PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Murdock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Stepp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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?

Murdock
vs
Stepp

180 cm
37
166 lbs
26 - 13 - 0

193 cm
32
218 lbs
19 - 12 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Beaver Jooce!
Soul Supremacy Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matthew Murdock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 12 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steven Stepp!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Sergei Dronov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murdock connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A looping hook to the body misses from Murdock. Stepp does a little dance to reset his feet.
Murdock throws a head kick but Stepp moves out of range.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Murdock - that will leave a mark!
Murdock tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stepp manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Murdock throws a lazy right hand but Stepp sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Murdock throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stepp has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

Murdock moves into the clinch.
Stepp softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murdock has Stepp pressed against the cage, preventing Stepp from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Murdock lands an elbow inside.
Murdock misses with the head strike.

Stepp escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Murdock instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdock has Stepp pressed against the cage, preventing Stepp from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A frustrated look appears on Stepp's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Stepp lands an uppercut.
Murdock misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short left from Murdock.
Stepp wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Murdock keeps control of Stepp as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Murdock prevents Stepp from breaking the clinch.
Stepp lands a nice uppercut.

Stepp breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Murdock misses with a two punch combination.
Stepp keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Murdock misses with an attempted mid kick.
Murdock throws out a loose jab but Stepp uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murdock doesn't manage to clinch there - Stepp circles away.
Murdock looks to land a left hand but Stepp moved out of range nicely.
Murdock fails in his attempt to clinch.
Murdock throws a right hand that misses
and Stepp connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Murdock clinches up against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Murdock as the two fighters clinch.
Murdock prevents Stepp from breaking the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Stepp.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murdock keeps control of Stepp as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Murdock misses with a knee to the head.
Stepp looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Stepp manages to break the clinch.
A head kick misses from Murdock.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murdock clinches up against the cage.
Murdock misses with a knee strike.
Stepp makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Stepp breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Murdock looks to clinch
letting Stepp counter with a right hand.
Stepp takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Murdock is looking to slow Stepp down with leg kicks.
Murdock tries to clinch
and Stepp counters with a straight right hand.
Murdock throws a lazy body kick
and Stepp counters with a slapping leg kick.
Matthew Murdock is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Murdock darts in trying to clinch
and Stepp counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murdock misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stepp.
Murdock throws a body kick that misses
letting Stepp counter with a right hand.
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!
Murdock misses with an uppercut.
Murdock tries to clinch up
and Stepp connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Stepp swats away the attempt to clinch by Murdock.
Murdock swings widly with a right hand
and Stepp counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Stepp darts in and clinches Murdock up against the cage.
Stepp blocking some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Steven Stepp will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Murdock throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Murdock tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stepp was well out of range. Poor timing from Murdock.
Murdock closes the distance but Stepp moves to the side
and Stepp counters with a straight right hand.
Matthew Murdock seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murdock throws a head kick but Stepp moves out of range.
Murdock is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Stepp's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

Stepp shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Stepp with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stepp trying to control but Murdock is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stepp scoring with some ground and pound.
Murdock avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stepp postures up in Murdock's guard and throws a big left but Murdock blocks it.
Stepp postures up in Murdock's guard and throws a big left but Murdock blocks it.
Murdock can't keep his opponent in guard - Stepp advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Murdock keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Stepp thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Murdock's head.
Stepp blocks the strikes from Murdock.
Stepp wants to pass the guard but Murdock is defending well.
Stepp lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murdock keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Stepp looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Stepp is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Murdock is rocked!
Stepp lands a big elbow - Murdock is out of it! He's waving his arms around but his eyes are closed and he's not intelligently defending himself - the ref has no choice but to jump in and stop the fight! This one is in the books! A TKO win for Stepp!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Steven Stepp!
In his post fight interview, Steven Stepp started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
Matthew Murdock spoke after the fight, saying 'sorry to team and my fans i will be back .'.