PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mark Stepp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Johansson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Stepp
vs
Johansson

174 cm
18
164 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
18
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ultra Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight 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, Mark Stepp!
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, Nathan Johansson!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stepp takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Johansson keeps the fight on the outside.

Johansson pushes Stepp up against the cage in a clinch.
Stepp lands a right hand that snaps the head of Johansson backwards.
Stepp content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Stepp swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Stepp on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stepp lands a knee to the head.
Stepp lands a knee to the head.
Stepp missing with knees to the body.
Johansson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Johansson throws an elbow that misses.
Stepp throws a head punch that misses.
Johansson tries to throw a body punch but Stepp avoids it by throwing Johansson back against the cage.

Stepp breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stepp tries to close the distance and clinch but Johansson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Stepp gets tackled into the cage by Johansson. Johansson maintains the clinch.
Johansson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Stepp lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Johansson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stepp tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Stepp forces Johansson back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Stepp connects with a knee to the head.
Stepp lands a shot to the body.
Johansson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Johansson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stepp pulls his leg out and moves away.
Stepp tries to clinch but Johansson moves out of range.
Stepp tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Johansson rushes Stepp and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stepp misses with a knee strike.

Stepp breaks from the clinch.
Johansson fails to land the takedown.

Stepp closes the distance and pushes Johansson back into the cage.
Johansson is trying to maintain a safe position but Stepp gets an underhook and turns Johansson into the cage.
Johansson working hard to break the clinch.

Stepp breaks from the clinch.

Johansson clinches with his opponent.
Johansson pushes Stepp back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepp trying to stall but Johansson improves his position.
Johansson wants to break free but Stepp has control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Johansson.
Johansson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Johansson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stepp blocks it with crossed arms.
Stepp tries to land a knee to the head but Johansson blocks with his arms.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Stepp creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Johansson missing with knees to the body.
Stepp misses with a knee to the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Stepp.
Stepp blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

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

Johansson darts in and clinches Stepp up against the cage.
A short right from Stepp on the inside.

Stepp escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johansson misses with a takedown attempt - Stepp sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mark Stepp has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathan Johansson.

Stepp moves into the clinch.

Johansson pulls guard.
Johansson 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stepp wants to pass the guard but Johansson is keeping the position.
Johansson trying to control the position.
Stepp has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Johansson is proving hard to escape from.
Stepp has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Johansson keeping full guard, as Stepp tries to pass.

Johansson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stepp defends it easily.
Stepp trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stepp sitting in guard here, content to control.

Johansson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stepp defends well.

Johansson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Stepp got a little sloppy there for a moment and Johansson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stepp has managed to get both his arms back between Johansson's legs - danger averted.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Stepp stands up and waves to Johansson to follow him.
Stepp tries to clinch but Johansson moves out of range.
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 Mark Stepp will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Stepp tries to clinch there but Johansson circles away.
Johansson keeps the fight on the outside.
Stepp catches Johansson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Johansson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Johansson leaning his opponent against the cage.

Stepp breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stepp tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Johansson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

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

Johansson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Johansson closes the distance and clinches.
Stepp is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stepp tries to work over Johansson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Stepp misses with a knee to the head.
Johansson is trying to break the clinch but Stepp has him pressed against the cage.
Johansson is trying to stall.
A frustrated look appears on Johansson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Johansson blocking some punches.
Johansson is trying to pull guard but Stepp turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stepp has a couple of punches blocked by Johansson.
Stepp presses Johansson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Johansson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Stepp softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Johansson blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Johansson successfully pulls guard.
Johansson keeping full guard, as Stepp tries to pass.

Stepp stands and steps away. Johansson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Stepp connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Stepp moves into the clinch.
Johansson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Stepp lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Johansson backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stepp keeps control of Johansson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johansson.
Stepp fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Stepp with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stepp stops a takedown attempt from Johansson.
Mark Stepp has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathan Johansson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepp looking to throw knees to the head but Johansson is blocking nicely.
Stepp lands with a left to the head.

Stepp breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stepp fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stepp is looking to clinch but Johansson is avoiding it.
Stepp fails in his attempt to clinch.

Stepp pushes Johansson up against the cage in a clinch.
Stepp connects with a knee to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Stepp scores with a shot to the side of Johansson's head.
Johansson tries to pull guard but Stepp forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Stepp lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Johansson.

Johansson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johansson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Johansson moves into range and clinches up with Stepp.

Stepp manages to break the clinch.
Johansson dives in and grabs Stepp's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stepp pushes down on Johansson's head and hops out.
Johansson is breathing heavily.
Johansson keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johansson clinches up with Stepp and pushes him back against the cage.
Johansson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stepp.
Johansson jumps guard but Stepp stands there with Johansson around his waist. Johansson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stepp scores with a shoulder strike.
Stepp lands a left hand.
Johansson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Johansson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Stepp after a bit of a struggle.
Stepp has Johansson pressed against the cage, preventing Johansson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Johansson has a couple of punches blocked by Stepp.
Stepp lands a shoulder strike.
A short right from Stepp on the inside.
Stepp is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Johansson takes a shot to the head.
Stepp lands with a light punch inside.
Mark Stepp has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Stepp with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Stepp breaks the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Stepp closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Johansson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Johansson lands with a light punch inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johansson gets control of Stepp's arms and successfully pulls guard. Johansson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Johansson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Stepp would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Stepp throws a big right hand that misses.
Stepp pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johansson is keeping the position for now.
Stepp wants to stand but Johansson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Stepp postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stepp has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Johansson is proving hard to escape from.
Johansson 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Stepp dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Johansson feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Stepps jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Johansson forces Stepp back against the cage and clinches.

Stepp escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johansson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Stepp counters with a straight right hand.
Mark Stepp is winning the standup battle so far.
Stepp tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johansson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Johansson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Mark Stepp has been cut.
Johansson swats away the attempt to clinch by Stepp.
Stepp fails with an attempt to clinch.

Stepp has taken the fight to the clinch.
Johansson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Stepp scores with a shoulder strike.
Stepp is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Johansson is keeping busy.
Stepp lands a nice knee to the body.
Johansson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johansson is trying to pull guard but Stepp has him pressed against the cage.
Stepp scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Johansson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stepp walks away with a smile on his face. Johansson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stepp looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stepp wants to clinch.

Johansson clinches with his opponent.
Johansson tries to break the clinch but Stepp is controlling the position.
With the fighters up against the cage, Johansson throws an elbow but misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Stepp lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Johansson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Stepp pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mark Stepp has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathan Johansson.
Johansson is trying to pull guard but Stepp has him pressed against the cage.

Stepp pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johansson keeps the fight on the outside.

Johansson moves into range and clinches up with Stepp.
A nice right hand lands inside from Stepp.
Stepp lands with a left to the head.
Johansson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Stepp connects with a nasty looking knee right to Johansson's face.
Johansson misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson takes a shot to the head.
Johansson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Stepp throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Johansson blocks it with crossed arms.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Stepp breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stepp is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stepp scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Stepp tries to clinch up but Johansson circles away and keeps his distance.
Johansson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Johansson moves into the clinch.
Johansson lands with a right to the head.
Johansson tries to circle away but Stepp has him pinned against the cage.

Stepp manages to break the clinch.
Johansson looks to score with a jab to the body but Stepp is just out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stepp scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Stepp's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mark Stepp is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Johansson clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stepp with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Stepp can't find room to land a body shot as Johansson controls the action.
Johansson takes a knee right on the jaw!
Stepp tries to stall but Johansson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Stepp using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A short left from Stepp.
Stepp tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

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

Stepp gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Stepp scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Stepp.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Stepp tries to land a knee to the head but Johansson blocks with his arms.

Stepp manages to break the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stepp scores with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stepp misses with a knee strike.

Stepp breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mark Stepp is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Johansson moves into the clinch successfully.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Stepp's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Johansson moves into the clinch.
Stepp swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Johansson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stepp smiles and moves away.

Johansson clinches up against the cage.
Stepp avoids the elbow strike from Johansson, against the cage.
Johansson is trying to maintain a safe position but Stepp gets an underhook and turns Johansson into the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stepp tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Johansson's elbow.

Stepp escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Johansson moves into range and clinches up with Stepp.
Nathan Johansson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stepp scores with an uppercut up the middle.

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 Mark Stepp.
Well Stepp 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Stepp!
Mark Stepp tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.