PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tazz Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Rourk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tazz Stevens had a look across the ring there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Stevens
vs
Rourk

183 cm
30
182 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

190 cm
22
176 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Tokyo Defiance

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 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tazz Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Rourk!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Sosuke Kotani and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rourk throws a good cross that connects.
Rourk throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
No luck for Rourk with that takedown attempt.
Rourk uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stevens.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rourk shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stevens as he avoids it easily.
Stevens misses with a looping left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stevens. Rourk does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice jab there from Stevens.
Rourk showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stevens.
A combination from Rourk does no damage.
Rourk shoots in looking for a takedown. Stevens tries to sprawl out of it but Rourk keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Stevens manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Tazz Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Rourk.
Rourk misses with a two punch combination.
Stevens lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Michael Rourk has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stevens swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stevens connects with a body shot.
Rourk ducks under a wild hook from Stevens.
Stevens misses with the combination.
Rourk misses with a takedown attempt - Stevens sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens scores with a jab to the head.
Rourk is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stevens sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rourk looks gassed!
Rourk shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stevens as he avoids it easily.
Stevens displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rourk.
Some wild striking there from Stevens.
Rourk fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stevens scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Stevens closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Stevens has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stevens with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Stevens takes Rourk's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stevens has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Rourk has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Stevens looking for the choke from the back.
Rourk trying to control the position but Stevens manages to sink in the hooks.

Rourk fending off the submission attempt from Stevens.

Stevens is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Rourk knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Rourk for a finish.
Rourk manages to reverse the position and now he's in Stevens's guard. Nice work there by Rourk.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rourk won't allow Stevens to sweep him here.
Rourk postures up and lands a big shot to Stevens's brow.
Rourk sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rourk's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rourk trying to control but Stevens is working from the bottom.
Stevens is trying to keep Rourk in close.
Rourk distracts Stevens with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Stevens bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rourk's guard.
Stevens advances to half guard.

Stevens is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Stevens is trying to control the action in half guard but Rourk is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rourk manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Stevens passes Rourk's left leg - he's now in half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Stevens is looking for a kimura here.
Stevens is pressing down on Rourk's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rourk is holding on for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rourk gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tazz Stevens dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Rourk's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Rourk fails with a takedown attempt.
Tazz Stevens is winning the standup battle so far.
Rourk shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stevens scores with a jab to the head.
Rourk shoots and misses
and Stevens counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Tazz Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Rourk.
Rourk walks into a straight right hand from Stevens.

Stevens shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Stevens has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stevens wants to pass the guard but Rourk is keeping the position.
Stevens slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Stevens goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Rourk rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Stevens's guard! Nice work there by Rourk!
Stevens trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Tazz Stevens overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stevens is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stevens wants to sweep but no luck.

Rourk is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Stevens looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rourk throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stevens not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Rourk trying to stand up but can't free himself from Stevens's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rourk trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stevens lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rourk!
Rourk tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Stevens goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Rourk turns into him and now he's in Stevens's guard.
Rourk trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Stevens has his foot on Rourk's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rourk works his way back into a safe position though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Stevens had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rourk defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rourk postures up and lands a big shot to Stevens's brow.
Stevens keeping moving, preventing Rourk from controlling successfully.

Stevens looking for a guillotine here but Rourk defends easily.
Stevens wants to sweep here but Rourk controlling him for the moment.
Rourk wants to control from the top but Stevens keeps moving.

Rourk avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rourk trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Stevens working for submissions but it's allowed Rourk to get to half guard.
Stevens is refusing to be controlled, as Rourk sits in half guard.
Rourk thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stevens's head.

Stevens looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevens is looking to improve his position.
Rourk trying to control from half guard but Stevens is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tazz Stevens dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Michael Rourk's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Stevens pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Stevens keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rourk misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stevens swinging wildly here.
Stevens misses with a straight right.
No joy there for Rourk, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rourk.
Tazz Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Rourk.
Some wild striking there from Stevens.
Stevens tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rourk was well out of range. Poor timing from Stevens.
Stevens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rourk throws a right hand that Stevens ducks under and follows up with a left that Stevens also avoids with ease.
Stevens throws a series of punches but Rourk avoids them all with ease.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Stevens, as that shot connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Stevens misses.
Nice defenses there by Rourk.

Stevens shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Stevens tries to free his leg and advance position but Rourk is retaining full guard.

Rourk is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Stevens pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rourk is keeping the position for now.
Rourk wants to sweep here but Stevens controlling him for the moment.
Stevens advances to half guard.
Rourk regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stevens pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rourk is keeping the position for now.
Stevens trying to control the position from guard on top but Rourk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rourk working for a triangle but Stevens defends it easily.
Stevens wants to pass the guard but Rourk is keeping the position.

Stevens is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rourk is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rourk has escaped and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Rourk thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tazz Stevens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stevens is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rourk pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stevens is keeping the position for now.
Stevens wants to sweep but no luck.

Rourk drops back looking for a leg! Stevens is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Stevens manages to kick Rourk off! Rourk jumps back into Stevens's guard.
Stevens not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rourk trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stevens wants to sweep but no luck.
Stevens seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Michael Rourk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stevens looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rourk puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Rourk thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stevens is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rourk is working for a submission of some sort.
Stevens is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tazz Stevens showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Stevens 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

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