PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Herb Hurt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Stevenson's choice of entrance music: Higher Ground - Red Hot Chili Peppers. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Hurt
vs
Stevenson

178 cm
23
172 lbs
9 - 13 - 0

175 cm
24
182 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 9 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Herb Hurt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joseph Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Alec Ball and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hurt with a jab.

Stevenson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hurt quickly recovers to half guard.
Stevenson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hurt blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stevenson.
Hurt is trying to stand.
Stevenson passes to full mount!

Stevenson looking for a guillotine from mount but Hurt is having none of it.
Stevenson trying to control but Hurt is having none of it.

Hurt defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Stevenson.
Stevenson won't let Hurt get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Hurt tries to hold on but Stevenson pushes him away.
Hurt tries to reverse the position but Stevenson maintains control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stevenson has hold of Hurt's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Hurt manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Stevenson wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Stevenson blocks Hurt's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Hurt is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The referee warns Hurt that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Hurt wants to try and get back to his feet.
Hurt flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

Hurt defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Stevenson.
Stevenson controlling the pace for now.
Stevenson looks gassed!
Hurt has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hurt is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Stevenson is looking for the choke from the back position but Hurt is controlling his hands well.
Stevenson is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Hurt. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Hurt looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Stevenson is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Hurt knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Hurt for a finish.
Hurt controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Stevenson is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Hurt. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hurt prevents Stevenson from getting a body triangle.
Hurt covers up after that shot from Stevenson.
Stevenson looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Stevenson is not going to allow Hurt to sit and survive in this position.
Hurt looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Hurt wants to escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevenson connects with a big shot to the side of Hurt's head.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Stevenson controlling the positon.
Hurt is covering up but some of the strikes from Stevenson are getting through and doing damage.

Stevenson has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Stevenson gets his hands free as Hurt looks to control.
Stevenson throwing damaging strikes from the back! Hurt could be in trouble here!

Stevenson tightening his grip on Hurt, looking for the choke.
Hurt is trying to get back to his feet but Stevenson has full control of the position and if anything, Hurt has just worked his way into a worse spot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Stevenson looking for the RNC.
Stevenson doesn't have the hooks in and Hurt manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Stevenson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hurt.
You can see the frustration on Stevenson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Stevenson is trying to improve his position.

Hurt decides to stand back up.
Hurt moves in looking to clinch but Stevenson pushes him off.

Stevenson moves into the clinch successfully.
Stevenson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Stevenson has a couple of punches blocked by Hurt.
Stevenson wants a takedown but no success here.
Stevenson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hurt avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hurt tries to break free but Stevenson pushes him back against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hurt tries for a takedown. No joy.
Stevenson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson trying to land knees to the body.
Stevenson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hurt prevents it.
Herb Hurt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joseph Stevenson.
Hurt is trying to force a seperation but Stevenson has the dominant position.
Hurt wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hurt is trying to break the clinch but Stevenson has him pressed against the cage.
Stevenson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hurt pulls his leg out and moves away.
Stevenson moves out of range of the strikes.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hurt.

Hurt moves into the clinch successfully.
Stevenson tries to pull guard but Hurt holds him up against the cage and eventually Stevenson drops back down to his feet.
Stevenson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hurt uses from the top position.
Hurt in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Joseph Stevenson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Stevenson is looking for a triangle but Hurt pushes his legs off easily.

Stevenson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hurt gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Stevenson has his foot on Hurt's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hurt works his way back into a safe position though.

Hurt gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Stevenson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hurt counters with a nice low kick that buckles Stevenson's knee momentarily.
Herb Hurt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hurt goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Hurt misses with the combination.

Stevenson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hurt wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Stevenson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hurt taking some punishment here, with Stevenson in his half guard.
Hurt avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stevenson.

Stevenson stands up from half guard.
Stevenson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hurt counters with a takedown into side control.
Hurt lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Stevenson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Hurt is trying to control the action in half guard but Stevenson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hurt wants to get back to his feet.
Hurt has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Stevenson works to full guard.

Stevenson is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Hurt frees his head nicely. Oh but Stevenson has switched to an armbar! Hurt is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Joseph Stevenson!