PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tanner Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donte Combs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Stevens
vs
Combs

187 cm
25
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
235 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Very quick

Dangerous GnP
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tanner Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Donte Combs!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Combs avoids a kick to the body.

Stevens looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Combs tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Combs is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Combs trying to strike off his back.

Stevens got a little sloppy there for a moment and Combs has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stevens has managed to get both his arms back between Combs's legs - danger averted.
Stevens's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Combs working a defensive guard but Stevens passes into half guard.
Stevens is taking a breather. Combs says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Combs wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Combs throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Stevens missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Stevens decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Combs doesn't manage to clinch there - Stevens circles away.

Stevens 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 slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Stevens stops Combs from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

We're going to have a standup here because Tanner Stevens wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Combs wants to clinch up but Stevens keeps it at a distance.
Combs fails with the takedown

and Stevens counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Combs's guard now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Combs is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Stevens manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Combs preventing the sweep.
Stevens controlling the position.
Combs tries to stand but Stevens is controlling from the bottom.
Combs trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Stevens has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Combs off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Combs misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Combs doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Stevens counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Combs's guard now.
Stevens is breathing heavily.
Stevens stays in close to Combs's body and controls the position.
Stevens wants to pass the guard but Combs is keeping the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stevens won't allow Combs to get back to his feet.

Combs has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Stevens is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Combs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevens landing strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tanner Stevens dominated 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.

Stevens shoots in and gets a takedown into Combs's guard.
Tanner Stevens overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stevens showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Combs trying to keep a closed guard but Stevens is proving a slippery customer.

Stevens stands up and waves to Combs to follow him.
Combs throws a right and a left that both miss.
Combs tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Stevens manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stevens throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Combs wants to clinch up but Stevens keeps it at a distance.
Tanner Stevens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stevens throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stevens is looking to clinch.
Combs fails with the takedown.
Combs shoots in and drives through. Stevens sprawls well.
Combs is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stevens sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Tanner Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donte Combs.
Combs shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Stevens counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Combs's guard now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Stevens thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Stevens is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Combs is looking to sweep but instead, Stevens has passed into half guard.
Stevens prevents Combs from improving his position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Stevens is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Combs doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Stevens.
Combs is trying to maintain the position but Stevens is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens looks to land a strike but Combs avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Combs is wriggling around but Stevens manages to pass to half guard.
Combs is looking to control Stevens's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Combs avoid being mounted?

Combs looking for submissions off his back.
Stevens sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Combs wants to control but Stevens is keeping busy.
Stevens stalling.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Combs shoots in and drives through. Stevens sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tanner 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!

Stevens manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Combs on his heels. He'll look to pass Combs's guard now, I'm sure.
Stevens controls from within his opponent's guard.
Combs trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Combs wants to sweep here but Stevens controlling him for the moment.
Stevens is stalling in the full guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Combs wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Tanner Stevens wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Combs tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stevens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Combs wants to clinch.

Combs gets caught flat footed, as Stevens shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Combs wants to control the position but Stevens says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Stevens with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Combs trying to control but Stevens postures up.
Stevens trying to advance position but Combs counters by regaining guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Combs wants to control the position but Stevens says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Combs tries to get to full guard but Stevens has control of the leg.
Combs makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Combs.
Stevens stopping the sweep attempt from Combs.
Stevens landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stevens stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Combs fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Stevens closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Combs did well to prevent Stevens getting side control.
Combs missing with punches from the bottom.
Stevens trying to advance position but Combs counters by regaining guard.
Stevens's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Combs throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Combs trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Stevens missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Combs looking for a guillotine here but Stevens defends easily.
Combs wants to stand but Stevens is controlling the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Combs looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tanner 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

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