PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Carter Avila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samuel Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Avila
vs
Stephens

176 cm
25
153 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

174 cm
25
153 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big right hand

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Carter Avila!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Samuel Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Yves DeLean and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stephens rushes Avila and presses him up against the cage.

Stephens breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stephens shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Avila dodges the punch combination from Stephens.
Left hook, right uppercut from Avila.

It looks like Samuel Stephens has been cut.
Avila fails to land the takedown.
Avila looks for a takedown but Stephens sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Avila shoots in for a takedown but Stephens shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carter Avila. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Avila stuffs the takedown attempt from Stephens. Stephens gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Avila. No joy for Stephens on that attempt.
Avila fails with a takedown attempt.
Stephens tries to counter with a clinch but Avila shakes him off and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens throws a low kick but it's checked well by Avila.
Stephens looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Stephens shoots in but Avila avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A little feinted left hand from Avila on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Stephens moves into the clinch successfully.

Avila pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stephens wants to clinch up but Avila keeps it at a distance.
Stephens fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Avila swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Nice cross by Avila.
Stephens tries to close the distance and clinch but Avila swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Avila moves into the clinch.
Stephens is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Stephens is trying to break the clinch but Avila has him pressed against the cage.

Avila breaks from the clinch.
Avila will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stephens goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Avila is looking for a counter combo.
Avila fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stephens avoids it really well and circles away.
Avila looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stephens looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Avila pushes Stephens up against the cage in a clinch.
Stephens lands an uppercut.
Avila 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.

Avila escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Avila dives in and grabs Stephens's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stephens pushes down on Avila's head and hops out.
Avila slaps away a takedown attempt from Stephens, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Stephens tries to score a power double leg takedown but Avila sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stephens somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stephens clinches.

Stephens decides to pull guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stephens is on top in guard.

Stephens is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Avila is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Avila has escaped and now he's on top!

Avila not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
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 Carter Avila will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Samuel Stephens's cut.
That's time! Avila's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stephens fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Avila shoots in for a takedown but Stephens shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Avila darts in looking for a takedown but Stephens gets double underhooks and turns Avila into the cage.
Avila fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carter Avila. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stephens shoots in and drives through. Avila sprawls well.
Avila swats away the attempt to clinch by Stephens.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab from Stephens.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Avila!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Avila or perhaps it was just good defense by Stephens, which made it look bad.
Avila avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Avila fails with a takedown attempt.
Stephens shoots in and drives through. Avila sprawls well.
Stephens fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Avila is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Stephens shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Avila counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Avila.
Avila is pushing Stephens up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Stephens stops a takedown attempt from Avila.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stephens tries to pull guard but Avila won't allow it.
Stephens tries for a takedown but Avila manages to get underhooks.
Avila slows down the pace here.

Avila pulls guard successfully.
Avila manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stephens manages to get himself to full guard.

Stephens is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Avila gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Stephens scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Avila dives in for a single leg takedown but Stephens sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Stephens stuffs the takedown attempt from Avila. Avila gets slowly back to his feet.
Stephens changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Stephens misses with a few strikes there.

Avila closes the distance and clinches.
Avila throws an elbow that misses.

Avila breaks the clinch.
Stephens is looking to clinch but Avila is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens fails with the takedown.
Stephens throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Avila tries a head kick but it misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stephens is defended easily by Avila.
Stephens tries for a takedown but Avila sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
It looked like Avila was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Avila misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Avila moves into the clinch successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carter Avila dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Samuel Stephens'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 darts in and clinches Avila up against the cage.
Stephens is working for takedown but Avila is calmly controlling the position for now.
Stephens tries to pull guard but Avila forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Avila gets underhooks to prevent Stephens's takedown attempt.
Carter Avila has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samuel Stephens.
Avila has Stephens pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stephens manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Stephens works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Avila tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Avila blocks an uppercut.
Avila 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. Avila gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Avila throws a leg kick that is checked

and Stephens holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Stephens wants to get back to striking at distance but Avila won't allow it.
Stephens is looking to break free of the clinch but Avila has double underhooks.
Avila 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 one minute gone in the round.
Avila tries to throw a body punch but Stephens avoids it by throwing Avila back against the cage.

Stephens pulls guard successfully.
Avila preventing the sweep.
Stephens is trying to keep Avila in close.

Stephens has his foot on Avila's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Avila works his way back into a safe position though.
Avila in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Avila sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Stephens wants to sweep but no luck.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Avila stuffs the takedown attempt from Stephens. Stephens gets slowly back to his feet.
Carter Avila is winning the standup battle so far.
Stephens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stephens tries to clinch up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stephens.
Avila misses with an attempted mid kick.

Avila rushes Stephens and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Avila has Stephens pressed against the cage, preventing Stephens from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Avila manages to break the clinch.

Avila closes the distance and pushes Stephens back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stephens's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Avila rushes Stephens and presses him up against the cage.

Avila manages to break the clinch.
Avila shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stephens as he jumps to the side.
Avila shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Stephens jabs at Avila's body.

Avila gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Avila breaks from the clinch.
Stephens shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Avila as he avoids it easily.
Avila throws a series of punches but Stephens avoids them all with ease.
Stephens moves out of range of the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Avila.
Stephens was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Avila is defended easily by Stephens.
Stephens closes the distance and clinches up with Avila, looking for a takedown. Stephens pushes Avila against the cage but Avila circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Avila swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Stephens fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Avila throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Avila fails with the takedown.
Samuel Stephens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Carter Avila is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A head kick misses from Stephens.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carter Avila showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Avila 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carter Avila!