Knepp has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A shot in the inside from Knepp.
Knepp gets through Stevenson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Knepp throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stevenson blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Knepp.
Knepp lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Knepp lands a shot to the body.
Knepp works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Knepp lands an elbow just above Stevenson 's eye.
Knepp throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Stevensons head.
Stevenson misses with the head strike.
Stevenson misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Knepp.
Stevenson tries to land a knee to the head but Knepp blocks with his arms.
Knepp working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Knepp lands a hook that snaps the head of Stevenson backwards.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Knepp.
Knepp lands a nice elbow.
Knepp lands an elbow that stopped Stevenson in his tracks for a moment.
Stevenson throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Nice body punch from Knepp.
Knepp lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Knepp lands a right hand.
Nice elbow from Knepp.
Knepp lands with a left to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Stevenson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Knepp lands a left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knepp lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Knepp presses Stevenson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Stevenson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Knepp pushes Stevenson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Knepp lands a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Stevenson fails to land.
Knepp lands with a left to the head.
Knepp lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Knepp lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Knepp lands a shot to the body.
Knepp lands a left hand.
Knepp lands with a left to the head.
Knepp works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Knepp gets through Stevenson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Knepp putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Stevenson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Knepp.
Knepp lands a hook that snaps the head of Stevenson backwards.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Knepp stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Knepp landing some nice looking knees to the body.
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!
Knepp scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short right from Knepp.
Knepp lands with a short head shot on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jebidiah Knepp showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Knepp scores with a nice right hand.
Knepp lands a jab to the head.
Knepp thuds his shin into the meat of Stevenson's side.
Stevenson looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Stevenson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Stevenson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Knepp uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Stevenson has time to react.
Knepp scores with a hook to the body. Stevenson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Knepp lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knepp scores with a one two! Stevenson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Knepp comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Knepp lands with a shot to the body.
Knepp lands a jab to Stevenson's midsection.
Knepp connects with a crisp jab.
Knepp scores with a jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knepp slips a straight right by Stevenson.
Knepp digs a good body shot into Stevenson's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good shot there by Knepp.
Knepp listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Knepp digs a good body shot into Stevenson's ribs.
Knepp lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Knepp with a nice cross.
Knepp dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Knepp throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Stevenson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Knepp throws a right and a left that Stevenson avoids nicely.
Knepp scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
A nice combination there by Knepp.
Stevenson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Knepp.
Stevenson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Knepp is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Stevenson rather than just go for the knockout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knepp tries to clinch there but Stevenson circles away.
Knepp scores with a decent looking hook.
Knepp lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Jebidiah Knepp is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knepp lands a head shot.
Knepp throws a nice head kick!
Stevenson with a poor takedown
and Knepp counters with a right hand to the body.
Knepp lands a jab to Stevenson's midsection.

Knepp moves into range and clinches up with Stevenson.
Knepp lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Stevenson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Knepp looking to throw knees to the head but Stevenson is blocking nicely.
Stevenson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Knepp lands a hook to the side of the head.
Knepp lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Stevenson or not.
A head punch on the inside from Stevenson fails to land.
Knepp is working Stevenson over against the cage.
Stevenson misses with a knee to the head.
Knepp throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson looking to stall.
Knepp presses Stevenson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Knepp gets through Stevenson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Stevenson leaning against his opponent.
Stevenson managing to block the knees to the body from Knepp.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Stevenson.
Knepp lands with a right to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Knepp.
Stevenson looking to throw knees to the head but Knepp is blocking nicely.
A short body shot lands from Knepp as the two fighters clinch.
Stevenson tries a knee to the head but Knepp blocks it.
A right hook to the body lands for Knepp.
Stevenson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Knepp backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Knepp throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Stevenson misses with a knee to the head.
Knepp blocking some punches.
Knepp digs a right hand underneath Stevenson's ribcage. Stevenson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Joseph Stevenson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Knepp scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Stevenson lands a good knee to the midsection. Knepp won't want to take too many of those.
Stevenson takes a shot to the head.
Knepp lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Stevenson or not.
Stevenson misses with an elbow strike.
Stevenson trying to stall but Knepp improves his position.
Stevenson tries to land a knee to the head but Knepp blocks with his arms.
Stevenson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevenson takes a knee to the side of the body.
Knepp lands a right hand that snaps the head of Stevenson backwards.
Knepp is working Stevenson over against the cage.
Stevenson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Knepp throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jebidiah Knepp comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Knepp winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 William Peck scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 25:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jebidiah Knepp!