PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Uriah Heath (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Heath comes to the cage accompanied by Asche zu Asche. 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!

Heath
vs
Stevens

179 cm
27
139 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

178 cm
25
145 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

Hjelte Health Corp

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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Uriah Heath!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Viktor Lagutenko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Heath really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Horrible takedown by Heath or perhaps it was just good defense by Stevens which made him look bad.

Heath fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Stevens sprawls well initially but Heath persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Stevens strikes from the bottom but Heath uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Stevens is looking to reverse the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Heath working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Heath tries for a kimura but Stevens is defending well.

Heath is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Stevens knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Heath tries for a kimura but Stevens is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Stevens's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Stevens manages to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Heath trying to control the action but Stevens is working from the bottom.

Stevens looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Heath wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stevens keeps working.

Heath is working for a submission of some sort.
Stevens wants to improve his position but Heath is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Stevens looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Stevens manages to get to full guard.
Heath tries to free his leg and advance position but Stevens is retaining full guard.
Heath wants to control from the top but Stevens keeps moving.

Stevens has his foot on Heath's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Heath works his way back into a safe position though.
Heath trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Heath drops back looking for a leg! Stevens is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Stevens manages to kick Heath off! Heath jumps back into Stevens's guard.
Heath is breathing heavily.
Heath trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stevens had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Heath defends it easily.

Stevens is looking for a triangle but Heath pushes his legs off easily.
Stevens keeping full guard, as Heath tries to pass.
Stevens keeping moving, preventing Heath from controlling successfully.

Stevens looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Heath wants to control from the top but Stevens keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Heath advances to half guard.
Heath trying to control from half guard but Stevens is working away.

Heath is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Heath seems to be looking for submissions.

Stevens looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Stevens looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Uriah Heath dominated that 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.

Stevens fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Matt Stevens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stevens moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Heath fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevens wants to clinch up but Heath keeps it at a distance.

Heath fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Stevens sprawls well initially but Heath persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heath looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Heath is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stevens defends it well.

Stevens actively working from the bottom here.

Heath is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Stevens has managed to free his arm - good work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stevens throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Heath is looking to advance position but Stevens won't allow it.

Stevens looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Heath is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Stevens is just riding it out for now. Heath eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Heath tries to pass the half guard into mount. Stevens knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Stevens is pressing down on Heath's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Stevens is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Heath trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Stevens looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Heath trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Heath looking to sit in guard and control but Stevens gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens being controlled here momentarily.
Heath wants to sweep but no luck.
Heath is controlling Stevens's posture.
Stevens controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Stevens trying to control the position from guard on top but Heath is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Heath paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Heath moves out of range of the strikes.
Heath shoots for a takedown but Stevens saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Stevens has his takedown stuffed

and Heath counters with a takedown into side control.

Heath is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Stevens knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Uriah Heath dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Stevens walks into a stiff left hand from Heath.
Heath with a poor takedown

and Stevens counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Heath won't allow Stevens to pass to mount.

Heath looking for submissions off his back.
Stevens working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heath wants to get back to full guard.
Heath gets back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stevens wants to stand and escape but instead Heath has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Stevens is looking for a triangle but Heath pushes his legs off easily.

Heath has gone for a leg lock! Stevens slips out almost immediately though and dives into Heath's guard.
Uriah Heath overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Heath looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heath keeping moving, preventing Stevens from controlling successfully.
Stevens is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Heath keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Heath not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Heath shoots and misses

and Stevens decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Heath's guard.
Heath keeping moving, preventing Stevens from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens controls from within his opponent's guard.

Heath throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Stevens wants to pass the guard but Heath is keeping the position.
Stevens looking to sit in guard and control but Heath gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Stevens trying to control the position.

Stevens is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Stevens has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Heath can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Heath thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Heath controlling from the top position.
Stevens wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Heath is now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Stevens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Heath has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Matt Stevens!
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight for Matt Stevens!

Matt Stevens wins by majority decision!