PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Talib Kweli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Axel Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Talib Kweli has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Talib Kweli seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Kweli
vs
Stevens

176 cm
26
160 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
160 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

GR Design - Elegance and Comfort (Made in Italy)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Talib Kweli!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Axel Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yuuki Gou and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens misses with a wild body shot.
Stevens misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kweli tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Stevens misses with a leg kick
and Kweli counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kweli works over Stevens's head and body with a nice combination.
Stevens tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kweli is able to avoid easily.
Stevens takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kweli thows a body shot but no joy.
Kweli thows a body shot but no joy.
Kweli tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stevens was well out of range. Poor timing from Kweli.
Talib Kweli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kweli pushes Stevens up against the cage in a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Stevens.
Kweli trying to control the position but instead, Stevens has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kweli into the cage.
Stevens is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Kweli breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stevens has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kweli.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kweli.
Kweli thows a body shot but no joy.
Kweli misses with a jab to the body
and Stevens counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stevens throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Kweli fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stevens, pushing him back against the cage.
Kweli tries a body shot but Stevens blocks it.
Stevens being controlled against the cage.
Stevens trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens lands with a right to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kweli as Stevens tries to tie him up.
Kweli is leaning against Stevens and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Stevens displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kweli up against the cage.
Stevens is trying to stall.
Kweli misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kweli breaks from the clinch.
Stevens swings away with a body shot that misses
and Kweli connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kweli scores with a kick to the midsection.
Kweli thows a body shot but no joy.
Stevens lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kweli misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stevens tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kweli was well out of range. Poor timing from Stevens.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kweli avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Stevens changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kweli tries to avoid it but Stevens manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kweli to the ground. Kweli escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Talib Kweli dominated that round.
That's time! Kweli's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kweli tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stevens lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kweli at a distance.
Stevens throws a wild body kick that Kweli sees coming a mile off.
Stevens ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kweli moves away.
Kweli doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kweli tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stevens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kweli misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stevens.
Stevens swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stevens keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kweli misses the shot to the body.
Kweli fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nice uppercut there from Stevens.
Kweli takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Stevens avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Kweli blocks a low kick nicely.
Stevens swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kweli.

Kweli forces Stevens back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens misses with a body punch.
Kweli goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Stevens wants to get back to striking at distance but Kweli won't allow it.
Kweli tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stevens avoids it.
Kweli controlling the action here for a moment.
Kweli is trying to break free.
Knees in the clinch landing for Stevens.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stevens lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kweli or not.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stevens misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kweli tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Stevens's elbow.
Stevens is trying to force a seperation but Kweli has the dominant position.
Stevens looking to slow down the pace here.
Kweli stalling in the clinch but Stevens improves position.
Stevens tries to break the clinch but Kweli is controlling the position.
Stevens content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Stevens misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kweli tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Stevens's elbow.
Kweli managing to block the knees to the body from Stevens.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens is looking to break free of the clinch but Kweli has double underhooks.
Kweli pressing his opponent against the cage.
Stevens tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Stevens manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Kweli stalling in the clinch but Stevens improves position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kweli fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Stevens tries a body shot but Kweli blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Axel Stevens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stevens blocks the body kick.
Stevens just misses with a punch to the body.
Kweli connects with the punch.
Decent striking displayed by Kweli there.

Stevens gets tackled into the cage by Kweli. Kweli maintains the clinch.
Stevens tries to work over Kweli's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Stevens misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kweli is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Stevens blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kweli lands a hook that snaps the head of Stevens backwards.
Stevens tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kweli smiles and moves away.
Kweli finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kweli throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kweli fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Stevens on the side of the head.
Stevens throws a front kick aimed at Kweli's knee but Kweli avoids it well.
Stevens throws a wild body kick that Kweli sees coming a mile off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kweli swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Good work by Kweli as he checks the leg kick.
Kweli throws a shot to the body.
Stevens lands with a shot to the body.
Kweli pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kweli is looking to wear down Stevens with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kweli tries to clinch up.
Stevens misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kweli.
Kweli keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kweli uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stevens.
Talib Kweli is winning the standup battle so far.
A low kick from Stevens is predictable there
and Kweli counters with an inside leg kick.
Kweli avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A bone on bone clash there as Stevens blocks the leg kick.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kweli as he jumps to the side.
The crowd cheers as Kweli lands an impressive looking overhand right. Stevens doesn't seem phased though.
Kweli throws a push kick but Stevens slaps the foot to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kweli tries to clinch
and Stevens counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Stevens keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Good shot there by Kweli.

Kweli has managed to clinch.
Kweli is trying to stall.
Stevens throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kweli blocks it with crossed arms.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kweli lands a good knee to the midsection. Stevens won't want to take too many of those.
Kweli tries a body shot but Stevens blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Talib Kweli clearly takes 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.

Kweli feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Stevenss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Stevens uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kweli.
Kweli takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kweli tries to score with a low kick but Stevens moves his leg out of the way.
A shot to the body from Kweli misses
and Stevens counters with a right hand to the body.
Kweli comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Stevens takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kweli cracks Stevens with an open hand slap.
Stevens ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kweli moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kweli tries to clinch up but Stevens circles away and keeps his distance.
Kweli thows a body shot but no joy.
Kweli tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stevens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Talib Kweli is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kweli lands a jab to the nose.
Stevens is looking to slow Kweli down with leg kicks.
Kweli looks to score with a jab to the body but Stevens is just out of range.
Kweli tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kweli throws a jab when Stevens was well out of range.
Kweli throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kweli attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Kweli darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Stevens lands a high kick!

It looks like Talib Kweli has been cut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kweli. Stevens does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kweli misses with a wild body shot.
Kweli dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kweli fails with an attempt to clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kweli. Stevens does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kweli lands a lovely overhand right.
Stevens avoids the body shot from Kweli.
Stevens fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kweli.
Stevens thows a body shot but no joy.
Kweli lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kweli throws a push kick but Stevens slaps the foot to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kweli sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Kweli just misses with a punch to the body.
Kweli wants to clinch
and Stevens finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Kweli moves out of range of the body kick from Stevens.
A head kick misses from Kweli.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevens misses with a low kick.
Kweli fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Talib Kweli will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Talib Kweli's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kweli wants to clinch up but Stevens keeps it at a distance.
Kweli tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Stevens connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Stevens cracks Kweli with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Kweli throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Stevens misses with a low kick.
Kweli scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kweli is looking to clinch but Stevens is avoiding it.
Stevens pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kweli lands a nice leg kick that just misses Stevens's sensitive parts.
Kweli displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stevens throws out the jab.
Stevens thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Kweli if he has to take too many more of those.
Kweli throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Kweli looks to clinch
and Stevens counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kweli tries to bum rush Stevens with a series of wild strikes but Stevens uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stevens uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kweli.
Kweli lands a glancing blow to the side of Stevens's head.
Stevens checks a leg kick.
Kweli avoids the body shot from Stevens.
Kweli swings for the body but Stevens moves out of range.
Stevens throws a low kick but Kweli moves out of range easily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kweli, right into the meat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens circles away from the clinch attempt.
A leg kick checked by Kweli.
Good standup being displayed there by Stevens as he connects with a hook.
A head kick misses from Stevens.
Stevens shoots for a double leg takedown but Kweli sprawls well. He's pushed Stevens's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Talib Kweli is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kweli is looking to slow Stevens down with leg kicks.
Kweli swings widly with a right hand
and Stevens counters with a thumping low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Kweli - just one landing.
Stevens finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kweli swinging wildly here.

Kweli gets a clinch.
Axel Stevens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kweli misses with a hook from the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stevens blocks a body shot from Kweli.
Stevens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kweli is defending well for now.
Kweli displaying some good clinch control by pressing Stevens up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Talib Kweli.
Well Kweli has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 49:46
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 48:48
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Talib Kweli!
Talib Kweli is the new lightweight champion!