PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ike Boyd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Patrick Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Boyd
vs
Stephens

169 cm
19
161 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

179 cm
23
162 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ike Boyd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Patrick Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stephens rushes Boyd and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stephens is pressed up against the cage. Boyd 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.
Boyd stuffs the takedown attempt from Stephens. Stephens gets slowly back to his feet.

Stephens closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Boyd's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice sprawl there from Stephens as Boyd shoots in.
Stephens shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Boyd eats them both and turns towards Stephens to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

It looks like Ike Boyd has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stephens gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stephens wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Boyd wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Boyd drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stephens pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ike Boyd. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boyd looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Stephens shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Boyd but Boyd pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Stephens throws a push kick but Boyd slaps the foot to one side.
Boyd shoots for a double leg takedown but Stephens sprawls well. He's pushed Boyd's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Stephens fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Boyd, pushing him back against the cage.
Boyd wants to break the clinch but can't.

Stephens jumps into guard, dragging Boyd to the mat.
Stephens trying to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stephens is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stephens wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Boyd with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stephens trying to control the position.
Boyd wants to get up but he can't break Stephens's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Stephens working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Boyd.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boyd postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Stephens forces Boyd back against the cage and clinches.
Stephens missing with knees to the body.
Stephens is trying to drag Boyd to the mat but Boyd just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Stephens tries for a takedown. No joy.
Stephens fails to pull guard.

Boyd has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Stephens clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Boyd has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens can't escape the position.
Boyd lands shots from the back.

Boyd is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Stephens has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Boyd missing with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Boyd is not going to allow Stephens to sit and survive in this position.
Stephens is in bad spot here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Stephens dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ike Boyd'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.

Stephens fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Boyd avoids it really well and circles away.
Stephens fails with the takedown.
Boyd shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stephens as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stephens takes the fight into the clinch.

Boyd pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boyd shoots in for a takedown but Stephens shows good takedown defense.
No luck for Stephens with that takedown attempt.
Ike Boyd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick Stephens.
Stephens is trying hard to land a takedown here. Boyd sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Boyd wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Stephens misses with a takedown attempt - Boyd sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Boyd looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.

Stephens rushes Boyd and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Boyd wants a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Boyd has him pressed against the cage.
Boyd looking to stall.

Boyd pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Boyd shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Stephens napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Stephens explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Stephens takes the fight into the clinch.
Boyd wants to break free but Stephens has control.
Boyd is trying to force a seperation but Stephens has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boyd fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Stephens drags the fight down to the ground.
Boyd missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Boyd with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stephens pulls Boyd in to control the position.
Stephens has a closed guard, preventing Boyd from standing up.
Stephens has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Boyd content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Stephens has Boyd pulled in close to control his posture.

Stephens is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Boyd defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boyd being controlled here momentarily.
Stephens preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Boyd throwing strikes from guard but Stephens blocks nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Boyd working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boyd shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stephens as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Stephens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ike Boyd's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Boyd leaves Stephens with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Stephens misses with a takedown

and Boyd counters by moving into the clinch.

Boyd manages to break the clinch.
Boyd will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ike Boyd is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Boyd closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Stephens did well to prevent Boyd getting side control.

Stephens manages to escape and get back to his feet!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stephens moves into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stephens has Boyd pressed against the cage, preventing Boyd from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens tries to pull guard but Boyd holds him up against the cage and eventually Stephens drops back down to his feet.
Ike Boyd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick Stephens.
Stephens tries to pull guard but Boyd holds him up against the cage and eventually Stephens drops back down to his feet.

Boyd breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Boyd throws a nice looking combination but Stephens bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Stephens is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

Stephens closes the distance and clinches.

Boyd breaks the clinch.
Boyd moves out of range of the body kick from Stephens.
Stephens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Boyd pinned against the cage. Boyd gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens tries for a takedown but Boyd sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Boyd.
Stephens will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stephens shoots in for a double leg but Boyd sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stephens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Boyd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens swats away the attempt to clinch by Boyd.
Boyd avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stephens misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Boyd wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Stephens pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Boyd back to the cage. Stephens follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Stephens looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Patrick Stephens seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boyd tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stephens manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Stephens moves into the clinch successfully.

Boyd breaks the clinch.

Boyd looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Stephens scrambles and gets back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stephens misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Boyd appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Patrick Stephens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Stephens winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Patrick Stephens!