PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hatsimuro Wasabi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stevenson
vs
Wasabi

176 cm
22
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricky Stevenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hatsimuro Wasabi!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevenson is looking to clinch but Wasabi is avoiding it.

Stevenson clinches with his opponent.
Stevenson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stevenson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wasabi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Stevenson checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Stevenson fails in his attempt to clinch.

Stevenson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Wasabi working a defensive guard here.

Stevenson stands up and waves to Wasabi to follow him.
Wasabi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stevenson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Wasabi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Wasabi looks gassed!
Stevenson using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wasabi is trying to break free.
Stevenson lands a knee to the body.
Stevenson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Wasabi's face.
Stevenson lands a nice knee to the body.
Stevenson scores with a knee to the head.

Wasabi is rocked!
Wasabi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Wasabi is still on wobbly legs! Can Stevenson finish him?
Stevenson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Wasabi's face.
Stevenson unloads a knee to the mid-section. Wasabi lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Stevenson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Wasabi takes an elbow to the temple.
A knee to the head by Stevenson.
Stevenson lands an elbow inside that Wasabi shrugs off.
Stevenson landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Wasabi takes a knee right on the jaw!

Stevenson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Wasabi wants to pass the guard but Stevenson is keeping the position.
Stevenson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wasabi is one step ahead there.
Wasabi throws a strike but Stevenson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Wasabi seems to have recovered his senses.
Wasabi wants to hit a switch here but Stevenson passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Wasabi there!
Wasabi is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Stevenson clinches but Wasabi breaks the clinch

and Wasabi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Stevenson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wasabi.
Wasabi wants to control from the top but Stevenson keeps moving.
Wasabi wants to stand but Stevenson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Wasabi slips nicely into half guard.
Stevenson is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wasabi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Stevenson defending well though.
Stevenson wants to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stevenson tries to clinch

and Wasabi moves into the clinch.

Stevenson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Stevenson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Stevenson wants to stand up but Wasabi is controlling him.
Stevenson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wasabi is one step ahead there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stevenson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Stevenson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wasabi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Some bone on bone action there as Stevenson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Stevenson tries to clinch but Wasabi moves out of range.
Ricky Stevenson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stevenson tries to clinch but Wasabi moves away

and Wasabi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Wasabi.
Stevenson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Stevenson using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Stevenson connects with a knee to the head.
Wasabi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stevenson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stevenson wants to clinch
and Wasabi counters with a series of strikes. Stevenson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Stevenson is looking to clinch.
Hatsimuro Wasabi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stevenson darts in trying to clinch
and Wasabi counters with a leg kick.
Wasabi circles away from the clinch attempt
and Wasabi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Wasabi is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wasabi circles away from the clinch attempt
and Wasabi counters with a nice low kick that buckles Stevenson's knee momentarily.
Wasabi lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Stevenson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stevenson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Wasabi blocks it with crossed arms.
Wasabi tries to break the clinch but Stevenson is controlling the position.
Stevenson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Wasabi trying to land knees to the body.
Wasabi wants to break the clinch but can't.
Stevenson stalling the fight.
Stevenson crunches a lovely knee into Wasabi's ribcage.

Stevenson jumps into guard, dragging Wasabi to the mat.
Stevenson wants to stand and escape but Wasabi is having none of it.
Wasabi wants to get up but he can't break Stevenson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Stevenson pushes Wasabi off and gets back to his feet.
Wasabi throws a sloppy head kick and Stevenson moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wasabi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stevenson misses with a takedown attempt - Wasabi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Wasabi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Wasabi thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Stevenson if he has to take too many more of those.
Stevenson looks to clinch

and Wasabi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Wasabi.
Stevenson misses with an elbow over the top.
Stevenson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Wasabi tries to pull guard but Stevenson holds him up against the cage and eventually Wasabi drops back down to his feet.
Stevenson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Stevenson has clasped his hands together around Wasabi's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Wasabi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Wasabi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Stevenson happy to just control the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson decides to stand back up.
Stevenson wants to clinch but Wasabi slips to the side
and Wasabi counters with an inside leg kick.
Stevenson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wasabi tries to avoid it but Stevenson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wasabi to the ground. Wasabi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Stevenson tries to clinch but Wasabi moves out of range.
Wasabi looks for the body kick but Stevenson saw that one coming.
Wasabi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stevenson doesn't manage to clinch there - Wasabi circles away.
Stevenson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wasabi looks to clinch

and Stevenson moves into the clinch.

Stevenson is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Wasabi can't fight it off and eventually Stevenson manages to take the fight to the floor. Wasabi looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Wasabi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson stands up from Wasabi's guard - Stevenson perhaps looking for a knockout.

Stevenson clinches.
Stevenson keeps control of Wasabi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Wasabi can't break the clinch.
Wasabi is trying to break free.
Stevenson lands an elbow inside.
Stevenson misses with a knee strike.

Stevenson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wasabi tries to land a leg kick but Stevenson saw it coming and moves away.
Stevenson wants to clinch but Wasabi slips to the side
and Wasabi counters with a slapping leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stevenson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A head kick by Stevenson misses
and Wasabi counters with a head kick.
Stevenson tries to clinch
and Wasabi counters with a big head kick but Stevenson shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Stevenson dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Stevenson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Wasabi!
Wasabi can't escape the position.

Stevenson stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Stevenson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Wasabi!
Wasabi regains half guard.
Stevenson is controlling the pace.
Wasabi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stevenson stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wasabi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stevenson is looking to clinch.
Stevenson tries to clinch there but Wasabi circles away.
Wasabi tries to bum rush Stevenson with a series of wild strikes but Stevenson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stevenson wants to clinch
and Wasabi counters with a nice kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Stevenson wants to clinch
and Wasabi counters with a one-two to the body.
Wasabi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stevenson cracks the inside of Wasabi's front leg.
Stevenson is looking to clinch but Wasabi is avoiding it.
Stevenson tries to clinch but Wasabi is having none of it.
Stevenson is looking to clinch.
Stevenson darts in trying to clinch

and Wasabi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Stevenson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Stevenson keeps control of Wasabi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Wasabi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stevenson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Stevenson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Wasabi blocks it with crossed arms.
Stevenson lands a nice elbow.
Wasabi takes an elbow to the forehead.
Stevenson landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Stevenson manages to break the clinch.
Stevenson tries to clinch up
and Wasabi counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Stevenson is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson clinches up with Wasabi and pushes him back against the cage.
Stevenson slows down the pace here.
Stevenson landing knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Stevenson.
Stevenson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Wasabi's face.
Ricky Stevenson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Stevenson connects with a knee to the head.
Stevenson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Wasabi's face.
Wasabi is looking to break free of the clinch but Stevenson has double underhooks.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Stevenson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Stevenson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stevenson clinches but Wasabi breaks the clinch
and Wasabi counters with a leg kick.
Stevenson tries to clinch
and Wasabi counters with a body kick that stops Stevenson in his tracks momentarily.
Wasabi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Stevenson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Stevenson decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hatsimuro Wasabi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wasabi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Stevenson moves into the clinch.
Stevenson lands a knee to the head.

Wasabi keeping busy on the bottom but Stevenson has passed one foot through into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stevenson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wasabi gets back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Stevenson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stevenson, 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27

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