PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ellsworth Underwood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shaun Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Underwood
vs
Stephens

189 cm
20
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ellsworth Underwood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Shaun Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Stephens.
Stephens fails with an attempt to clinch.
Underwood tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stephens manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
And Stephens tries to counter it with a takedown but Underwood pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Stephens is trying hard to land a takedown here. Underwood sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Stephens tries to score a power double leg takedown but Underwood sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stephens somewhat.
Underwood tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stephens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephens shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Underwood but Underwood pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ellsworth Underwood has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shaun Stephens.
Stephens looks winded!
A good leg kick by Underwood.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Underwood moves into the clinch.
Stephens tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Stephens has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Underwood avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Stephens tries to score a body lock takedown but Underwood shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Stephens misses with a punch to the body.
Stephens can't get the takedown.

Underwood jumps guard and drags Stephens to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Underwood is on top in guard.

Underwood thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Underwood is working Stephens over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Underwood controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Stephens isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Underwood stacks Stephens on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Underwood!
Stephens looks to move to half guard but instead Underwood has passed into mount! Damn!
Underwood lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Underwood jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Stephens manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Underwood working the ground and pound.

Underwood wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Stephens, who protects the arm well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens is looking for a sweep.
Underwood staying calm.
Stephens takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Underwood stuffs the takedown attempt from Stephens. Stephens gets slowly back to his feet.
Underwood moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Underwood tries to clinch but Stephens moves out of range.
Stephens shoots in but no luck this time.

Stephens gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephens tries to pull guard but Underwood holds him up against the cage and eventually Stephens drops back down to his feet.
Ellsworth Underwood has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shaun Stephens.

Underwood gets control of Stephens's arms and successfully pulls guard. Underwood will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Stephens is breathing heavily.
Stephens wants to control from the top but Underwood keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Underwood looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Underwood controlling the position.

Underwood pushes Stephens off and gets back to his feet.
Underwood stuffs the takedown attempt from Stephens. Stephens gets slowly back to his feet.
Underwood buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Underwood drives through and clinches with Stephens against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Underwood has Stephens pressed against the cage, preventing Stephens from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Stephens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Underwood is defending well for now.
Stephens misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Underwood.
Stephens is looking for a takedown.

Underwood pulls guard.
Stephens loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Underwood looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Stephens is defending well. Underwood quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Stephens has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Underwood celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ellsworth Underwood!
Shaun Stephens was interviewed post fight and said 'Good battle out there tonight, proud of myself for how far I have come but have a long way to go!'.