PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Skip Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saul Lenzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stevens
vs
Lenzo

190 cm
24
170 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

180 cm
21
178 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Skip Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Saul Lenzo!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Emerson Jorge and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lenzo circles away from the clinch attempt

and Lenzo counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Stevens is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lenzo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Stevens's guard.
Lenzo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Stevens really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Lenzo wanted to stand there but Stevens had control of the position.
Lenzo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saul Lenzo has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Stevens with a poor takedown

and Lenzo counters by moving into the clinch.
Lenzo is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Lenzo prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lenzo avoiding damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Lenzo.
Stevens jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Lenzo walks away with a smile on his face. Stevens gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Skip Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stevens tries to clinch but Lenzo moves away

and Lenzo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Lenzo stops Stevens from getting back to his feet.
Lenzo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stevens's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens tries to roll over but Lenzo keeps him under control.
Lenzo is controlling the pace.
Stevens is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stevens is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lenzo is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stevens shoots and misses

and Lenzo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Stevens's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevens is breathing heavily.
Lenzo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Lenzo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Lenzo stands up from Stevens's guard - Lenzo perhaps looking for a knockout.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Stevens enables Lenzo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Stevens manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Lenzo stands up from Stevens's guard - Lenzo perhaps looking for a knockout.
Stevens fails with the takedown

and Lenzo counters by clinching up.
Lenzo creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Stevens's defenses.

It looks like Skip Stevens has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lenzo lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Lenzo connects with a nasty looking knee right to Stevens's face.
Lenzo connects with a knee to the head.
Stevens tries to break free but Lenzo pushes him back against the cage.
Lenzo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Lenzo manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Still in the clinch, Lenzo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Lenzo is pushing Stevens up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saul Lenzo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Skip Stevens's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lenzo moves into range and clinches up with Stevens.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Lenzo scores with a knee to the head.
Lenzo lands an elbow inside.
Lenzo scores with a knee to the head.
Lenzo lands a right hand that snaps the head of Stevens backwards.
Lenzo stalling in the clinch.

Lenzo manages to pull guard.
Lenzo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stevens manages to get himself to full guard.

Lenzo gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Stevens with a lazy takedown attempt

and Lenzo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stevens won't be happy with that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Lenzo stands up and beckons Stevens to his feet.
Skip Stevens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lenzo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Lenzo content to stall in guard here.
Saul Lenzo has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Saul Lenzo wasn't active enough on the ground.

Lenzo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Lenzo passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lenzo controlling the action here.

Lenzo decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Lenzo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lenzo is defended easily by Stevens.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lenzo shoots for a double leg takedown but Stevens sprawls well. He's pushed Lenzo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Skip Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saul Lenzo.
Lenzo avoids a punch combination nicely.

Lenzo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stevens, pushing him back against the cage.
Nice elbow from Lenzo.
Lenzo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Lenzo stalling in the clinch.

Lenzo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Lenzo shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Stevens napping and manages to drive through into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saul Lenzo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Skip Stevens's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Stevens cracks Lenzo with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Stevens shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Lenzo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stevens won't be happy with that.
You can see the frustration on Stevens's face as Lenzo controls the position.

Lenzo decides to stand back up. Lenzo steps back and let's Stevens get back to his feet.
Stevens stuffs the takedown.
Stevens looks to clinch

and Lenzo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Stevens!
Lenzo looking to control but Stevens is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Stevens wants to control but Lenzo is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lenzo controlling from mount.
Stevens keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Lenzo with the ground and pound from mount.
Lenzo looking to control and managing it successfully.
Saul Lenzo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Stevens wants to hold on but Lenzo pushes him away.
Lenzo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Lenzo stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stevens tries to keep at a distance but Lenzo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Lenzo will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Stevens up against the cage.
Stevens tries to pull guard but Lenzo holds him up against the cage and eventually Stevens drops back down to his feet.
Stevens is trying to break the clinch but Lenzo has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lenzo lands an elbow inside.

Lenzo jumps into guard, dragging Stevens to the mat.
Lenzo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lenzo wants to sweep here but Stevens controlling him for the moment.
Lenzo keeping moving, preventing Stevens from controlling successfully.
Lenzo has Stevens pulled in close to control his posture.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lenzo shoots in for a takedown but Stevens shows good takedown defense.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saul Lenzo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lenzo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 26:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 26:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saul Lenzo!