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 is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: In the Dark. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Aspenia
vs
Stevens

172 cm
35
130 lbs
15 - 17 - 0

175 cm
30
138 lbs
17 - 17 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 15 - 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 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jonny Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aspenia looks to land a body kick but Stevens moved away.
Aspenia looks to land a combination but Stevens avoids it well.
Stevens showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Aspenia.
Aspenia throws a combination. Stevens tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Stevens closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Aspenia did well to prevent Stevens getting side control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Aspenia is concentrating on defense, preventing Stevens from advancing position.
Aspenia is looking for a sweep. Stevens is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stevens is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevens thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Aspenia's head.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stevens wants to take a breather but Aspenia is having none of it.

Jonny Stevens has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Stevens closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aspenia defending against the ground and pound.
Stevens is looking to take a break and control but Aspenia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Aspenia can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aspenia keeps working.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jonny Stevens.
Aspenia lands with a right hand.
Stevens fails with a takedown attempt.
Aspenia misses with a few strikes there.

Stevens is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Aspenia's half guard.
Aspenia is not content to let Stevens control the position.
Aspenia is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens is trying to control the action in half guard but Aspenia is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Stevens in particular looking to stall.

Jonny Stevens has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Aspenia as he jumps to the side.
Aspenia lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Stevens backs up against the cage.
Stevens doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Aspenia counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Aspenia.
Kato Aspenia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonny Stevens.
Aspenia is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Aspenia breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aspenia clinches.
Aspenia wants to get back to striking at distance but Stevens won't allow it.
Stevens tries to score a body lock takedown but Aspenia shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

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

Aspenia forces Stevens back against the cage and clinches.
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!
Aspenia can't break the clinch.

Stevens is trying to trip Aspenia. He has hold of a leg but Aspenia is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Stevens persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Aspenia being controlled here, momentarily.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Aspenia keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aspenia is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jonny Stevens will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Aspenia instigates a clinch.
Aspenia is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Aspenia prevents the takedown attempt.
Aspenia is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Aspenia wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Stevens is looking to take this one to the mat.

Stevens pulls guard successfully.
Aspenia trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aspenia working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Stevens looking for a sweep. Not yet Stevens, not yet.
Stevens looking to control.
Aspenia has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Stevens is proving hard to escape from.
Stevens controls Aspenia momentarily but Aspenia frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Stevens throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Aspenia was covering up waiting for the punch and Stevens finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Stevens pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aspenia is keeping the position for now.
Aspenia looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Stevens puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Well, if Stevens is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Aspenia wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aspenia won't allow Stevens to pass to mount.
Aspenia is looking to escape.
Stevens is trying to control. Aspenia wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stevens controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jonny Stevens was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Aspenia scores with a hook.
Aspenia slaps away a takedown attempt from Stevens, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kato Aspenia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonny Stevens.
Aspenia feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Stevens's calf.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Stevens shoots in and gets a takedown into Aspenia's guard.
Stevens is breathing heavily.
Aspenia seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Aspenia keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aspenia wants to get back to his feet but Stevens is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Aspenia working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stevens.
Stevens won't allow Aspenia to sweep him here.
Aspenia lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Stevens!
Aspenia trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens wants to hold on but Aspenia pushes him away.
Aspenia trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Aspenia is really struggling to control Stevens but he's trying to hold on to the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Aspenia sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
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.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Aspenia displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stevens.
Aspenia throws a series of punches but Stevens avoids them all with ease.
A combination from Aspenia does no damage.
Aspenia throws a series of punches but Stevens avoids them all with ease.
Horrible takedown by Stevens or perhaps it was just good defense by Aspenia which made him look bad.
Aspenia closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stevens circles away.
Stevens fails with a takedown attempt.
Kato Aspenia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonny Stevens.

Stevens tries to keep at a distance but Aspenia has taken the fight into the clinch.

Aspenia breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aspenia pushes Stevens up against the cage in a clinch.
Stevens doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Aspenia breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Aspenia rushes Stevens and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Aspenia working hard to break the clinch.

Aspenia manages to break the clinch.
Aspenia's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Aspenia duly obliges.

Aspenia closes the distance and pushes Stevens back into the cage.
Stevens misses with an elbow over the top.
Stevens can't get the takedown.
Aspenia is trying to force a seperation but Stevens has the dominant position.
Stevens using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Aspenia has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Aspenia is looking to break free of the clinch but Stevens has double underhooks.
Aspenia can't break the clinch.
Stevens goes for a takedown attempt but Aspenia pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Stevens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aspenia shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aspenia wants to free his trapped foot but Stevens is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Aspenia is looking to take a break and control but Stevens is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
It looks like Aspenia is going to stand back up.
Stevens avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Aspenia.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aspenia wants to stand up but Stevens is controlling the position.

Aspenia decides to return to a standing position.
Kato Aspenia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stevens shoots in looking for a takedown but Aspenia manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Stevens's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kato Aspenia is winning the standup battle so far.
Aspenia avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stevens has a takedown stuffed.

Aspenia looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Aspenia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stevens swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Aspenia has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Aspenia preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aspenia wants to stand but Stevens has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Stevens preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stevens throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Aspenia trying to control but Stevens is working from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Aspenia wants to stand but Stevens has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevens working a defensive guard here.

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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

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