PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jared Moore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stephens has chosen Renegade by (hed)PE as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Craig Stephens will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Moore
vs
Stephens

188 cm
24
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

EVOLUTION Clothing LKO

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jared Moore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Craig Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Dean Styles and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moore pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Moore has managed to clinch.
Moore tries to throw a body punch but Stephens avoids it by throwing Moore back against the cage.
Stephens goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Moore definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Stephens wants to break the clinch but can't.
Moore lands a body punch.
Stephens is trying to maintain a safe position but Moore gets an underhook and turns Stephens into the cage.
Moore tries to throw a body punch but Stephens avoids it by throwing Moore back against the cage.
Moore will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Stephens up against the cage.

Moore pulls guard effortlessly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moore keeping full guard, as Stephens tries to pass.

Stephens decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Moore, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Stephens closes the distance and pushes Moore back into the cage.
Stephens prevents a takedown attempt there.
Moore stalling.
Moore trying to land knees to the body.
Moore has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Stephens avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Moore misses with a short punch on the inside.
Stephens is pressed up against the cage. Moore has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Stephens down to the mat. Stephens avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jared Moore. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A combination from Stephens does no damage.
A right-left combo lands from Stephens.

It looks like Jared Moore has been cut.
Stephens throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Moore.
A jab lands there for Stephens.
Moore checks a low kick from Stephens.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stephens. Moore does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stephens scores with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Stephens tries a head kick but it misses.

Stephens moves into the clinch.
Moore can't get the takedown.

Moore has hold of one of Stephens's legs. Stephens is fighting the takedown attempt but Moore gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Stephens really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Moore. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Moore stopping the sweep attempt from Stephens.
Stephens wants to get back to his feet but Moore is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Moore trying to control the position from guard on top but Stephens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Moore landing with the ground and pound.
Moore throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moore landing some decent shots from guard.
Moore throwing strikes but missing.

Moore gets to his feet. Stephens looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Stephens gets a clinch.
Stephens gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Moore.
Moore tries to land knees in the clinch but Stephens avoids the damage to the body.
Moore is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Moore lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Stephens kicks Moore off and gets back to his feet.
Stephens displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Moore throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Moore is breathing heavily.

Stephens drives through with a takedown into guard.
Moore wants to sweep here but Stephens controlling him for the moment.
Stephens stays in close to Moore's body and controls the position.

Stephens gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
A head kick misses from Stephens.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Stephens dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jared Moore'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.

Moore avoids the head kick by Stephens.
Moore dives in for a single leg takedown but Stephens sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Stephens moves into the clinch.
Moore has Stephens pressed against the cage, preventing Stephens from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Moore lands a nice elbow.
Stephens can't break the clinch.
Stephens has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Moore is stalling here.
Stephens working hard to break the clinch.
Moore tries to throw a body punch but Stephens avoids it by throwing Moore back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephens looking to slow down the pace here.
Stephens can't break the clinch.
Moore tries to pull guard but Stephens won't allow it.
Moore wants to take the fight to the mat but Stephens manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jared Moore. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moore jumps guard but Stephens stands there with Moore around his waist. Moore gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Moore lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Stephens is trying to stall.
Stephens is trying to break free.
Moore fails to pull guard.
Stephens working hard to break the clinch.
Moore drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stephens is trying to push Moore away but Moore has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Moore drags the fight down to the ground.
Stephens wants to stand but Moore is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moore can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Stephens controls the pace.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Stephens working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Stephens is looking to stand up but Moore won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Stephens gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Stephens misses with a kick to the body.
No luck for Moore with that takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stephens throws a series of punches but Moore moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Moore is looking to counter the offense by Stephens and move into the clinch.
Stephens fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stephens just misses with a punch to the body.

Stephens shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Moore is trying to defend but Stephens finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Stephens lands with a punch from half guard.

Stephens decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Moore uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stephens.
Moore throws a big counter combination but Stephens scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Stephens clinches with his opponent.
Moore utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moore has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Stephens avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Craig Stephens seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Moore drags the fight down to the ground.

Stephens gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stephens pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Moore changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Stephens has managed to clinch.
Stephens doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Stephens is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Moore fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Moore tries to pull guard but Stephens forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Moore drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stephens gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Moore on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Stephens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jared Moore's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Stephens misses with an attempted mid kick.

Stephens clinches.
Moore tries a body shot but Stephens blocks it.

Moore lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Stephens wants to get back to his feet.
Moore lands with a punch from half guard.
Moore wants to control but Stephens is keeping him busy.
Moore not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Stephens wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephens is staying active underneath Moore, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Stephens is trying to maintain the position but Moore is very close to passing his half guard.
Stephens keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens is trying to stand up here but Moore is controlling him well.
Stephens keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Moore is trying to control the action in half guard but Stephens is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Stephens has taken the fight to the clinch.

Stephens pulls Moore into guard.
Moore looking to pass the guard.

Stephens uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Stephens closes the distance and clinches.
Stephens's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moore tries to pull guard but Stephens forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Moore has Stephens pushed against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Moore tries for a takedown. No joy.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Stephens has had enough of the clinch but Moore keeps him there for the moment.
Stephens is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Stephens is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Moore prevents Stephens from breaking the clinch.
Stephens is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Moore has Stephens pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stephens manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jared Moore. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Moore.
Moore is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Stephens pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Moore is looking to take this one to the mat.
Stephens looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
With the fighters up against the cage, Stephens throws an elbow but misses.
Moore leaning his opponent against the cage.

Moore lands a takedown into guard.

Stephens has his feet on Moore's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Craig Stephens seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Stephens rushes Moore and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moore tries to work over Stephens's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Stephens trying to control the position but instead, Moore has worked for underhooks and has pushed Stephens into the cage.
Stephens is looking to break free of the clinch but Moore has double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Stephens's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Moore wants to take the fight to the mat but Stephens manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Moore on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stephens wants to stall.

Moore escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head kick misses from Stephens.
Jared Moore has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Moore moves to clinch but Stephens breaks away
and Stephens counters with a series of strikes. Moore will be more careful next time no doubt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Stephens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stephens has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Stephens!
Craig Stephens gave a mention to EVOLUTION Clothing LKO in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).