PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ron Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Luiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ron Stevens could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to David Luiz's chin.

Stevens
vs
Luiz

176 cm
20
138 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

170 cm
24
143 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ron Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, David Luiz!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luiz looks to score with a jab to the body but Stevens is just out of range.
Stevens dodges the punch combination from Luiz.
Luiz with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Luiz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Stevens counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Luiz lands with a shot to the body.
Stevens slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Luiz falls off balance throwing a combination
and Stevens counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Stevens throws a poor cross that misses
and Luiz counters with a stiff right hand.
David Luiz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Luiz rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Stevens connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens misses with a two punch combination.

Luiz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stevens, pushing him back against the cage.

Luiz breaks from the clinch.
Luiz closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Luiz closes the distance and pushes Stevens back into the cage.
Luiz stalling against the cage.
Luiz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Luiz breaks the clinch.
Stevens dodges the punch combination from Luiz.
Luiz lands with an overhand left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens misses with an attempted mid kick.
Luiz shoots in looking for a takedown. Stevens tries to sprawl out of it but Luiz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stevens manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Luiz throws a hook to the side of Stevens's head but Stevens sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Luiz feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Stevens manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Luiz bucks up and throws Stevens to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens dodges the punch combination from Luiz.
Luiz throws a nice looking combination but Stevens bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Luiz looks to land a combination but Stevens avoids it well.
Luiz throws a jab when Stevens was well out of range.
Stevens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Stevens throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Luiz.
Stevens defending well as Luiz loads up on a big left hand.
Stevens lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Stevens stuffs the takedown attempt from Luiz. Luiz gets slowly back to his feet.
Ron Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of David Luiz.

Luiz changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Stevens looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Luiz trying to control the position but Stevens is working away.
Luiz scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Stevens to see if he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Luiz dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Stevens pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Luiz back to the cage. Stevens follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Stevens throws a sloppy head kick and Luiz moves out of range easily.
Sloppy strikes from Stevens. Those never looked like landing.
Luiz misses with a series of wild punches.

Luiz rushes Stevens and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Luiz scores with a shoulder strike.

Luiz wants the takedown. Stevens is fighting it off but Luiz persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Stevens's guard against the cage.
Luiz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Luiz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stevens knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Luiz on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Luiz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Luiz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Luiz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
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.
Luiz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Luiz scoring with some ground and pound.
Luiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Luiz passes into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Luiz connects with a nice short shot to Stevens's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luiz content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Stevens is looking to improve his position.
Luiz working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Luiz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Stevens taking some punishment here, with Luiz in his half guard.
Luiz sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Luiz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luiz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Stevens is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Luiz pulls his head out easily.
Luiz slips a nice elbow through Stevens's hands, connecting with Stevens's forehead.
Luiz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Luiz lands strikes from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Luiz is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Luiz working over Stevens with some ground and pound. Stevens looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Luiz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Luiz there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Luiz scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Luiz content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Luiz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Luiz throws a strike but Stevens avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Luiz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Luiz lands a couple of digs.
Luiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stevens wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Luiz manages to pass to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Luiz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A head kick by Stevens misses
and Luiz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
David Luiz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stevens throws a right and a left that Luiz avoids nicely.
Stevens bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Luiz keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Luiz digs a good body shot into Stevens's ribs.
Luiz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stevens.
Luiz clobbers Stevens with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Luiz closes the distance and clinches.
Stevens has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens jumps guard but Luiz turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Luiz lands with a light punch inside.
Luiz lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Luiz breaks the clinch.
Luiz dodges the punch combination from Stevens.
Stevens throws a right hand that Luiz ducks under and follows up with a left that Luiz also avoids with ease.
Luiz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stevens is looking to land body kicks.
Stevens avoids the body shot from Luiz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Luiz.
Luiz throws a series of punches but Stevens avoids them all with ease.
Stevens works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Stevens throws a good cross that connects.
Luiz shoots in for a double leg but Stevens sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stevens throws a series of punches but Luiz moves out of range.
Stevens slips under a jab from Luiz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luiz misses with a body punch
and Stevens counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ron Stevens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Luiz lands a jab.
Nice takedown defense from Stevens. No joy for Luiz on that attempt.
Ron Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of David Luiz.
Jab from Stevens.
Stevens tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Luiz was well out of range. Poor timing from Stevens.
Stevens throws a head kick that misses.
Luiz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luiz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Luiz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stevens moves away.
Luiz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ron Stevens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A combination from Stevens does no damage.
David Luiz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Luiz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stevens.

Stevens gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Luiz to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Luiz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Luiz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Luiz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Luiz!