PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Elwood Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jan Gibalski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jan Gibalski will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Stephens
vs
Gibalski

164 cm
24
215 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Elwood Stephens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jan Gibalski!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, William Peck and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stephens fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gibalski shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stephens went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Gibalski slips a jab and a cross from Stephens.
Gibalski shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stephens defends it nicely.
It looked like Stephens was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Stephens takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Elwood Stephens has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Stephens. No joy for Gibalski on that attempt.
Stephens throws a quick counter head kick but Gibalski was just out of range.
Elwood Stephens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jan Gibalski.
A low kick from Gibalski is predictable there

and Stephens counters with a single leg into guard. Gibalski didn't expect that.

Gibalski pushes Stephens off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gibalski sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stephens somewhat.
Gibalski tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stephens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gibalski closes the distance and clinches up with Stephens, looking for a takedown. Gibalski pushes Stephens against the cage but Stephens circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
It looked like Stephens was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Gibalski wants to clinch
and Stephens counters with a nice uppercut.
Gibalski tries to clinch there but Stephens circles away.
Gibalski is looking to clinch but Stephens is avoiding it.
Gibalski shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stephens sprawls well. Stephens wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gibalski gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stephens closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stephens lands in his opponent's guard.

Gibalski scrambles and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gibalski fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gibalski is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stephens sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jan Gibalski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gibalski shoots for a double leg takedown but Stephens sprawls well. He's pushed Gibalski's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Stephens really is a fat lump.
Gibalski tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stephens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stephens went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gibalski.

Stephens looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Gibalski!

Gibalski throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Stephens moves into the clinch.
Gibalski is trying to drag Stephens to the mat but Stephens just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Stephens prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gibalski looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stephens decides to pull guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gibalski is looking to work some ground and pound but Stephens has wrist control.
Stephens wants to get back to his feet but Gibalski passes into half guard.
Gibalski stops Stephens from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stephens wants to get back to full guard.

Stephens looking for a kimura from the bottom but Gibalski passes into side control!
Stephens holds on to Gibalski's head and controls the position momentarily.
Stephens sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Stephens wants to get back to his feet.

Stephens looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
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 Elwood Stephens will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Elwood Stephens's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gibalski lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Elwood Stephens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gibalski lands a nice looking body kick.
Stephens misses with a low kick.

Stephens instigates a clinch.
Gibalski lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Gibalski trying to land knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stephens decides to pull guard.
Stephens working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gibalski.
Stephens might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gibalski trying to control but Stephens is working from the bottom.
Stephens wants to stand and escape but Gibalski is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stephens is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gibalski is aware though and is defending well.

Stephens pushes Gibalski off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Gibalski is looking to clinch but Stephens is avoiding it.
Gibalski tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stephens swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Stephens shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Stephens was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Stephens working the body and head with strikes.
Stephens working the ground and pound.

Stephens thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Stephens is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gibalski has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gibalski pushes Stephens away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Stephens gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Gibalski down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stephens working away.

Stephens tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gibalski sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Stephens is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Stephens is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gibalski doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Stephens.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gibalski actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens tries to stand and escape but Gibalski actually recovers to full guard.
Elwood Stephens overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gibalski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stephens wants to stand but Gibalski has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Gibalski controls Stephens momentarily but Stephens frees himself.
Stephens postures up in Gibalski's guard and throws a big left but Gibalski blocks it.
Stephens postures up and lands a big shot to Gibalski's brow.
Stephens trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stephens is working Gibalski over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gibalski throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Gibalski seems keen to control Stephens's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens postures up.
Stephens is in close to Gibalski's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Gibalski is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stephens defends well.
Stephens postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Stephens is in close to Gibalski's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Stephens working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Stephens is looking to work some ground and pound but Gibalski has wrist control.

Gibalski has his foot on Stephens's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stephens works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stephens connects with a couple of short punches.
Stephens makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Stephens's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Stephens 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.
Stephens is working Gibalski over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elwood Stephens dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Elwood Stephens's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Stephens lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Stephens takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Gibalski shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Stephens pinned against the cage. Stephens gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gibalski tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stephens was well out of range. Poor timing from Gibalski.
Stephens blocks a head kick by Gibalski.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Stephens enables Gibalski to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Stephens manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Gibalski throws a big elbow that misses.

Stephens throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gibalski takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stephens controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Stephens trying to keep a closed guard but Gibalski is proving a slippery customer.

Stephens manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Gibalski tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stephens swivels and escapes.

Stephens closes the distance and clinches.
Stephens is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gibalski can do to turn this around?

Stephens decides to pull guard.

Stephens had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gibalski defends it easily.
Gibalski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens is trying to keep Gibalski in close.

Stephens has his foot on Gibalski's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gibalski works his way back into a safe position though.
Gibalski wants to control from the top but Stephens keeps moving.
Stephens being controlled here, momentarily.
Stephens wants to improve his position but instead Gibalski has moved into half guard.

Stephens actively working from the bottom here.

Stephens looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gibalski trying to control from half guard but Stephens is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stephens actively working from the bottom here.
Gibalski is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Gibalski postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Stephens to stand up.
Gibalski throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gibalski shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stephens sprawls well. Stephens wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gibalski gets slowly back to his feet.
Elwood Stephens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jan Gibalski.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gibalski tries to clinch but Stephens is having none of it.
Stephens keeps the fight on the outside.
Gibalski misses with a body shot.
Gibalski shoots for a double leg takedown but Stephens sprawls well. He's pushed Gibalski's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gibalski walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gibalski is defended easily by Stephens.
Stephens was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Jan Gibalski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Elwood Stephens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Stephens darts in and clinches Gibalski up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elwood Stephens showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Stephens has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elwood Stephens!