PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eddard Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Eddard Stark has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Eddard Stark seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Stark
vs
Stevens

190 cm
25
190 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

183 cm
24
198 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eddard Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens tries for a takedown but Stark sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A big left from Stevens misses.

Stark scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Stevens tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stevens takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Stevens tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stevens avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Stark.
Stark working the ground and pound.
Stevens is looking for a sweep.
Stevens avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Stark.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stevens defending against the ground and pound.
Stark working the body and head with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stark in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Stevens dodges the ground and pound from Stark.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark landing a few strikes.
Stevens is looking to regain half guard here but Stark keeps moving and retains side control.
Stevens manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Stevens wants to pass to mount but Stark is defending the position.
Stark is trying to stand up here but Stevens is controlling him well.
Stark wants to control but Stevens is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stark pushes Stevens off looking to stand but Stevens dives back in and keeps control.
Stevens landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stark is looking to escape.
Stark is concentrating on defense, preventing Stevens from advancing position.
Stevens working Stark over with strikes.
Stark is trying to maintain the position but Stevens is very close to passing his half guard.
Stevens trying to control the action but Stark is working from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stevens seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Stevens has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark is trying to stand up here but Stevens is controlling him well.

Stark manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Stevens slaps away a takedown attempt from Stark, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Stark shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stevens sprawls well. Stevens wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stark gets slowly back to his feet.
Stevens misses the jab.
Stevens scores with a hook.
Stark has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eddard Stark. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stark's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Stevens connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Stark scrambles back to his feet.

It looks like Eddard Stark has been cut.
Stark walks into a jab.
Stark slips a jab and a cross from Stevens.
Stark will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stevens throws a body punch but Stark moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stevens misses with a body shot.

Stark gets the takedown into side control.
Stark cracks Stevens with a big elbow.
Stark lands a decent elbow from side control.
Stevens struggling a bit here.
Stevens manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Stark is refusing to be controlled, as Stevens sits in half guard.
Stark works his way to full guard. Good work.
Stevens looking to pass the guard.
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!
Stevens in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stark seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark is trying to keep Stevens in close.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Stark keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Stevens with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stark wants to stand and escape but Stevens is having none of it.
Stark is adopting a defensive guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Eddard Stark wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Stevens attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A nice combination there by Stark.
Stevens throws an off balance right hand
and Stark counters with a right hand to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Horrible takedown by Stark or perhaps it was just good defense by Stevens which made him look bad.
Stevens cracks Stark with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Stevens looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Eddard Stark will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Eddard Stark's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stark throws a series of punches but Stevens avoids them all with ease.
Stark shoots in looking for a takedown but Stevens manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Stark's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stevens. Stark does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stark misses the shot to the body.
Stark fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stevens avoids it really well and circles away.
Stevens throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Stark stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Stevens looks for a takedown but Stark sprawls well.
Stark closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stevens circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eddard Stark. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stark but Stark pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Stark shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stevens sprawls well. Stevens wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stark gets slowly back to his feet.

Stark drives through with a takedown into guard.
Stark keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stevens's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Stark in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stark connects with a couple of short punches.
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.
Stevens is trying to keep Stark in close.
Stark looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Stark pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stevens is keeping the position for now.
Stark postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark throws an elbow that misses. Stevens uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Stark's guard. Nice move by Stevens!
Stevens trying to control but Stark is working from the bottom.
Stevens is looking to work some ground and pound but Stark has wrist control.
Stark keeping full guard, as Stevens tries to pass.
Eddard Stark overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stark wants to stand but Stevens is controlling the position.
Stevens scoring with some ground and pound.
Stark manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stevens manages to get himself to full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
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!
Stark trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stevens throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Stevens preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stevens working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stark.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark with a nice head shot there.
Stark trying to control but Stevens is working from the bottom.
Stevens seems keen to control Stark's posture.
Stark postures up in Stevens's guard and throws a big left but Stevens blocks it.
Stevens wants to sweep but no luck.
Stevens pulls Stark in close to prevent any damage.
Stark content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Stark wants to control from the top but Stevens keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stevens looking for a guillotine here but Stark defends easily.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stark lands a couple of decent looking shots.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stark throws a big right hand that misses.
Stark lands a couple of elbows.
Stevens utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevens wants to sweep but no luck.
Stark scoring with some ground and pound.
Stark pushes down on Stevens's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Stevens wants to control but Stark is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddard Stark dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Eddard Stark's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Stevens pivots, looking for a leg kick but Stark is out of range and Stevens settles back down.
Stevens looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stevens misses with a double jab.
Stevens misses with a left hand
and Stark counters with a straight right hand.
Mike Stevens seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stevens stuffs the takedown.
Stark digs a good hook to Stevens's body.
Stark shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stevens sprawls well. Stevens wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stark gets slowly back to his feet.
Stevens showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stark.
Stark tries for a takedown but Stevens sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eddard Stark. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stark swings for the body but Stevens moves out of range.
Stevens throws a series of punches but Stark avoids them all with ease.
Stevens will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Stark shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Stevens wants to get back to full guard.
Stevens taking some punishment here, with Stark in his half guard.
Stark scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Stevens on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Stark slips a nice elbow through Stevens's hands, connecting with Stevens's forehead.
Stark wants to pass to mount but Stevens is defending the position.
Stevens tries to roll over but Stark keeps him under control.
Stark thows a huge punch but Stevens dodges it nicely.
Stevens preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Stevens defending well though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stark prevents Stevens from improving his position.
Stark throwing shots but Stevens is blocking nicely.
Stark working the head and body with strikes.
Ground and pound from Stark.
Stevens blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stark.
Stark slips a nice elbow through Stevens's hands, connecting with Stevens's forehead.
Stevens is controlling Stark's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Stark sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Stevens defending well though.
Stark trying to pass the guard but Stevens defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Stark not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Stark is nestled in close to Stevens, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Stark slips a nice elbow through Stevens's hands, connecting with Stevens's forehead.
Stark looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Stevens with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Stevens is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stark throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Stark throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stevens has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stark is working away from the top position though.
Stark lands strikes from half guard.
Stevens won't allow Stark to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Stevens manages to get to full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stark scoring with punches to the head and body.
Stark throwing strikes from guard but Stevens blocks nicely.
Stark makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Stark works over Stevens with some ground and pound from guard.
Stark throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stark loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mike Stevens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Eddard Stark is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stark lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eddard Stark showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stark, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eddard Stark!
Eddard Stark made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'Any ladies interested im having a vagetarian smorg in my room after fights, room 1301 at the hilton. Thanks to the 6 that helped me get over the pre fight jitters last nite and the 3 this morning...'.