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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Craig Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aoki Son (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.
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| 190 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
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192 cm
18
208 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced |
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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
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Craig Stephens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aoki Son!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, David Schapiro and Russell Pearce.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stephens decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Stephens is thwarting Son's attempts to control the position.
Stephens seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are battling for position here. Son manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Stephens trying to control but Son is working from the bottom.
Son not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Stephens tries to stand but Son is controlling from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Son is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stephens defends well.
Son is trying to control the position but Stephens postures up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Son preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stephens stands up from Son's guard - Stephens perhaps looking for a knockout.
Son misses with an uppercut.
Stephens moves into the clinch.
Stephens is trying to stall.
Son jumps guard but Stephens stands there with Son around his waist. Son gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stephens wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Son has him pressed against the cage.
Son swings wildly with an uppercut but Stephens uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stephens misses with a punch to the body.
Stephens is looking to break free of the clinch but Son has double underhooks.
Son jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stephens walks away with a smile on his face. Son gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Stephens has closed the distance and engaged Son in a clinch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Son is trying to pull guard but Stephens turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Craig Stephens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aoki Son.
Son manages to pull guard.
Stephens would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Stephens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Son had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stephens defends it easily.
Son looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Stephens tries to stand but Son is controlling from the bottom.
Stephens stands up and waves to Son to follow him.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stephens clinches up against the cage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Son misses with the head strike.
Stephens stalls.
Son jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stephens walks away with a smile on his face. Son gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Stephens instigates a clinch.
Stephens is trying to push Son away but Son has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Son working aggressively here.
Stephens tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Son just stands there and leans against the cage.
Son swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Son has a couple of punches blocked by Stephens.
Stephens wants a takedown but no success here.
Son tries to pull guard but Stephens won't allow it.
Son jumps guard but Stephens stands there with Son around his waist. Son gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stephens wants to get back to striking at distance but Son won't allow it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Son can't find room to land a body shot as Stephens controls the action.
Stephens is trying to push Son away but Son has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Stephens is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Son jumps guard but Stephens stands there with Son around his waist. Son gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Son misses with a punch on the inside.
Son tries to pull guard but Stephens holds him up against the cage and eventually Son drops back down to his feet.
Stephens is trying to stall.
Stephens looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Stephens tries to circle away but Son has him pinned against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Son tries to pull guard but Stephens forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Son tries to pull guard but Stephens won't allow it.
Stephens blocking some punches.
Stephens has a couple of punches blocked by Son.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Craig Stephens dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!
Stephens darts in and clinches Son up against the cage.
Son tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stephens trying to stall but Son improves his position.
Stephens looking to throw knees to the head but Son is blocking nicely.
Son tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stephens smiles and moves away.
Stephens closes the distance and clinches.
Son tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stephens just stands there and leans against the cage.
Stephens can't break the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Stephens.
Stephens blocking some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Son prevents Stephens from breaking the clinch.
Son struggles to land a body shot inside as Stephens controls his hands.
Son jumps guard but Stephens turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Craig Stephens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aoki Son.
Stephens is looking to break free of the clinch but Son has double underhooks.
Stephens is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Son can do to turn this around?
Stephens has had enough of the clinch but Son keeps him there for the moment.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens tries to break the clinch but Son is controlling the position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Son.
Stephens blocking some punches.
Stephens tries to break free but Son pushes him back against the cage.
Son tries to pull guard but Stephens holds him up against the cage and eventually Son drops back down to his feet.
Son jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stephens walks away with a smile on his face. Son gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Stephens gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Son swings away with an uppercut that misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Stephens just misses with a elbow thrown towards Son's brow.
Son misses with a hook to the ribs.
Son tries to pull guard but Stephens won't allow it.
Stephens is trying to pull guard but Son has him pressed against the cage.
Stephens tries to break the clinch but Son is controlling the position.
Son tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stephens trying to stall but Son improves his position.
Stephens wants to break free but Son has control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Son.
Stephens's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stephens lands with a cross.
It looks like Aoki Son has been cut.
Stephens blocks a jab.
Stephens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stephens gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Son pushes Stephens back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Son fails to pull guard.
Son tries to pull guard but Stephens forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Son misses with a hook to the ribs.
Son tries to pull guard but Stephens won't allow it.
Son is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Son fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Son blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Stephens trying to control the position but instead, Son has worked for underhooks and has pushed Stephens into the cage.
Son jumps guard but Stephens turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stephens clinches up against the cage.
Son tries to pull guard but Stephens won't allow it.
Son is trying to stall.
Stephens misses with the head strike.
Stephens is trying to maintain a safe position but Son gets an underhook and turns Stephens into the cage.
Son misses with a punch to the body.
Son keeps control of Stephens as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Son misses with a punch on the inside.
Son swings wildly with an uppercut but Stephens uses good head movement to avoid it.
Craig Stephens has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Stephens tries to break free but Son pushes him back against the cage.
Son tries to pull guard but Stephens holds him up against the cage and eventually Son drops back down to his feet.
Son tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Son.
Stephens trying to land knees to the body.
Stephens can't break the clinch.
Son keeps control of Stephens as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Son has a couple of punches blocked by Stephens.
Stephens can't get the takedown.
Son prevents Stephens from breaking the clinch.
Son tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Stephens misses with a hook to the ribs.
Son keeps control of Stephens as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Stephens.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stephens is trying to break the clinch but Son is controlling him.
Stephens wants to break free but Son has control.
Son tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Son's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Craig Stephens dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Aoki Son's cut.
That's time! Stephens's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!
Son takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Son tries to keep at a distance but Stephens has taken the fight into the clinch.
Son misses with a hook to the ribs.
Son jumps guard but Stephens stands there with Son around his waist. Son gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Son is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Stephens to keep the fight standing.
Son swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Son is pressed up against the cage. Stephens has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Son down to the mat. Son avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephens throws a leg kick which misses Son's front leg but catches the back leg as Son tries to avoid it.
Good standup being displayed there by Stephens as he connects with a hook.
Stephens moves into range and clinches up with Son.
Son fails to pull guard.
Craig Stephens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aoki Son.
Son takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Son tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stephens just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Stephens.
A head punch on the inside from Son fails to land.
Son leaning against his opponent.
Stephens looking to stall.
Son tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stephens just stands there and leans against the cage.
Son tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stephens smiles and moves away.
Son avoids the head kick by Stephens.
Craig Stephens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stephens misses with a head kick.
Stephens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Son throws a body shot but no joy.
Stephens thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Son if he has to take too many more of those.
Stephens misses with a two punch combination.
Stephens darts in and clinches Son up against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Stephens tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Son avoids it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens lands a left hand.
Stephens tries to break free but Son pushes him back against the cage.
Stephens taking a breather.
Son is trying to pull guard but Stephens has him pressed against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Come on Son - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Son throws a punch but it's blocked by Stephens.
Son jumps guard but Stephens stands there with Son around his waist. Son gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stephens wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Stephens just misses with a elbow thrown towards Son's brow.
Stephens tries to work over Son's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Stephens is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Stephens tries to break the clinch but Son is controlling the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Son.
Stephens has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Son tries to pull guard but Stephens holds him up against the cage and eventually Son drops back down to his feet.
Stephens is looking to control Son's arms but Son gets an underhook and turns him. Now Stephens has his back to the cage.
Son jumps guard but Stephens stands there with Son around his waist. Son gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stephens stalling in the clinch but Son improves position.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Stephens.
Stephens wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Stephens blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Son tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Stephens is trying to break free.
Stephens is looking to control Son's arms but Son gets an underhook and turns him. Now Stephens has his back to the cage.
Stephens is trying to break the clinch but Son has him pressed against the cage.
Aoki Son has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Son working aggressively here.
Son tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stephens just stands there and leans against the cage.
Son throws a head punch that misses.
Son tries to pull guard but Stephens forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Son misses with the head strike.
Son jumps guard but Stephens stands there with Son around his waist. Son gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stephens tries to break free but Son pushes him back against the cage.
Stephens is trying to pull guard but Son turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Stephens is looking to break free of the clinch but Son has double underhooks.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Stephens lands a takedown into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stephens decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Son takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
And that's the end of the fight!
Craig 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Stephens!
Craig Stephens took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, EVOLUTION Clothing LKO for their support in the buildup to the fight.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
33% |
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