PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Kilju (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jere Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Kilju
vs
Stephens

175 cm
27
166 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

185 cm
26
164 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pablo Kilju!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jere Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Stephens does no damage.
Stephens swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stephens has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Kilju is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Stephens lands a slapping body shot.
Stephens lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Stephens scores with a nice right hand.
Stephens throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kilju's waist but Kilju gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stephens off to one side.

Kilju changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Stephens looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Kilju tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kilju tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Kilju is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Stephens is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kilju tries for a kimura but Stephens is defending well.

Kilju tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kilju has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kilju tries to advance to mount but can't.
Stephens is trying to improve his position.
Stephens is pushing Kilju's head away, looking to escape. Kilju manages to hold on to the position though.

Kilju is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Stephens knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kilju is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Stephens knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Kilju wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Stephens, who protects the arm well.

Kilju swings around for an armbar but Stephens sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kilju's guard.

Stephens got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kilju has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stephens has managed to get both his arms back between Kilju's legs - danger averted.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kilju looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Stephens passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Kilju dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kilju moves into the clinch successfully.

Kilju has clasped his hands together around Stephens's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Stephens wants to control but Kilju postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kilju looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Kilju tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Pablo Kilju overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Kilju is trying to get an arm triangle but Stephens is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Stephens's face as Kilju controls the position.
Stephens struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kilju wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Stephens, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kilju wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stephens keeps working.
Stephens tries to escape but Kilju is in control.
Stephens is not content to let Kilju control the position.

Kilju goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Stephens rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kilju's guard! Nice work there by Stephens!
Stephens slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kilju trying to keep a closed guard but Stephens is proving a slippery customer.
Kilju controlling Stephens's posture.
Kilju has a closed guard, preventing Stephens from standing up.
Kilju not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stephens got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kilju has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stephens has managed to get both his arms back between Kilju's legs - danger averted.
Kilju manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Stephens is working to get back to half guard.

Kilju looking for a guillotine from mount but Stephens is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Kilju dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kilju tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stephens looks to land a combination but Kilju avoids it well.
Jab from Stephens.
Stephens throws a right hand that Kilju ducks under and follows up with a left that Kilju also avoids with ease.
A combination from Stephens does no damage.
Stephens throws a nice looking combination but Kilju bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Stephens throws a right hand that Kilju ducks under and follows up with a left that Kilju also avoids with ease.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kilju.
Kilju shoots in for a takedown but Stephens shows good takedown defense.
A punch combination from Stephens misses.
Kilju tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens throws a nice looking combination but Kilju bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jere Stephens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stephens digs a good hook to Kilju's body.
Stephens connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kilju. Kilju circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Stephens fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stephens misses with a wild combination.
Stephens throws a right and a left that both miss.

Kilju moves into range and clinches up with Stephens.
Kilju has been working on his balance at Lock and Roll Grappling Gym, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Stephens.

Kilju is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Stephens can't fight it off and eventually Kilju manages to take the fight to the floor. Stephens looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Stephens keeping full guard, as Kilju tries to pass.
Jere Stephens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens keeping moving, preventing Kilju from controlling successfully.
Kilju is pushing down on Stephens's leg trying to pass to half guard. Stephens is fighting to maintain full guard but Kilju has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kilju looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Kilju is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stephens defends it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kilju pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stephens is keeping the position for now.
Kilju sitting in guard here, content to control.
Stephens keeping moving, preventing Kilju from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kilju looking to pass the guard.
Kilju stops Stephens from standing up.
Kilju trying to control but Stephens is working from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Kilju is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Stephens is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Stephens really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kilju. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kilju wants to pass the guard but Stephens is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pablo Kilju showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kilju, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pablo Kilju!