PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hong Stephenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vetle Elvenes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Stephenson
vs
Elvenes

184 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hong Stephenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Vetle Elvenes!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shigeki Fujiwara and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Elvenes shoots in and gets a takedown into Stephenson's guard.

Stephenson manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Elvenes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Elvenes throws a head kick that misses.

Stephenson clinches with his opponent.
Elvenes tries to break the clinch but Stephenson is controlling the position.

Elvenes breaks from the clinch.
Elvenes goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Elvenes closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Stephenson to the mat! Stephenson manages to get full guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Stephenson manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Elvenes with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Elvenes gets control of Stephenson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Elvenes will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephenson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Elvenes is trying to control the position but Stephenson postures up.
Stephenson throws a big elbow that misses.
Elvenes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stephenson is one step ahead there.

Stephenson gets to his feet. Elvenes looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Stephenson avoids the head kick by Elvenes.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Elvenes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Stephenson pushes Elvenes up against the cage in a clinch.
Elvenes scores with a shot to the side of Stephenson's head.

Elvenes is trying to trip Stephenson. He has hold of a leg but Stephenson is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Elvenes persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Stephenson pushes Elvenes off and scrambles back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Stephenson enables Elvenes to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Stephenson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Stephenson kicks Elvenes off and gets to his feet.

Elvenes shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Stephenson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Elvenes looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elvenes looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Stephenson is avoiding damage well.
Stephenson struggling a bit here.
Stephenson is trying to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Stephenson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Elvenes is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Stephenson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Elvenes has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Stephenson is looking for a sweep.
Stephenson controls the position for a moment.
Elvenes fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Stephenson sneaks out the side door and pushes Elvenes away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Elvenes fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Stephenson sprawls well initially but Elvenes persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Stephenson has one foot on Elvenes's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Vetle Elvenes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stephenson tries to clinch but Elvenes moves out of range.
Elvenes throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Stephenson looks to score with a jab to the body but Elvenes is just out of range.
Elvenes moves in looking to clinch but Stephenson pushes him off.
Stephenson is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Elvenes shoots in and gets a takedown into Stephenson's guard.

Stephenson has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Elvenes off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hong Stephenson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stephenson clinches up against the cage.
Stephenson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The referee calls for Elvenes to work.

Elvenes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Elvenes looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stephenson trying to control but Elvenes postures up.
Elvenes is controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Stephenson is defending against the submission attempts here by Elvenes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephenson desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Stephenson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Stephenson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Elvenes tries to stand but Stephenson is controlling from the bottom.
Stephenson wants to sweep but no luck.

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.

Stephenson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Elvenes defends well.
Stephenson controls Elvenes momentarily but Elvenes frees himself.
Stephenson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Stephenson pulls Elvenes in close to prevent any damage.

Stephenson manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Elvenes breaks the clinch.
Elvenes throws a sloppy head kick and Stephenson moves out of range easily.

Elvenes drives through with a takedown into Stephenson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elvenes trying to control but Stephenson is working from the bottom.
Elvenes is breathing heavily.

Stephenson pushes Elvenes off and scrambles back to his feet.

Elvenes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Stephenson.
Elvenes scores with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elvenes blocking some punches.

Elvenes manages to break the clinch.

Elvenes decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Elvenes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stephenson trying to control but Elvenes postures up.
Elvenes is trying to control. Stephenson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Stephenson has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Elvenes is on him like a limpet, forcing Stephenson back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Elvenes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Elvenes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hong Stephenson will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Elvenes decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Stephenson has one foot on Elvenes's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Elvenes shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Stephenson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Elvenes trying to control the position but Stephenson is working away.
Stephenson is trying to control Elvenes's posture but Elvenes avoids it.
Stephenson is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Elvenes is controlling him well.

Elvenes stands up and beckons Stephenson to his feet.
Stephenson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elvenes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Stephenson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Elvenes pushes Stephenson off but Stephenson dives into side control.
Elvenes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stephenson throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Stephenson controlling the position from side mount.

Stephenson stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Elvenes misses with a jab to the body
and Stephenson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Elvenes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stephenson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Elvenes can do to turn this around?
Stephenson tries to pull guard but Elvenes holds him up against the cage and eventually Stephenson drops back down to his feet.
Stephenson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Elvenes avoids it.
Stephenson has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Elvenes turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stephenson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Stephenson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Elvenes's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Stephenson manages to get to full guard.
Stephenson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Elvenes stands up from Stephenson's guard - Elvenes perhaps looking for a knockout.

Elvenes closes the distance and pushes Stephenson back into the cage.

Elvenes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Elvenes swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stephenson went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Elvenes circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Elvenes drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Stephenson throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Stephenson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Stephenson clinches up against the cage.
Elvenes tries to throw a body punch but Stephenson avoids it by throwing Elvenes back against the cage.
Vetle Elvenes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hong Stephenson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Elvenes pulls guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Hong Stephenson.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stephenson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hong Stephenson!