PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James Garner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conner Steven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Garner
vs
Steven

180 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Garner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Conner Steven!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, John Mangel and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garner dives in and grabs Steven's left leg, looking for a takedown. Steven pushes down on Garner's head and hops out.

Steven closes the distance and clinches.

Steven breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Garner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A low kick from Steven is predictable there

and Garner counters by clinching up.
Steven will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Garner up against the cage.

Garner ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Garner no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Steven seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Let's hope that Steven has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Steven throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Garner works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Steven slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Conner Steven.

Steven gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Garner is fighting off a takedown attempt but Steven is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Garner to the mat. Garner regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Steven looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Steven postures up in Garner's guard and throws a big left but Garner blocks it.

Steven stands and steps away. Garner gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Steven looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Steven has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Steven not doing much here.
Steven throws a strike but Garner avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steven scoring with punches to the head and body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steven 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.
Steven preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steven with a nice head shot there.
Steven engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Steven lands a couple of digs.

Steven decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Steven moves into range and clinches up with Garner.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steven pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Steven changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Garner looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Steven working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Steven is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Garner trying to control but Steven flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Steven controlling the position well here. Garner rolled but Steven kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

Steven looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Garner taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Conner Steven!
An out of breath Conner Steven thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.