PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kato Aspenia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonny Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stevens has chosen In the Dark as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Aspenia
vs
Stevens

172 cm
35
130 lbs
14 - 17 - 0

175 cm
30
138 lbs
17 - 16 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Pirates Powder
The Dark Side

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 14 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kato Aspenia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jonny Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aspenia tries to bum rush Stevens with a series of wild strikes but Stevens uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stevens moves in looking to clinch but Aspenia pushes him off.

Stevens moves into range and clinches up with Aspenia.
Aspenia has had enough of the clinch but Stevens keeps him there for the moment.
Stevens prevents the takedown attempt.

Stevens pulls guard effortlessly.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Aspenia throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Aspenia throws a strike but Stevens rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Stevens trying to control the position from guard on top but Aspenia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stevens throws a big right hand that misses.
Stevens in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Aspenia trying to control the position here.
Aspenia preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Aspenia keeps moving.
Stevens missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Aspenia 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 missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stevens throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stevens throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aspenia works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stevens wants to pass the guard but Aspenia is keeping the position.
Stevens 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Stevens fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Stevens closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Stevens is trying to control. Aspenia wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stevens controlling the action here.
Aspenia is looking to escape.
Stevens is taking a breather. Aspenia 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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jonny Stevens wasn't active enough on the ground.
Stevens shoots in and drives through. Aspenia sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aspenia closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Stevens quickly recovers to half guard.
Stevens blocking the ground and pound attempt from Aspenia.
Aspenia sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Stevens defending well though.
Stevens blocking the ground and pound attempt from Aspenia.
It looks like Aspenia is going to stand back up.
Aspenia with the ground and pound but Stevens uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Stevens has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Aspenia wants to stand and escape but instead Stevens has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Stevens throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aspenia works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stevens engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Stevens throws an elbow that misses. Aspenia uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Stevens's guard. Nice move by Aspenia!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aspenia tries to stand but Stevens is controlling from the bottom.
Stevens looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Aspenia postures up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
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 has a closed guard, preventing Aspenia from standing up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
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.
Aspenia wants to stand but Stevens is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonny Stevens dominated that round.
That's time! Aspenia's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stevens jumps guard but Aspenia stands there with Stevens around his waist. Stevens gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stevens goes for a takedown attempt but Aspenia pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Stevens dives in and grabs Aspenia's left leg, looking for a takedown. Aspenia pushes down on Stevens's head and hops out.
Kato Aspenia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonny Stevens.

Stevens shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Stevens was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Stevens wants to take a breather but Aspenia manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Stevens.
Stevens stops Aspenia from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Stevens gets to his feet - Aspenia follows without any prompting.
Aspenia shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stevens defends it nicely.
Kato Aspenia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Stevens gets tackled into the cage by Aspenia. Aspenia maintains the clinch.

Stevens ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Stevens no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Aspenia has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Stevens is proving hard to escape from.
Aspenia stopping the sweep attempt from Stevens.
Aspenia trying to control but Stevens is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens keeping full guard, as Aspenia tries to pass.
Aspenia has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stevens trying to keep a closed guard but Aspenia is proving a slippery customer.
Aspenia tries to stand but Stevens is controlling from the bottom.
Stevens is adopting a defensive guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Kato Aspenia just wasn't active enough.
Stevens looks for a takedown but Aspenia sprawls well.
Stevens has his takedown stuffed
and Aspenia counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Aspenia fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stevens, pushing him back against the cage.
Stevens blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aspenia wants to get back to striking at distance but Stevens won't allow it.

Aspenia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stevens shoots in looking for a takedown. Aspenia tries to sprawl out of it but Stevens keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Aspenia manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Stevens shoots in for a double leg but Aspenia sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Aspenia fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Aspenia scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Stevens shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Aspenia defends it nicely.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown but Aspenia shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Aspenia has taken the fight to the clinch.
Aspenia is trying to break free.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens shoots in looking for a takedown. Aspenia tries to sprawl out of it but Stevens keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Aspenia manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Stevens on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Aspenia instigates a clinch.

Aspenia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Aspenia moves into the clinch.
Stevens is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Aspenia gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Stevens prevents Aspenia from breaking the clinch.
Aspenia looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Stevens tries for a takedown but Aspenia manages to get underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevens has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Aspenia avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Stevens lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Stevens is trying to control. Aspenia wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stevens prevents Aspenia from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kato Aspenia will probably get the nod.
That's time! Aspenia's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Aspenia takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Stevens tries for a takedown but Aspenia sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Aspenia tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stevens was well out of range. Poor timing from Aspenia.
Aspenia looks to land a combination. Stevens sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Aspenia drives through and clinches with Stevens against the cage.
Aspenia is trying to break free.

Aspenia breaks the clinch.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Aspenia connects with a body shot that sends Stevens's belly button to the back.
Aspenia swats away the attempt to clinch by Stevens.

Stevens looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Aspenia!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stevens throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Aspenia is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aspenia is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Aspenia is not content to let Stevens control the position.
Stevens moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Stevens wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aspenia keeps working.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jonny Stevens.
Aspenia stuffs the takedown attempt from Stevens. Stevens gets slowly back to his feet.
Kato Aspenia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonny Stevens.
Aspenia throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Aspenia misses with a double jab.
Nice takedown defense from Aspenia. No joy for Stevens on that attempt.
Aspenia lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Stevens shoots in looking for a takedown. Aspenia tries to sprawl out of it but Stevens keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Aspenia manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Aspenia has taken the fight to the clinch.
Aspenia prevents a takedown attempt there.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aspenia keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Stevens tries for a takedown but Aspenia sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Aspenia looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Aspenia throws a body punch but Stevens moves out of range.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Aspenia but Aspenia pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice takedown defense from Aspenia. No joy for Stevens on that attempt.

Aspenia clinches with his opponent.
Aspenia is pressed up against the cage. Stevens has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Aspenia down to the mat. Aspenia avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Stevens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stevens tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Aspenia swivels and escapes.
Aspenia rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stevens moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Stevens looks for a takedown but Aspenia sprawls well.
Stevens looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Stevens shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stevens is defended easily by Aspenia.
Stevens tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Aspenia swivels and escapes.
Stevens with a poor takedown
and Aspenia counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice sprawl there from Stevens as Aspenia shoots in.
Aspenia misses with a wild combination.

Aspenia shoots in and gets a takedown into Stevens's guard.
Aspenia wants to stand but Stevens is controlling his posture from full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Kato Aspenia showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Aspenia has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kato Aspenia!