PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dewayne Cain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cain
vs
Stevens

223 cm
25
178 lbs
2 - 2 - 1

189 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Dewayne Cain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matt Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens misses with a takedown
and Cain counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Stevens misses with a takedown attempt
and Cain counters with a right hand to the body.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cain as he avoids it easily.
Dewayne Cain has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Stevens.
Cain avoids a punch combination nicely.

Cain forces Stevens back against the cage and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevens fails to pull guard.

Cain breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stevens.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens working a defensive guard here.
Cain throws a big elbow that misses.
Stevens trying to control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stevens can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cain postures up in Stevens's guard and throws a big left but Stevens blocks it.
Cain throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cain really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cain tries to stand but Stevens is controlling from the bottom.
Stevens is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cain is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cain is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Stevens looking to control.
Cain working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cain lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cain missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stevens tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stevens is trying to keep Cain in close.
Cain is looking to stand up but Stevens won't let him.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stevens feints and as Cain raises his hands in defense, Stevens changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Stevens looks winded!
Stevens wants to stand and escape but instead Cain has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Cain postures up and lands a big shot to Stevens's brow.
Stevens has a closed guard, preventing Cain from standing up.
Cain lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cain will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cain's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cain throwing strikes from guard but Stevens blocks nicely.
Cain with a nice head shot there.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cain's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cain in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cain keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stevens's head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cain is looking to work some ground and pound but Stevens has wrist control.
Cain wanted to stand there but Stevens had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dewayne Cain dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cain closes the distance and clinches.
Cain is trying to force a seperation but Stevens has the dominant position.

Cain successfully pulls guard.
Stevens engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Cain looking for a guillotine here but Stevens defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cain is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens trying to control the position from guard on top but Cain is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stevens scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Stevens must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cain utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stevens has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cain is proving hard to escape from.

Cain looking for a guillotine here but Stevens defends easily.

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.
Cain avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Cain is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stevens defends well.
Cain has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cain not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Dewayne Cain is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Stevens shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Stevens stands up over Cain, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Cain throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cain has a closed guard, preventing Stevens from standing up.

Cain isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Stevens stacks Cain 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 Stevens!
Stevens controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Stevens working away.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Stevens closes the distance and clinches.
Cain tries to circle away but Stevens has him pinned against the cage.
Cain is trying to break the clinch but Stevens has him pressed against the cage.
Cain is looking to break free of the clinch but Stevens has double underhooks.
Cain tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stevens keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cain's efforts to push away.
Stevens will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Cain up against the cage.
Cain can't break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Stevens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Stevens closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stevens lands in his opponent's guard.
Stevens would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Stevens trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cain has a closed guard, preventing Stevens from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cain looking for a sweep. Not yet Cain, not yet.
Stevens throws a strike but Cain rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stevens tries to land a sweep but no joy.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Stevens utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Stevens decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Cain gets full guard.
Cain is trying to control the position but Stevens postures up.
Stevens is looking to pass into half guard but Cain pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Cain is in guard.
Stevens is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stevens is pulling down on Cain's head to control his posture.
Matt Stevens has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stevens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Cain lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cain scoring with some ground and pound.
Cain working some strikes from top position.
Stevens wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Cain is now in half guard.
Stevens is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Cain thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cain is working for a submission of some sort.

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

Cain closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cain is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Stevens decides to pull guard.
Cain makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cain wants to stand and escape but instead Stevens has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cain is proving hard to escape from.
Cain seems keen to control Stevens's posture.
Stevens wants to stand but Cain has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Cain has Stevens pulled in close to control his posture.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cain is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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!
Matt Stevens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Stevens has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Stevens!