PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sherwood Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinji Tatsuya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Stevenson
vs
Tatsuya

224 cm
18
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
165 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sherwood Stevenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinji Tatsuya!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tatsuya tries to clinch but Stevenson is having none of it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stevenson.
Tatsuya stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tatsuya wants it to stay on the feet.
Stevenson tries a head kick but it misses.
Tatsuya tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stevenson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stevenson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tatsuya tries to avoid it but Stevenson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tatsuya to the ground. Tatsuya escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sherwood Stevenson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stevenson stuffs the takedown attempt from Tatsuya. Tatsuya gets slowly back to his feet.
Stevenson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Tatsuya fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stevenson, pushing him back against the cage.
Tatsuya fails to pull guard.
Tatsuya will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Stevenson up against the cage.
Tatsuya is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatsuya tries to pull guard but Stevenson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Stevenson has Tatsuya pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tatsuya manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tatsuya blocks the elbow strike.

Stevenson manages to break the clinch.
Tatsuya fails with the takedown.

Stevenson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Tatsuya napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Tatsuya is looking to reverse the position.
Stevenson wants to stand but Tatsuya is controlling his arm.
Tatsuya really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stevenson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Stevenson has control of an arm but Tatsuya manages to advance to Stevenson's back!
Tatsuya is not going to allow Stevenson to sit and survive in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Tatsuya is stalling here but it's allowed Stevenson to get half 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!
Stevenson tries to get to full guard but Tatsuya has control of the leg.
Stevenson wants to control but Tatsuya is keeping busy.
Tatsuya is trying to control. Stevenson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is holding on to half guard well.
Stevenson tries to kick Tatsuya off but Tatsuya keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Shinji Tatsuya wasn't active enough on the ground.
Tatsuya fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stevenson avoids it really well and circles away.
Stevenson misses with a takedown attempt - Tatsuya sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tatsuya is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tatsuya looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stevenson slaps away a takedown attempt from Tatsuya, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Stevenson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Tatsuya shoots in for a takedown but Stevenson shows good takedown defense.
Tatsuya looks winded!
Tatsuya tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stevenson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tatsuya fails to land the takedown.
Tatsuya darts in looking for a takedown but Stevenson gets double underhooks and turns Tatsuya into the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

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

Stevenson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stevenson lands in his opponent's guard.
Stevenson is looking to stand up but Tatsuya won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sherwood Stevenson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stevenson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Tatsuya's guard.
Tatsuya being controlled here, momentarily.
Tatsuya has Stevenson pulled in close to control his posture.
Stevenson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Tatsuya avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Tatsuya is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stevenson defends well.
Stevenson trying to control but Tatsuya is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson content to stall in guard here.
Stevenson wants to pass the guard but Tatsuya is keeping the position.
Stevenson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tatsuya trying to control the position here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Sherwood Stevenson just wasn't active enough.
Stevenson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson rushes Tatsuya and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tatsuya dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Tatsuya tries to pull guard but Stevenson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Stevenson pulls guard effortlessly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevenson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tatsuya's guard.
Stevenson throws a big elbow that misses.
Tatsuya is trying to control the position but Stevenson postures up.
Tatsuya is breathing heavily.
Stevenson wants to stand and escape but instead Tatsuya has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Tatsuya lying in Stevenson's guard like a wet fish here, stalling away. Stevenson decides he's had enough of all that nonsense - he escapes his hips and locks up an armbar! Wow, that was slick! Tatsuya taps! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Sherwood Stevenson!