PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Belliveau (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 has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Belliveau
vs
Stephens

186 cm
21
219 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

190 cm
27
223 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mark Belliveau!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Craig Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Summer Carpenter and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stephens does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Belliveau uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stephens.
Stephens throws out a loose jab but Belliveau uses good head movement to avoid it.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Stephens has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Nice body punch from Stephens.
Belliveau displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stephens throws out the jab.
Belliveau's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Stephens connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Belliveau scrambles back to his feet.
Belliveau is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stephens sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Stephens chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Belliveau moves away from the strike by Stephens.
Belliveau takes one on the button.
Belliveau tries for a takedown but Stephens circles away easily
and Stephens counters with a stiff right hand.
Stephens dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Belliveau avoids the head kick by Stephens.

Belliveau shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Belliveau showed some decent athleticism there.

Stephens manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Belliveau keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Stephens breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stephens lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good work by Belliveau as he checks the leg kick.
Stephens throws a jab but it's blocked by Belliveau.
Belliveau shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stephens but Stephens pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Belliveau. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stephens scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Stephens misses with a leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Belliveau checks a leg kick.
Belliveau fails with a takedown attempt.
Belliveau blocks a leg kick.
Belliveau takes one on the button.
Belliveau closes the distance and clinches up with Stephens, looking for a takedown. Belliveau pushes Stephens against the cage but Stephens circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Stephens has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Stephens doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Belliveau fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belliveau walks into a left hand.
Craig Stephens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Belliveau looks to score with a jab to the body but Stephens is just out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Stephens! But no joy.
Mark Belliveau seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Belliveau on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Stephens throws a right and a left that Belliveau avoids nicely.
Stephens throws a sloppy head kick and Belliveau moves out of range easily.
The fighters circle momentarily. Stephens darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Belliveau tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stephens sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Belliveau somewhat.
Stephens throws a series of punches but Belliveau moves out of range.
Stephens jabs at Belliveau's body.
Belliveau shoots in and drives through. Stephens sprawls well.
Stephens scores with a jab to the jaw.
Belliveau misses with a wild body shot.
Stephens stuffs the takedown attempt from Belliveau. Belliveau gets slowly back to his feet.
Belliveau shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stephens as he avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Stephens scores with a jab to the body.
Stephens throws a body kick that misses.
Belliveau shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Stephens eats them both and turns towards Belliveau to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Stephens tried to score with a low kick but Belliveau checks it.
Stephens cracks Belliveau with a good jab.
Belliveau takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Stephens is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Belliveau had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Belliveau is breathing heavily.
Stephens dips to his left and cracks Belliveau with an uppercut!
Good exchange - Stephens coming out on top.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stephens darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Belliveau is rocked!
Stephens lands a nice leg kick that just misses Belliveau's sensitive parts.
Oh Belliveau is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Stephens's jab looks to have found its range, popping Belliveau under the eye.
Belliveau gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Stephens counters with a powerful cross that connects right on the chin and the lights go out! A massive one punch knock out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:44 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Craig Stephens!
Craig Stephens is the new light heavyweight champion!
A relieved looking Craig Stephens thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.