PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jeremy Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shawn Dir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys are coming into the fight with injuries so let's see if that has a bearing on the fight. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Stevens
vs
Dir

192 cm
25
214 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jeremy Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shawn Dir!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Sano and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens with a lazy takedown attempt
and Dir counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Dir looks gassed!
Horrible takedown by Stevens or perhaps it was just good defense by Dir which made him look bad.
Stevens fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeremy Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stevens misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Dir counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Dir keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Stevens shoots for a takedown but Dir saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Good shot there by Dir.
Stevens fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevens misses with an uppercut
and Dir counters with a right hand to the body.
Dir comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Stevens looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Stevens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dir pinned against the cage. Dir gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dir keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dir fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Stevens misses the body punch
and Dir counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Stevens shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Dir's guard.
Stevens throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stevens with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Stevens working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Stevens missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stevens cracks Dir with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens is looking to work some ground and pound but Dir has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stevens trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stevens trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stevens in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stevens makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stevens accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stevens is looking to work some ground and pound but Dir has wrist control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Dir can do anything to dispel that myth.
Stevens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stevens throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dir works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stevens working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens throwing strikes from guard but Dir blocks nicely.
Dir preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stevens accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stevens in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stevens lands a couple of decent looking shots.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stevens accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stevens chips away with some ground and pound.
Stevens throwing strikes from guard but Dir blocks nicely.
Stevens postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stevens lands a couple of digs.
Stevens content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Stevens loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stevens works over Dir with some ground and pound from guard.
Dir really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stevens. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Stevens working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Stevens is looking to work some ground and pound but Dir has wrist control.
Dir avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stevens keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Dir's head.
Stevens cracks Dir with a solid left hand.
Stevens stands and throws Dir's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Stevens looks up at the clock and then as Dir takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Stevens smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeremy Stevens dominated that 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.

Stevens will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stevens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dir pinned against the cage. Dir gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Stevens misses with the combination.
Dir throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Stevens shoots in looking for a takedown but Dir manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Stevens's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeremy Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dir throws a good cross that connects.
Jeremy Stevens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stevens dives in and scores a takedown into Dir's guard.
Stevens with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Stevens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stevens throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dir works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Dir preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stevens throws a big right hand that misses.
Stevens is working Dir over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Stevens chips away with some ground and pound.
Stevens throwing strikes but missing.
Stevens chips away with some ground and pound.
Stevens throwing strikes but missing.
Dir preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens is working Dir over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Stevens thows a big elbow that misses.
Stevens loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dir looking to control.
Stevens has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Dir utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stevens accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stevens loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stevens is looking to work some ground and pound but Dir has wrist control.
Stevens trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stevens preventing the sweep.
Stevens scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens lands a couple of digs.
Stevens with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Stevens lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Stevens throwing strikes from guard but Dir blocks nicely.
Stevens lands a couple of digs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevens makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Stevens scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Stevens won't allow Dir to sweep him here.
Stevens is working Dir over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Stevens postures up and lands a big shot to Dir's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Dir avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stevens sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Dir's guard.
Stevens not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stevens is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Stevens slips a nice elbow through Dir's hands, connecting with Dir's forehead.
Stevens throwing shots but Dir is blocking nicely.
Stevens is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Stevens throwing shots but Dir is blocking nicely.
Stevens not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stevens shoots in for a takedown but Dir shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stevens wants to clinch
enabling Dir to counter with a crisp jab.
Stevens fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Dir lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Stevens closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stevens lands in his opponent's guard.
Stevens is looking to work some ground and pound but Dir has wrist control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stevens throwing strikes from guard but Dir blocks nicely.
Stevens cracks Dir with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Stevens with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Stevens makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Stevens cracks Dir with a solid left hand.
Stevens in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stevens postures up in Dir's guard and throws a big left but Dir blocks it.
Stevens makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Stevens postures up and lands a big shot to Dir's brow.
Dir preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stevens is looking to work some ground and pound but Dir has wrist control.
Stevens stands up over Dir, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens landing some decent shots from guard.
Stevens throwing strikes but missing.
Dir looking for a sweep. Not yet Dir, not yet.
Dir is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stevens with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Stevens is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Stevens is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Stevens lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens works over Dir with some ground and pound from guard.
Stevens with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stevens throwing strikes but missing.
Stevens is in close to Dir's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Stevens lands a couple of digs.
Stevens throws a big right hand that misses.
Stevens connects with a couple of short punches.
Dir utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stevens working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Stevens landing with the ground and pound.
Shawn Dir has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dir preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stevens thows a big elbow that misses.
Stevens forces his way into half guard.
Dir keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dir is looking to control Stevens's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dir avoid being mounted?
Stevens thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stevens landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Jeremy Stevens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stevens working the head and body with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeremy Stevens showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stevens, 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeremy Stevens!