PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Draco Klay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andy Stepper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Klay
vs
Stepper

168 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Draco Klay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Andy Stepper!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stepper looks to clinch
and Klay counters with an inside leg kick.
Stepper shoots in for a takedown but Klay shows good takedown defense.

Klay clinches with his opponent.
Klay is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Stepper gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Klay drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stepper pulls his leg out and moves away.
Klay misses with a leg kick.
Stepper slaps away a takedown attempt from Klay, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Draco Klay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stepper moves out of range of the body kick from Klay.
Stepper is looking to clinch.

Klay shoots in and gets a takedown into Stepper's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Stepper is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stepper is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Klay is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stepper is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Klay defends well.
Klay throws an elbow that misses. Stepper uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Klay's guard. Nice move by Stepper!
Stepper sitting in guard here, content to control.
Stepper tries to free his leg and advance position but Klay is retaining full guard.
Klay is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stepper pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Klay is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Klay is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stepper stops Klay from standing up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Draco Klay just wasn't active enough.
Stepper is looking to clinch but Klay is avoiding it.
Stepper with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
No luck for Stepper with that takedown attempt.
Klay leaves Stepper with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Stepper tries to close the distance and clinch up but Klay swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stepper dives in and grabs Klay's left leg, looking for a takedown. Klay pushes down on Stepper's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klay on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Stepper misses with a takedown

and Klay counters with a single leg into guard. Stepper didn't expect that.
Stepper looks winded!
Stepper preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Klay postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Klay trying to control the position from guard on top but Stepper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Klay throws a big right hand that misses.
Klay throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Klay sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Klay wants to control from the top but Stepper keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stepper throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Klay won't allow Stepper to get back to his feet.
Klay distracts Stepper with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Klay looking to pass the guard.
Klay won't allow Stepper to sweep him here.
Klay pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stepper is keeping the position for now.
Klay is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Klay knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Stepper on the ground.

Stepper is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Klay is aware though and is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Klay works over Stepper with some ground and pound from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stepper checks a low kick from Klay.
Stepper tries for a takedown but Klay sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Klay stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Klay wants it to stay on the feet.
Klay throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Klay stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Klay wants it to stay on the feet.
Draco Klay has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andy Stepper.
Klay doesn't manage to clinch there - Stepper circles away.
Stepper avoids a kick to the body.
Andy Stepper is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stepper tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Klay manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stepper tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Klay defends well and Stepper ends up having to push Klay into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Klay wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Klay is trying to drag Stepper to the mat but Stepper just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Stepper is breathing heavily.
Klay is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klay has Stepper pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stepper manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Klay drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stepper pulls his leg out and moves away.
Stepper lands with a nice body punch.
Klay looks to throw a body kick
and Stepper counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stepper is looking to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Klay. No joy for Stepper on that attempt.
Klay stuffs the takedown.
Klay goes for a double leg but Stepper avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Stepper continues to drive forward.
Klay goes for a takedown attempt but Stepper pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepper shoots in looking for a takedown. Klay tries to sprawl out of it but Stepper keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Klay manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Klay throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Klay changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stepper tries to avoid it but Klay manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stepper to the ground. Stepper escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stepper looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stepper fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stepper shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Klay sprawls well. Klay wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stepper gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klay is looking to score with low kicks.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Klay lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Stepper has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Stepper and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Stepper shoots for a double leg takedown but Klay sprawls well. He's pushed Stepper's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Stepper moves out of range of the body kick.
Stepper swats away the attempt to clinch by Klay.
No joy there for Stepper, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stepper shoots in for a takedown but Klay shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stepper changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Klay tries to avoid it but Stepper manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Klay to the ground. Klay escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Klay cracks the inside of Stepper's front leg.
Stepper blocks the body kick.
Stepper takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Klay throws a push kick but Stepper slaps the foot to one side.
Stepper dives in and grabs Klay's left leg, looking for a takedown. Klay pushes down on Stepper's head and hops out.
Stepper avoids a kick to the body.
Stepper with a poor takedown
and Klay counters with a low kick, right behind Stepper 's knee.
Andy Stepper seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Klay tried to score with a low kick but Stepper checks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stepper will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Klay fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Stepper to the ground. Klay is now in Stepper's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Draco Klay dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Klay is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stepper tries to clinch up.
Stepper throws a one two combo.
Klay fails with a takedown attempt.
Stepper tries to score a power double leg takedown but Klay sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stepper somewhat.
Horrible takedown by Klay or perhaps it was just good defense by Stepper which made him look bad.

Stepper tries to sprawl but Klay drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stepper looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Stepper takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stepper has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Klay is working away from the top position though.
Klay missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Stepper is controlling Klay's trapped leg to prevent Klay from advancing to side control.
Klay working the head and body with strikes.
Klay wants to pass to mount but Stepper is defending the position.
Klay stops Stepper from getting back to his feet.

Stepper pushes Klay off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Klay dives in and grabs Stepper's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stepper pushes down on Klay's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Draco Klay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Klay throws a leg kick but Stepper sees it coming and moves out of range.
Stepper tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Klay throws a sloppy head kick and Stepper moves out of range easily.
Stepper lands a head kick!

Klay closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Klay lands in his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Klay accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Klay accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Draco Klay overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Klay pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stepper is keeping the position for now.

Stepper is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Klay is aware though and is defending well.
Stepper bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Klay's guard.
Klay is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Stepper is controlling him.
Stepper trying to control the position from guard on top but Klay is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stepper is looking to stand up but Klay won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stepper is pushing down on Klay's leg trying to pass to half guard. Klay is fighting to maintain full guard but Stepper has managed to sneak the leg through.
Well, if Stepper 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.
Klay controlling the position well.
Stepper wants to stand up but Klay is controlling the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stepper trying to control from half guard but Klay is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Andy Stepper.
I think Klay 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 Andi Peters scores the fight for Draco Klay!
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight for Draco Klay!
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight for Draco Klay!

Draco Klay wins by unanimous decision!