PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Andre Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Sednev (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.

Stevenson
vs
Sednev

179 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

181 cm
19
146 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andre Stevenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Sednev!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Illya Tyunina and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stevenson gets caught napping as Sednev dives in and scores a takedown. Stevenson manages to retain guard.
Sednev wants to pass the guard but Stevenson is keeping the position.
Stevenson keeping moving, preventing Sednev from controlling successfully.
Sednev passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Stevenson manages to get to full guard.

Sednev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stevenson 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.
Stevenson trying to control the position.
Sednev slips nicely into half guard.
Sednev is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Stevenson trying to control but Sednev postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Sednev is working for a kimura here but Stevenson manages to reverse the position and he's now in Sednev's guard.
Sednev wants to sweep here but Stevenson controlling him for the moment.
Sednev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Ground and pound from Sednev.
Sednev is controlling the pace.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sednev is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Stevenson still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Stevenson has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sednev is not content to let Stevenson control the position.
Sednev tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Stevenson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Stevenson is trying to ground and pound but Sednev uses the momentary lack of control by Stevenson to regain half guard.
Sednev is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Stevenson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

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.
Stevenson prevents Sednev from improving his position.
Sednev blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stevenson.
Stevenson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sednev has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stevenson is working away from the top position though.
Stevenson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sednev defending well though.
Stevenson looks to land a strike but Sednev avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Sednev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stevenson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sednev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sednev closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Stevenson quickly recovers to half guard.
Stevenson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Sednev dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sednev drives through with a takedown into Stevenson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Sednev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Stevenson has a closed guard, preventing Sednev from standing up.

Stevenson working for a triangle but Sednev defends it easily.
Sednev trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevenson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sednev is in close to Stevenson's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson keeping full guard, as Sednev tries to pass.
Sednev trying to stand up but can't free himself from Stevenson's guard.
Stevenson looking to control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sednev's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sednev's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Stevenson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sednev sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Stevenson's guard.
Stevenson 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sednev controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sednev is looking for a kimura but Stevenson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sednev to get the leverage.
Sednev drops an elbow to the side of Stevenson's head.
Stevenson tries to get to full guard but Sednev has control of the leg.
Sednev keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sednev closes the distance and pushes Stevenson back into the cage.
Stevenson misses with a punch on the inside.

Sednev breaks from the clinch.
Stevenson looks to land a combination but Sednev avoids it well.
Stevenson tries to bum rush Sednev with a series of wild strikes but Sednev uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sednev is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Sednev misses with a straight right.
Sednev lands a glancing blow to the side of Stevenson's head.
Stevenson swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Sednev looking to score a takedown here. Stevenson is defending well but Sednev drives through and ends up in Stevenson's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sednev's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sednev is looking to stand up but Stevenson won't let him.
Sednev lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sednev sitting in guard here, content to control.
Stevenson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sednev can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sednev is breathing heavily.
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!
Sednev is looking to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sednev keeping control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Sednev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sednev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stevenson, pushing him back against the cage.
Sednev tries to land a knee to the head but Stevenson blocks with his arms.

Sednev drags the fight down to the ground.
Stevenson throws a big elbow that misses.
Stevenson landing some decent shots from guard.
Sednev pulls Stevenson in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevenson trying to control the position from guard on top but Sednev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sednev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stevenson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Stevenson lands a couple of elbows.
Stevenson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sednev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sednev wants to stand and escape but Stevenson is having none of it.
Alex Sednev has got the better of the ground game so far.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sednev holds on and takes a little breather.

Sednev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stevenson is aware though and is defending well.
Sednev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stevenson throws a big elbow that misses.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Stevenson throwing strikes but missing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stevenson fails with an attempt to clinch.

Sednev closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sednev blocks an elbow strike.
Stevenson has had enough of the clinch but Sednev keeps him there for the moment.
Stevenson being controlled against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Stevenson fails to land.
Stevenson is looking to break free of the clinch but Sednev has double underhooks.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Sednev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A right-left combo lands from Stevenson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson throws a body punch but Sednev moves out of range.

Sednev clinches with his opponent.

Sednev pulls Stevenson into guard.
Sednev being controlled here, momentarily.
Stevenson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sednev keeping moving, preventing Stevenson from controlling successfully.
Stevenson looking to sit in guard and control but Sednev gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sednev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stevenson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sednev has managed to get both his arms back between Stevenson's legs - danger averted.
Sednev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson keeping full guard, as Sednev tries to pass.
Stevenson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sednev's guard.

Sednev has Stevenson pulled in close to control his posture.
Stevenson stopping the sweep attempt from Sednev.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stevenson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Andre Stevenson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alex Sednev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sednev preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Andre Stevenson.
I think Sednev 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Sednev!
Our winner, Alex Sednev, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.