PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Brodrick Caldwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Israel Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Israel Stephens was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Caldwell
vs
Stephens

185 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

225 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brodrick Caldwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Israel Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stephens swinging wildly here.
Caldwell moves in looking to clinch but Stephens pushes him off.

Stephens closes the distance and clinches.

Stephens pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stephens closes the distance and clinches up with Caldwell, looking for a takedown. Stephens pushes Caldwell against the cage but Caldwell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Caldwell misses with a kick to the body.
Caldwell takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Stephens displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Caldwell.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stephens.

Caldwell has closed the distance and engaged Stephens in a clinch.
Stephens lands a knee to the body.
Caldwell is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Brodrick Caldwell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Israel Stephens.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caldwell with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Stephens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Caldwell walks into a jab.
Stephens shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice sprawl there from Stephens as Caldwell shoots in.
Stephens pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Caldwell will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Caldwell is breathing heavily.
Stephens shoots for a double leg takedown but Caldwell sprawls well. He's pushed Stephens's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Stephens feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Caldwell's calf.
Stephens shoots for a double leg takedown but Caldwell sprawls well. He's pushed Stephens's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Stephens keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens fails to pull guard.

Stephens breaks the clinch.
Stephens lands a jab to Caldwell's midsection.
Stephens shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stephens lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Brodrick Caldwell has been cut.
Stephens lands with a hook. Caldwell tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Caldwell is rocked!
Caldwell misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Stephens gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stephens tries to score a body lock takedown but Caldwell shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Caldwell tries to pull guard but Stephens won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caldwell is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Stephens to keep the fight standing.
Stephens lands a knee to the head.

Stephens breaks the clinch.
Stephens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Caldwell stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Caldwell wants it to stay on the feet.
Stephens shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Caldwell as he jumps to the side.
Stephens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Caldwell changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stephens tries to avoid it but Caldwell manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stephens to the ground. Stephens escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Caldwell swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Stephens has closed the distance and engaged Caldwell in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Caldwell takes an elbow to the temple.
Stephens can't get the takedown.
Stephens keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Caldwell's efforts to push away.
Stephens utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Stephens pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Caldwell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stephens shoots in looking for a takedown but Caldwell manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Stephens's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Caldwell tries for a takedown but Stephens sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Stephens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Caldwell pinned against the cage. Caldwell gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Israel Stephens dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brodrick Caldwell's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stephens shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Caldwell as he avoids it easily.
No luck for Stephens with that takedown attempt.
Caldwell misses with a body shot
and Stephens counters with a left to the body.
A head kick misses from Caldwell.
Stephens fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stephens lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Caldwell tries to clinch but Stephens moves out of range.
Israel Stephens seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Caldwell shoots in for a takedown but Stephens shows good takedown defense.
Caldwell looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Caldwell tries to keep at a distance but Stephens has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Stephens.
Stephens tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Caldwell just stands there and leans against the cage.
Brodrick Caldwell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Israel Stephens.
Stephens is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Caldwell pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Caldwell gets underhooks to prevent Stephens's takedown attempt.
Caldwell lands a damaging elbow.

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

Stephens rushes Caldwell and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stephens has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Caldwell avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Stephens is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Caldwell is defending well.
Stephens fails to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Stephens.
Stephens changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Caldwell fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Stephens defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Caldwell.
Caldwell shoots in and drives through. Stephens sprawls well.
Stephens changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Caldwell tries to avoid it but Stephens manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Caldwell to the ground. Caldwell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Stephens fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Caldwell avoids it really well and circles away.
Stephens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Caldwell swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens misses with a two punch combination.
Stephens doesn't manage to clinch there - Caldwell circles away.
Caldwell shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stephens defends it nicely.
Stephens shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Caldwell but Caldwell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Caldwell has a takedown stuffed.
Stephens looks for a takedown but Caldwell sprawls well.
Caldwell moves in looking to clinch but Stephens pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens has a takedown stuffed.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Caldwell.
Stephens shoots in looking for a takedown but Caldwell manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Stephens's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Caldwell fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stephens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Caldwell pinned against the cage. Caldwell gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stephens throws the kick towards the body but Caldwell avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Israel Stephens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Brodrick Caldwell's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

No luck for Caldwell with that takedown attempt.
Caldwell tries to clinch up.
Caldwell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stephens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stephens closes the distance and clinches up with Caldwell, looking for a takedown. Stephens pushes Caldwell against the cage but Caldwell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Caldwell misses with a body shot.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Stephens.
Stephens closes the distance and clinches up with Caldwell, looking for a takedown. Stephens pushes Caldwell against the cage but Caldwell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No luck for Stephens with that takedown attempt.
Brodrick Caldwell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Israel Stephens.

Caldwell has closed the distance and engaged Stephens in a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Caldwell is trying to pull guard but Stephens turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caldwell tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stephens avoids it.

Stephens manages to break the clinch.
Stephens scores with a shot to the body.

Caldwell gets tackled into the cage by Stephens. Stephens maintains the clinch.

Stephens manages to pull guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Caldwell trying to control the position from guard on top but Stephens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Caldwell preventing the sweep.
Stephens really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Caldwell. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens has his hands on Caldwell's head, controlling the position.
Stephens is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Brodrick Caldwell just wasn't active enough.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stephens.

Caldwell closes the distance and clinches.
Caldwell throws a knee to the head but misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stephens ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Stephens no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Caldwell drops back looking for a leg! Stephens is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Stephens manages to kick Caldwell off! Caldwell jumps back into Stephens's guard.
Caldwell tries to stand but Stephens is controlling from the bottom.
Caldwell trying to control the position from guard on top but Stephens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Brodrick Caldwell wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Stephens looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Caldwell is fending him off so far but Stephens persists. Nope, Caldwell circles away and we're back to standing.
Caldwell stuffs the takedown.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Caldwell has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Brodrick Caldwell.
I think Stephens has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Israel Stephens!