PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zacky Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will McRoberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stevenson
vs
McRoberts

190 cm
26
195 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

190 cm
25
189 lbs
2 - 6 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

The Adrenaline Matrix

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zacky Stevenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Will McRoberts!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McRoberts takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Stevenson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Stevenson lands with a cross.
McRoberts scores with the left hand. Stevenson knows he should have avoided that one.
McRoberts shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stevenson defends it nicely.
McRoberts changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stevenson tries to avoid it but McRoberts manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stevenson to the ground. Stevenson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zacky Stevenson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Stevenson misses.
Stevenson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stevenson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stevenson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
No luck for McRoberts with that takedown attempt.
Zacky Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will McRoberts.
McRoberts closes the distance and clinches up with Stevenson, looking for a takedown. McRoberts pushes Stevenson against the cage but Stevenson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
McRoberts will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McRoberts throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stevenson's waist but Stevenson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McRoberts off to one side.
McRoberts uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stevenson.
Stevenson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Stevenson tries to sprawl but McRoberts drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Stevenson is trying to stand up here but McRoberts is controlling him well.
Stevenson manages to get to full guard.
McRoberts trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevenson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McRoberts postures up and lands a big shot to Stevenson's brow.

Stevenson looking for a guillotine here but McRoberts defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McRoberts loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McRoberts has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Stevenson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McRoberts is aware though and is defending well.

McRoberts stands and steps away. Stevenson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

McRoberts drives through and clinches with Stevenson against the cage.

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 McRoberts uses from the top position.
McRoberts landing with the ground and pound.

Stevenson working for a triangle but McRoberts defends it easily.
Stevenson is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McRoberts postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McRoberts accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McRoberts forces his way into half guard.
Stevenson is in trouble now - McRoberts has advanced to mount!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Stevenson is squirming around, avoiding McRoberts's attempts to control the action.
McRoberts is stalling here but it's allowed Stevenson to get half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

McRoberts trying to work for an americana but Stevenson has managed to regain full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McRoberts avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Stevenson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
McRoberts slips nicely into half guard.
McRoberts takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McRoberts slips a nice elbow through Stevenson's hands, connecting with Stevenson's forehead.
Stevenson taking some punishment here, with McRoberts in his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zacky Stevenson dominated that round.
That's time! Stevenson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

McRoberts darts in and clinches Stevenson up against the cage.
McRoberts is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Stevenson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Stevenson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

McRoberts instigates a clinch.
McRoberts keeps control of Stevenson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
McRoberts tries for a takedown but Stevenson manages to get underhooks.
McRoberts cracks Stevenson with a nice body shot.
Stevenson is trying to push McRoberts away but McRoberts has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Stevenson gets underhooks to prevent McRoberts's takedown attempt.
Zacky Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will McRoberts.
McRoberts wants a takedown but no success here.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Stevenson.
McRoberts tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stevenson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Stevenson.
Stevenson lands a nice uppercut.
Stevenson prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson looking to stall.
Stevenson pushes McRoberts back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
McRoberts is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Stevenson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Stevenson misses with a body punch.
McRoberts is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Stevenson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Stevenson works on McRoberts's body with a couple of short punches.
Stevenson gets underhooks to prevent McRoberts's takedown attempt.

McRoberts pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McRoberts fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Stevenson misses the shot to the body.
Stevenson misses with a body shot.

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.
Stevenson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McRoberts manages to avoid it.
Stevenson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Zacky Stevenson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McRoberts defending well as Stevenson loads up on a big left hand.
Stevenson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McRoberts misses with a head kick.
Stevenson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
McRoberts shoots for a takedown but Stevenson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Stevenson stuffs the takedown attempt from McRoberts. McRoberts gets slowly back to his feet.
McRoberts moves in looking to clinch but Stevenson pushes him off.

McRoberts scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McRoberts's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McRoberts's back!
Will Stevenson go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
McRoberts trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Stevenson biding his time, looking for the opening.
McRoberts looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Stevenson tries to keep control of the position but McRoberts is staying busy.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Stevenson controlling the positon.
McRoberts rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zacky Stevenson 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

McRoberts drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
McRoberts creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
McRoberts wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stevenson keeps working.
Stevenson manages to get back to half guard.
McRoberts working the head and body with strikes.

McRoberts seems to be working for a kimura but Stevenson defends the submission attempt.

McRoberts stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Stevenson to get to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McRoberts wants to clinch.
Stevenson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

McRoberts gets a clinch.

McRoberts manages to break the clinch.

McRoberts changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Stevenson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
McRoberts trying to control the action but Stevenson is working from the bottom.
Stevenson is trying to escape the position but McRoberts is controlling the position.
Will McRoberts has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McRoberts wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stevenson keeps working.
Stevenson tries to improve position but can't.
Stevenson gets back to half guard.
McRoberts seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stevenson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Will McRoberts has got the better of the ground game so far.

Will McRoberts has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
McRoberts scores with a body shot.
McRoberts throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Stevenson on the side of the head.
McRoberts shoots in but no luck this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson stuffs the takedown attempt from McRoberts. McRoberts gets slowly back to his feet.
McRoberts fails to land the takedown.
Zacky Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will McRoberts.
McRoberts moves in looking to clinch but Stevenson pushes him off.
McRoberts fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stevenson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from McRoberts.
Stevenson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stevenson stuffs the takedown attempt from McRoberts. McRoberts gets slowly back to his feet.
Stevenson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four 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.
McRoberts closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stevenson circles away.
Stevenson misses with a body punch

and McRoberts counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Stevenson!
Stevenson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stevenson is working hard here to advance position.
Zacky Stevenson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McRoberts tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

McRoberts is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Stevenson is surviving well by controlling McRoberts's body position as best he can.
McRoberts can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Stevenson is looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stevenson is trying to escape the mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Will McRoberts comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Stevenson 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zacky Stevenson!