PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sufjan Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Filton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Filton comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Foo Fighters - In Your Honor kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Sufjan Stevens has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Stevens
vs
Filton

176 cm
22
143 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sufjan Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Will Filton!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Chad Campbell and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Stevens pushes Filton up against the cage in a clinch.
Filton tries to land a knee to the head but Stevens blocks with his arms.
Stevens lands a knee to the head.

Filton is rocked!
Filton misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stevens.
Filton is still on wobbly legs! Can Stevens finish him?
Filton with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Filton seems to have recovered his senses.
Filton is looking to break free of the clinch but Stevens has double underhooks.
Stevens looking to throw knees to the head but Filton is blocking nicely.
Stevens will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Filton up against the cage.
Stevens with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Filton misses with the head strike.
Filton takes a knee right on the jaw!

Stevens is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Filton can't fight it off and eventually Stevens manages to take the fight to the floor. Filton looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Stevens tries to free his leg and advance position but Filton is retaining full guard.
Stevens trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stevens preventing the sweep.

Filton looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Stevens works over Filton with some ground and pound from guard.
Stevens is in close to Filton's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens wants to pass the guard but Filton is keeping the position.
Stevens working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Filton's head.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Stevens working some strikes from top position.

Filton had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Stevens is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Filton Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Stevens's back instead.
Stevens wants to control his opponent's hands but Filton gets his hands free.

Stevens is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Filton gets his way!
Stevens wants to control his opponent's hands but Filton gets his hands free.
Even with his hooks in, Filton manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Stevens holding both Filton 's hands and preventing any damage.
Filton missing with strikes from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Stevens turns into Filton and is now in his guard.
Stevens pushing down on Filton's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Still in half guard, Stevens seems content to control.
Stevens is trying to control the action in half guard but Filton is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevens looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Filton is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Stevens is breathing heavily.
Stevens lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Stevens prevents Filton from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevens blocks the strikes from Filton.
Filton punching from the bottom.
Stevens wants to pass to mount but Filton is defending the position.
Filton throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stevens is working for a submission of some sort.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Stevens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Filton tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Stevens counters with a nice kick to the body.
Filton throws a sloppy head kick

and Stevens counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Stevens wants to pass the guard but Filton is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Filton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stevens scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Filton throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Filton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stevens working some strikes from top position.
Filton trying to strike off his back.

Filton is looking for a triangle here but Stevens uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Stevens lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Stevens moves into full mount!
Filton is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sufjan Stevens dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Stevens lands a head kick!
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch but Filton swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Filton avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stevens fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stevens uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Filton has time to react.

Stevens drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Stevens advances to mount.
Stevens landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filton working to try and regain half guard.
Stevens lands a big shot there that rocks Filton but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Filton really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Filton throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Filton is squirming around, avoiding Stevens's attempts to control the action.
Filton is working to get back to half guard.
Stevens blocks Filton's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Filton is bucking up trying to escape but Stevens cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Filton tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stevens raining down shots from the mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stevens pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

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.
Stevens prevents Filton from getting the reversal.
Stevens trying to control but Filton is having none of it.
Filton working to try and regain half guard.
Filton regains half guard.
Stevens scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Stevens uses his free foot to push down on Filton's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Filton.
Stevens looking to finish Filton with some ground and pound. This is bad for Filton!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens lands a heavy elbow.
Filton throwing hammer fists to the chest of Stevens. What's that going to do exactly?
Filton is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Stevens tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Stevens breaks from Filton's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Stevens landing strikes from the mount and Filton is in trouble!
Filton is wriggling around trying to escape.
Stevens landing strikes from the mount and Filton is in trouble!
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.
Stevens with shots to the head and body - Filton looks very uncomfortable down there.
Filton is desperately trying to improve his position but Stevens has a good base and remains in mount.
Stevens has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Filton's face.
Stevens fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filton gets back to half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Stevens lands a nice short elbow.
Stevens throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stevens drops an elbow to the side of Filton's head.
Stevens missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Filton punching from the bottom.
Stevens not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Filton is staying active underneath Stevens, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Filton looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A slapping leg kick lands for Stevens.
Stevens feints and then cracks Filton's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Filton down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sufjan Stevens dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Filton takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Stevens is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stevens wants to clinch.

Stevens drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Stevens throwing strikes from guard but Filton blocks nicely.
Filton throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Stevens passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Filton lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sufjan Stevens overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stevens is nestled in close to Filton, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Filton tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Stevens wants to pass to mount but Filton is defending the position.
Filton is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Stevens scores with a couple of nice shots.
Filton wants to get back to full guard.
Filton throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Filton on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Stevens throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Filton is looking for a sweep. Stevens is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stevens lands with a punch from half guard.
Filton misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Stevens not doing much here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Filton has hold of Stevens's hands but Stevens slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Filton actively working from the bottom here.

Filton looking for submissions off his back.
Stevens prevents Filton from improving his position.
Stevens keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Stevens is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Stevens content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Filton wants to improve his position but Stevens is controlling well.
Stevens working over Filton with some ground and pound. Filton looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filton is staying active underneath Stevens, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Stevens slips a nice elbow through Filton's hands, connecting with Filton's forehead.

Stevens is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Filton defends it well.
Stevens prevents Filton from improving his position.
Stevens content to control rather than advance.
Stevens works his way into side control.
Stevens working the ground and pound from side control.
Stevens working the ground and pound.
Filton is being controlled here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens scores with punches from side control.
Filton gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Stevens with the ground and pound from mount.
Stevens is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Filton can do to turn this around?
Stevens working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Will Filton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Stevens cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Filton throwing hammer fists to the chest of Stevens. What's that going to do exactly?

Stevens working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Filton throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Filton swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

Filton defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Stevens.
Filton is wriggling around trying to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sufjan 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 David Schapiro scores the fight for Sufjan Stevens!
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight for Sufjan Stevens!
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight for Sufjan Stevens!

Sufjan Stevens wins by unanimous decision!