PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Steve Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michak Ropuia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ropuia has chosen Here comes the pain - Slayer as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stevenson
vs
Ropuia

170 cm
29
156 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

176 cm
28
152 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

TWGC Champion
Brawler
Good gas tank

The Dark Side

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Steve Stevenson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Michak Ropuia!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Roger Salmon and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ropuia shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Stevenson counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Ropuia!

Stevenson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ropuia knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ropuia tries to escape but Stevenson is in control.
Stevenson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Ropuia wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Ropuia is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Stevenson off and has taken his back!
Our spies down at at Blitzkrieg Fighting Systems: Ground inform us that Ropuia has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Stevenson can't escape the position.

Ropuia looking for the choke but no joy.
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!
Ropuia controlling well, preventing Stevenson from escaping the position.

Stevenson defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Stevenson manages to reverse the position and now he's in Ropuia's guard. Nice work there by Stevenson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson looking to pass the guard.
Stevenson throws a big elbow that misses.
Stevenson advances to half guard.
Stevenson trying to control the action but Ropuia is working from the bottom.
Ropuia tries to kick Stevenson off but Stevenson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Stevenson prevents Ropuia from improving his position.

Stevenson is trying to work for a kimura but Ropuia is defending well.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Stevenson wants to pass to mount but Ropuia is defending the position.
Stevenson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Stevenson wants to pass to mount but Ropuia is defending the position.

Stevenson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ropuia is just riding it out for now. Stevenson eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ropuia sees it coming and defends easily.
Stevenson stops Ropuia from getting back to his feet.

Ropuia actively working from the bottom here.
Well, if Stevenson 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.
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!
Ropuia is not content to let Stevenson control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ropuia looking for submissions off his back.
Ropuia gets full guard.
Stevenson pushing down on Ropuia's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Stevenson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
We've been hearing that Stevenson has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Ropuia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Stevenson pulls his head out easily.

Ropuia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Stevenson pulls his head out easily.
Ropuia won't allow Stevenson to pass to mount.

Ropuia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Stevenson passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Ropuia!
Stevenson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ropuia can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Ropuia is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ropuia takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
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!
Stevenson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ropuia is looking to escape.
Stevenson working the ground and pound effectively.
Ropuia is working to get back to half guard.
Stevenson lands a couple of good shots and Ropuia has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Stevenson is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Stevenson gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Stevenson gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Stevenson apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Ropuia shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Stevenson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Ropuia is looking for a triangle but Stevenson pushes his legs off easily.
Stevenson trying to control the position from guard on top but Ropuia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stevenson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ropuia works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Stevenson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Stevenson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ropuia has his takedown stuffed

and Stevenson counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Ropuia working for a triangle but Stevenson defends it easily.
Stevenson landing with the ground and pound.
Stevenson wants to pass the guard but Ropuia is keeping the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Stevenson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Stevenson trying to control but Ropuia is working from the bottom.
Stevenson scoring with some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stevenson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ropuia is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson prevents Ropuia from getting back to his feet.
Stevenson connects with a couple of short punches.
Stevenson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ropuia's head.

Ropuia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Ropuia throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ropuia keeping moving, preventing Stevenson from controlling successfully.

Stevenson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Stevenson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Ropuia has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stevenson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Stevenson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ropuia swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stevenson forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is looking to take a break and control but Ropuia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ropuia is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! Stevenson is tapping! Great win for Ropuia!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Michak Ropuia!
Michak Ropuia is the new featherweight champion!
A victorious Michak Ropuia thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.