PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bear Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Crack Hack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Stevenson
vs
Hack

178 cm
29
168 lbs
19 - 4 - 1

175 cm
26
166 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.
Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry)

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 19 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Bear Stevenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Crack Hack!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Ryoma Takatsuka and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stevenson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Stevenson stays in close to Hack's body and controls the position.
Stevenson stopping the sweep attempt from Hack.
Stevenson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stevenson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hack is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Stevenson is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevenson wants to control from the top but Hack keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hack connects with a high kick.
Hack tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Stevenson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Stevenson blocks a head kick by Hack.
Hack throws a sloppy head kick and Stevenson moves out of range easily.
Hack tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Stevenson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Stevenson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Stevenson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stevenson throwing strikes but missing.
Stevenson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hack wants to stand and escape but Stevenson is having none of it.
Stevenson working some strikes from top position.
Hack wants to sweep but no luck.
Hack keeping moving, preventing Stevenson from controlling successfully.
Stevenson has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Stevenson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hack avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hack is looking to clinch.

Hack takes the fight into the clinch.
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!
Hack using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hack blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Stevenson misses with a punch on the inside.
Hack throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Stevensons head.
Hack scores a nice knee to the body.
Hack tries to land knees in the clinch but Stevenson avoids the damage to the body.
Hack is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stevenson is defending well for now.
Hack swings wildly with an uppercut but Stevenson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stevenson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short uppercut from Hack.
Stevenson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stevenson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hack working aggressively here.
Hack is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Stevenson blocks an uppercut.
Hack misses with a hook to the ribs.
Stevenson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hack gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Stevenson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hack tries a body shot but Stevenson blocks it.
Stevenson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Stevenson manages to break the clinch.
Hack tries to clinch there but Stevenson circles away.
Hack misses with a kick to the body

and Stevenson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stevenson is taking a breather. Hack says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Stevenson is thwarting Hack's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bear Stevenson will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Stevenson throws out a powerful jab.
Hack misses with a wild body shot.
Stevenson is looking to counter punch.
Stevenson throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Hack is looking to clinch but Stevenson is avoiding it.
Stevenson tries to counter with a takedown but Hack is quick to defend against it.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stevenson.
Hack is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Stevenson working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hack gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Hack wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson working the head and body with strikes.
Stevenson working the head and body with strikes.
Hack is looking to escape.
Stevenson lands with a punch from half guard.
Hack has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stevenson is working away from the top position though.
Hack is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Stevenson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stevenson throwing shots but Hack is blocking nicely.
Bear Stevenson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stevenson is keen to just control but Hack is a slippery customer.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Hack moves into the clinch.
Stevenson blocking some punches.
A short uppercut from Stevenson.
Stevenson trying to stall but Hack improves his position.
Hack lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Stevenson tries to work over Hack's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A left hand lands to the body for Hack.
Stevenson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hack can do to turn this around?
Stevenson is looking to break free of the clinch but Hack has double underhooks.
Stevenson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Stevenson as Hack tries to tie him up.

Stevenson jumps into guard, dragging Hack to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hack trying to control but Stevenson is working from the bottom.
Hack with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hack throwing strikes from guard but Stevenson blocks nicely.
Hack wanted to stand there but Stevenson had control of the position.
Hack wants to control from the top but Stevenson keeps moving.
Hack wanted to stand there but Stevenson had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hack passes Stevenson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Stevenson is pressing down on Hack's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hack wants to stand but Stevenson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Stevenson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hack postures up.
Stevenson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hack manages to get himself to full guard.

Stevenson works over Hack with some ground and pound from guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hack preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stevenson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hack misses with a double jab.

Hack closes the distance and clinches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Stevenson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Stevenson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hack is defending well.
Hack landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Stevenson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hack fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Stevenson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stevenson gets tackled into the cage by Hack. Hack maintains the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Stevenson just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hack's brow.
Hack lands an elbow inside that Stevenson shrugs off.
Stevenson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hack gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bear Stevenson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stevenson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hack prevents the takedown attempt.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hack creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hack scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hack throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Stevensons head.
Stevenson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hack lands an elbow inside that Stevenson shrugs off.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Stevenson just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hack's brow.
Hack is pushing Stevenson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Hack swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Stevenson avoiding damage as Hack throws knees to the body.
Stevenson takes an elbow to the temple.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Stevenson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hack fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hack lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Hack is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Stevenson managing to block the knees to the body from Hack.
Stevenson avoiding damage as Hack throws knees to the body.
Hack tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stevenson avoids it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hack swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Stevenson wants a takedown but no success here.

Stevenson pulls guard effortlessly.
Hack chips away with some ground and pound.
Hack wants to stand but Stevenson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Stevenson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hack trying to control but Stevenson is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hack won't allow Stevenson to sweep him here.
Stevenson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hack manages to get himself to full guard.

Stevenson works over Hack with some ground and pound from guard.
Crack Hack has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hack looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stevenson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stevenson trying to control but Hack is working from the bottom.
Hack trying to keep a closed guard but Stevenson is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Bear Stevenson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hack is trying to stand up here but Stevenson is controlling him well.
Stevenson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Stevenson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Stevenson prevents Hack from standing back up.

Hack actively working from the bottom here.

Hack looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Crack Hack comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Stevenson 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 Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bear Stevenson!
Post fight, an emotional Bear Stevenson said 'Time for another shot at the title!'.