PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Justin Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Crisostomo Ibarra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stephens's entrance music is Someday-Flipsyde. A fine choice. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Stephens
vs
Ibarra

185 cm
21
174 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

172 cm
21
170 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Warrior MMA $10 Boosters

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Justin Stephens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Crisostomo Ibarra!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Frank Dennis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ibarra moves out of range of the strikes.
Stephens lands with a good body shot.
Ibarra has his takedown stuffed
and Stephens counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ibarra tries for a takedown but Stephens circles away easily
and Stephens cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ibarra blocks a head kick by Stephens.
Ibarra takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Ibarra gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Stephens makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Justin Stephens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Crisostomo Ibarra.
Ibarra looks gassed!
Stephens moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Stephens lands a head kick. Ibarra smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ibarra shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Stephens counters with a good, hard body kick but Ibarra shrugs it off.
A punch lands to the side of Ibarra 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Stephens lands a lovely overhand right.
Stephens lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ibarra at a distance.
Stephens lands a nice hook to Ibarra's body. Ibarra takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ibarra takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Stephens.
Nice body kick there by Stephens.
Ibarra needs to keep his hands up - Stephens had a free shot at his head there.
Stephens throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Ibarra takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A nice inside leg kick there by Stephens. That's going to slow Ibarra down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Stephens duly obliges.
Stephens pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Ibarra back to the cage. Stephens follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Ibarra is rocked!
Ibarra takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Ibarra is still on wobbly legs! Can Stephens finish him?
Ibarra is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Stephens connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ibarra. Ibarra circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ibarra is trying desperately to land a takedown but Stephens is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Ibarra.
The fighters circle momentarily. Stephens darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Stephens lands a big head kick that sends Ibarra tumbling to the mat! Stephens takes a step backwards and waves Ibarra back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Stephens is working the combinations to good effect here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A combination from Stephens does no damage.
Stephens is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Stephens connects with the punch.
Stephens is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Ibarra needs to keep his hands up - Stephens had a free shot at his head there.
A punch lands to the side of Ibarra 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Ibarra has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ibarra there as he acknowledges the shot.
Stephens is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Stephens throws a nice head kick!
Ibarra on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Stephens with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ibarra seems to have recovered his senses.
Stephens lands a jab to Ibarra's midsection.
Stephens with a hook.
Ibarra gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Stephens connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ibarra looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ibarra has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Stephens fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ibarra takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Stephens plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Ibarra with a poor takedown
and Stephens counters with a straight right hand.
Stephens lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Stephens thows a body kick. Ibarra tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Stephens jabs Ibarra right on the nose. Ibarra blinks but takes it well.
A left lands for Stephens.
Ibarra has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Stephens thuds his shin into the meat of Ibarra's side.
Stephens connects with a body shot that sends Ibarra's belly button to the back.
Stephens scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Stephens scores with a decent looking hook.
Stephens lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Ibarra on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Stephens jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Stephens ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Stephens lands a nice looking kick to the body. Ibarra takes a step back to recover.
Stephens lands a jab-cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens scores with a jab.
Ibarra gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Stephens.
Stephens lands with a kick to the temple. Ibarra shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Stephens fails to land with a series of punches.
Stephens lands a jab to the head.
A left and a right from Stephens both land. Nice combination.
Stephens wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Stephens lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Stephens lands a two punch combo.
Ibarra walks into a left hand.
Ibarra misses with a takedown
and Stephens makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ibarra shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Stephens counters with a body kick that stops Ibarra in his tracks momentarily.
Stephens displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Stephens scores with a jab to the jaw.
Stephens connects with an inside leg kick.
Stephens with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Stephens.
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!
Stephens shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Ibarra eats them both and turns towards Stephens to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Stephens lands a head kick!
The fighters circle momentarily. Stephens darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Stephens throws a leg kick which misses Ibarra's front leg but catches the back leg as Ibarra tries to avoid it.
Ibarra tries for a takedown but Stephens circles away easily
and Stephens counters with a nice body kick.
Ibarra takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Stephens works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nice shot lands for Stephens.
Stephens lands with a nice body punch.
Crisostomo Ibarra seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ibarra takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Stephens throws a combination. Ibarra tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stephens's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ibarra under the eye.
A nice combination there by Stephens.
Stephens cracks Ibarra with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A head kick from Stephens lands but Ibarra takes it in his stride.
Ibarra doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Stephens counters with a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Stephens dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ibarra tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ibarra shoots and misses
and Stephens counters with a straight right hand.
Ibarra fails with the takedown
and Stephens counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ibarra walks into a jab.
Stephens shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Ibarra eats them both and turns towards Stephens to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Stephens!
Ibarra has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Stephens finds it's way round the side to connect with Ibarra's head.
Stephens scores with a three punch combo!
Stephens swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Ibarra.
Justin Stephens is winning the standup battle so far.
Stephens plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Stephens lands a high kick!
Stephens lands with a slapping head kick.
Jab by Stephens.
Stephens fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ibarra has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Stephens stalks Ibarra and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ibarra's face. Ibarra staggers backwards, shaken.
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!
Stephens plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Stephens scores with a decent looking hook.
Stephens scores with a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibarra takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Ibarra takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ibarra walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Ibarra has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Stephens.
Stephens scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Ibarra takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Stephens throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ibarra on the side of the head.
Ibarra has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Stephens works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Ibarra shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Stephens counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Justin Stephens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Crisostomo Ibarra.
Stephens smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Stephens stuns Ibarra with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Left hook, right uppercut from Stephens.
Ibarra takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Stephens catches Ibarra with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Stephens dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Stephens thuds a left hand into Ibarra's body.
Stephens throws a head kick that Ibarra semi-blocks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ibarra steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Stephens. That one must have hurt.
Stephens throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ibarra on the side of the head.
Stephens scores with a three punch combo!
Stephens digs a good hook to Ibarra's body.
Ibarra doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Stephens counters with a head kick.
Justin Stephens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stephens connects with a right hand. Ibarra shakes it off.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Stephens, right into the meat.
Ibarra has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Stephens finds it's way round the side to connect with Ibarra's head.
Ibarra shoots and misses
and Stephens cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stephens throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ibarra's head.
Stephens lands a slapping body shot.
Stephens misses with a double jab.
Ibarra with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Stephens counter with a right hand.
Stephens throws a nice head kick!
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Ibarra might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Stephens has got the better of the exchanges.
Ibarra gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Stephens connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A jab from Stephens does it's job there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens connects with a high kick.
Stephens throws a head kick that misses.
Ibarra doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Stephens counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Ibarra changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Stephens looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Ibarra tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Stephens sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Ibarra is looking for a kimura here.

Ibarra is looking for submissions but instead, Stephens has regained full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens is controlling Ibarra's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stephens manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Ibarra tries to hold on but Stephens pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stephens looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Stephens dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ibarra slips a jab and a cross from Stephens.
A head kick misses from Stephens.
Ibarra tries for a takedown but Stephens circles away easily
and Stephens counters with a nice body shot.
Ibarra has his takedown stuffed
and Stephens counters with a stiff right hand.
Stephens thuds his shin into the meat of Ibarra's side.
Stephens scores with a three punch combo!
Stephens scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Ibarra misses with a takedown attempt
and Stephens counters with a three punch combo that has Ibarra backing up. Ibarra nods at Stephens to acknowledge the strikes.
Justin Stephens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Crisostomo Ibarra.
Stephens lands a nice hook to Ibarra's body. Ibarra takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Stephens scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Stephens cracks Ibarra with a right hand to the side of the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stephens connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ibarra takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Ibarra with a poor takedown
and Stephens counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ibarra takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibarra misses with a takedown attempt
and Stephens counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A jab lands there for Stephens.
Ibarra closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Ibarra with a lazy takedown attempt
and Stephens cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stephens lands a nice looking body shot.
Stephens lands a nice shot to the body.
Stephens is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ibarra can do to turn this around?
Stephens clobbers Ibarra with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Ibarra gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Ibarra on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Stephens throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ibarra's head.
Ibarra takes a jab right on the kisser.
Stephens moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Ibarra fails with the takedown
letting Stephens counter with a right hand.
Stephens lands with a kick to the temple. Ibarra shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Ibarra shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Stephens counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Stephens.
Ibarra doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Stephens counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stephens lands with an uppercut that bounces Ibarra off the cage and back into rage.
Stephens tries to bum rush Ibarra with a series of wild strikes but Ibarra uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ibarra has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Stephens.
Stephens catches Ibarra with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Stephens keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Ibarra misses with a takedown
and Stephens counters with a good low kick that Ibarra was not able to check.
Stephens fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ibarra on the side of the head.
Ibarra shoots and misses
and Stephens counters with a nice uppercut.
Stephens lands with a slapping head kick.
Stephens looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Crisostomo Ibarra has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Stephens - that will leave a mark!
Jab, jab by Stephens - just one landing.
Ibarra takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ibarra gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Stephens counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibarra has his takedown stuffed
and Stephens counters with a body kick that stops Ibarra in his tracks momentarily.
Stephens cracks Ibarra with an open hand slap.
Stephens cracks Ibarra with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Ibarra crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Stephens - the referee stops the clock and Ibarra gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Stephens. Ibarra manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Stephens throws a good cross that connects.
Ibarra on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Stephens throws a head kick that Ibarra semi-blocks.
A combination from Stephens does no damage.
Stephens shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Ibarra eats them both and turns towards Stephens to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Stephens scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Stephens throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ibarra.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ibarra.
Stephens is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ibarra's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Ibarra is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibarra stops Stephens from getting back to his feet.
Stephens trying to hold on to Ibarra's head to control him but Ibarra postures up.
Stephens tries to roll over but Ibarra keeps him under control.
Justin Stephens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Stephens is defending against the submission attempts here by Ibarra.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Stephens showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stephens, 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Stephens!