PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Banka Jansson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Jansson
vs
Stevens

187 cm
24
220 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

193 cm
23
215 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Banka Jansson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jansson throws a half hearted mid kick.
That kick from Jansson tenderised Stevens's leg. Stevens is trying to keep his angry face on.
Jansson swings away with a body shot that misses
and Jansson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stevens shoots in looking for a takedown. Jansson tries to sprawl out of it but Stevens keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Jansson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Jansson clinches up against the cage.
Jansson lands with a short shot to the head.
Jansson wants to break free but Stevens has control.
A bit of stalling here from Jansson.
Jansson gets underhooks to prevent Stevens's takedown attempt.
Stevens has had enough of the clinch but Jansson keeps him there for the moment.
Stevens drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Banka Jansson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Stevens.
A right hook to the body lands for Jansson.

Jansson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jansson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Stevens tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stevens.

Stevens shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Jansson's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens stopping the sweep attempt from Jansson.
Stevens throws a strike but Jansson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Stevens being controlled here, momentarily.
Stevens wants to stand up but Jansson is controlling him.

That's two 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.
Jansson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Stevens keeping full guard, as Jansson tries to pass.
Stevens being controlled here, momentarily.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Banka Jansson.

Stevens changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Jansson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Stevens fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Stevens wants to control but Jansson is keeping him busy.
Jansson is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens cracks Jansson with a big elbow.
You can see the frustration on Jansson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Jansson is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Stevens is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Stevens wants to control the pace but Jansson is squirming around nicely.
Stevens is stalling here but it's allowed Jansson to get half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Jansson controlling the position for now.
Jansson tries to roll over but Stevens keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jansson is positioning himself well to prevent Stevens advancing to mount.
Stevens with the ground and pound but Jansson uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Jansson trying to keep a closed guard but Stevens is proving a slippery customer.
Stevens tries to free his leg and advance position but Jansson is retaining full guard.
Stevens scoring with punches to the head and body.
Jansson looking for a sweep. Not yet Jansson, not yet.
Stevens thows a big elbow that misses.
Jansson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stevens missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Jansson wants to sweep here but Stevens controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stevens shoots for a double leg takedown but Jansson sprawls well. He's pushed Stevens's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jansson sprawls well. Jansson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stevens gets slowly back to his feet.

Stevens bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Jansson can't do much from the bottom here.
Jansson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Stevens off and has taken his back!
Good control from Jansson.
Jansson trying to control momentarily.
Jansson controlling from the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jansson is trying to control but Stevens is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Jansson controlling from the full mount.

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 is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Jansson wants to control the pace but Stevens is squirming around nicely.
Stevens is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jansson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Jansson trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Banka Jansson wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Jansson chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Stevens looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Jansson controls Stevens momentarily but Stevens frees himself.
Stevens stopping the sweep attempt from Jansson.
Jansson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stevens.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jansson keeping moving, preventing Stevens from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Banka Jansson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Stevens drops his hands momentarily and Jansson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Stevens misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stevens is trying to drag Jansson to the mat but Jansson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Stevens can't get the takedown.
Banka Jansson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Stevens.

Jansson breaks the clinch.
Stevens fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jansson lands a nice shot that snaps Stevens's head back.
Stevens shoots in but no luck this time.
A right-left combo lands from Jansson.
Jansson connects with a leg kick. Stevens looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Jansson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jansson throws a shot to the body.
Stevens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jansson throws a leg kick which misses Stevens's front leg but catches the back leg as Stevens tries to avoid it.
Jansson scores with a hook to the body. Stevens takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
John Stevens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jansson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Jansson feints and then cracks Stevens's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Stevens down.
A solid leg kick lands there for Jansson.
Nice cross by Jansson.
Jansson scoring well with a low kick there.
Jansson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Jansson lands with a thumping leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jansson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Stevens's calf.
Jansson lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Stevens takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Jansson connects with a leg kick. Stevens looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Jansson throws a sloppy head kick and Stevens moves out of range easily.
Jansson is looking to slow Stevens down with leg kicks.
Stevens's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jansson chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Jansson closes the distance and pushes Stevens back into the cage.

Jansson breaks the clinch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Jansson.
Jansson keeps Stevens at a distance using the push kick.
Stevens shoots for a takedown but Jansson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Jansson instigates a clinch.
Jansson stalling in the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Jansson.
A shot in the inside from Jansson.

Jansson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jansson throws a head kick that Stevens semi-blocks.
Jansson connects with a leg kick. Stevens looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
No luck for Stevens with that takedown attempt.
Jansson catches Stevens with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Jansson lands a nice looking body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jansson closes the distance and pushes Stevens back into the cage.
Jansson pressing his opponent against the cage.

Jansson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stevens is defended easily by Jansson.
Stevens on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Jansson. Jansson obviously looking to wear him down.
A thudding body kick lands there by Jansson!
Jansson scores with a one two! Stevens had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Jansson jabs at Stevens's body.
Banka Jansson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jansson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Jansson throws a leg kick which misses Stevens's front leg but catches the back leg as Stevens tries to avoid it.
Jansson lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jansson throws a nice inside leg kick.
Jansson scores with a kick to the midsection.
Jansson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
That kick from Jansson tenderised Stevens's leg. Stevens is trying to keep his angry face on.
Jansson scores with a hook to the body. Stevens takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Jansson gets a clinch.
Jansson leaning against his opponent.

Jansson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jansson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Jansson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jansson throws a combination. Stevens tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Stevens fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jansson connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Banka Jansson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jansson connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
John Stevens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jansson throws a nice outside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Banka Jansson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Jansson, 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:26
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Banka Jansson!