PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Craig Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arthur Vlad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stephens comes to the cage accompanied by Renegade by (hed)PE. Craig Stephens has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Stephens
vs
Vlad

190 cm
26
220 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

176 cm
24
205 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Phantom Fightwear
Bare Knuckle Fisticuffs Clothing

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 5 - 2 - 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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Arthur Vlad!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Anthony Taglia and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stephens looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stephens throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vlad swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Stephens.
Stephens misses with a wild body shot.
A slapping body kick lands there for Stephens.
Stephens throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Vlad.
Vlad bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Stephens's head backwards.
Stephens looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Vlad closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Vlad looks for a takedown but Stephens sprawls well.
It looked like Stephens was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Stephens misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stephens lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Arthur Vlad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vlad takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Stephens throws a right hand that Vlad ducks under and follows up with a left that Vlad also avoids with ease.
Vlad looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've been told by Stephens's head coaches at The Pure Warrior that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Stephens cracks a nice hook into Vlad's ribs.
Stephens walks into a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens throws a series of strikes that have Vlad backpedaling.
Stephens ducks right into an uppercut from Vlad.

Vlad instigates a clinch.

Stephens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Craig Stephens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stephens plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Stephens connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Vlad misses with a body shot.
Stephens lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Vlad tries to clinch but Stephens moves out of range.
Stephens fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vlad misses with a lunging right hand
and Stephens counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Vlad catches Stephens with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Vlad takes a kick to the side of the head.
Vlad shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stephens but Stephens pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Vlad has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Stephens.
Stephens throws a sloppy head kick and Vlad moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens scores with a hook to the body. Vlad takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Vlad with a hook.
Vlad on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Stephens connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Vlad drives through and clinches with Stephens against the cage.
Vlad lands with a left to the head.

Stephens escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stephens is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Vlad scores with a hook.
Vlad fails with an attempt to clinch.
A slapping leg kick lands for Stephens.
Vlad works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Vlad clinches with his opponent.

Vlad breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vlad throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Stephens counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stephens slips under a jab.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Stephens, as that shot connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Vlad.
Stephens lands with a nice body kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Vlad darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Sloppy strikes from Stephens. Those never looked like landing.
Stephens swinging wildly here.
Vlad slips a jab and a cross from Stephens.
Vlad fails with a takedown attempt.
Craig Stephens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthur Vlad.
Vlad looks winded!
Vlad getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Stephens showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vlad.
It looked like Stephens was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Vlad.
Stephens swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Stephens.
Stephens lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stephens walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Vlad is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vlad misses with an uppercut.
Vlad throws a looping overhand right but Stephens ducks down to avoid it.
Vlad closes the distance but Stephens moves to the side
letting Stephens counter with a right hand.
Stephens throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nice body punch from Stephens.
Vlad looks to throw the jab but Stephens is out of range.
Stephens feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Stephens lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vlad takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Stephens misses with a head kick.
Vlad tries to clinch up.
Vlad missing with a left hand there. Stephens was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stephens scores with a nice head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Stephens dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Stephens slips a straight right by Vlad.
Stephens goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vlad. Stephens does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vlad with a nice cross.
Stephens connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Stephens scores with a leg kick.
Stephens scores with a kick to the body.

Oooooh!!! Stephens has knocked Vlad down with a huge combo! Stephens steps away and waves a wobbly Vlad back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Vlad is rocked!

It looks like Arthur Vlad has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vlad misses with a body shot
and Stephens counters with a monster hook and another for good measure! Vlad falls to the ground, out cold! Stick some heavy metal music over the top of that clip and it's one for the highlight makers!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Craig Stephens!
Craig Stephens seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.