PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yoel Mir (ranked 2004 p4p, 249 weight class) and Adonis Stevenson (ranked 1819 p4p, 233 weight class). Adonis Stevenson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mir
vs
Stevenson

188 cm
23
186 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

180 cm
24
175 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yoel Mir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Adonis Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice cross by Stevenson.
Stevenson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Stevenson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mir takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Mir walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Mir ducks under a wild hook from Stevenson.
Mir keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Adonis Stevenson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mir closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Our sources have told us that Mir has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Mir lands with a light punch inside.

Stevenson breaks from the clinch.
A shot to the body from Stevenson misses
letting Mir counter with a right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mir is looking to clinch but Stevenson is avoiding it.
Stevenson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mir thumps Stevenson with a low kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Stevenson misses the target.

Mir gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mir trying to land knees to the body.

Stevenson manages to break the clinch.
Mir displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stevenson throws out the jab.
Stevenson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Nice body punch from Stevenson.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Stevenson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mir went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mir thows a body kick. Stevenson tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Mir fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Stevenson.
Mir uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stevenson.
Stevenson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Stevenson scores with a jab to the jaw.
Mir steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stevenson.
Mir takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Stevenson swings for the body but Mir moves out of range.
Stevenson misses with an uppercut.
Good leg kick by Mir there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mir fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stevenson misses with a looping right.
Stevenson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Stevenson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mir was well out of range. Poor timing from Stevenson.
Mir moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Stevenson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Stevenson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Stevenson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Mir momentarily.
Mir tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Stevenson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stevenson circles away from the clinch attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Stevenson! But no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mir throws a body punch but Stevenson moves out of range.
Stevenson misses with a wild combination.
Stevenson just misses with a punch to the body.
Mir misses with an uppercut
and Stevenson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mir uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Stevenson has time to react.
Stevenson misses with a hook. Mir ducked under it nicely.
Stevenson scores with a nice strike.
Mir lands with a shot to the body.
Mir takes one on the button.
Mir wants to land a leg kick but Stevenson is out of range.
Mir misses with a straight right.
Jab from Stevenson.
Stevenson throws out a leg kick but Mir moves out of range and Stevenson only half commits.
Stevenson slips a jab and a cross from Mir.
Stevenson smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Mir is rocked!
The fighters circling - Stevenson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Stevenson cracks Mir with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Oh Mir is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mir tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stevenson now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Mir takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson throws a lazy uppercut
and Mir connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mir slips under a jab from Stevenson.
Mir looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Mir lands a jab to the head.
Mir connects with a leg kick. Stevenson looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Mir misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stevenson.
Mir lands with a cross.
Stevenson is looking to slow Mir down with leg kicks.
Stevenson scores with a decent looking hook.
Stevenson checks a leg kick.
Mir is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Mir throws a push kick but Stevenson slaps the foot to one side.
Mir thumps Stevenson with a low kick.
Mir avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stevenson throws a body punch but Mir moves out of range.
Mir misses with a looping right.
Mir seems to have got his legs back now.
Stevenson looks to land a left hand but Mir moved out of range nicely.
Mir swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
The fighters circling - Mir throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Stevenson lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Mir stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Stevenson.
Stevenson scores with a kick to the body.
Mir ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mir lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Stevenson.
A low kick from Mir misses
and Stevenson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mir steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stevenson.
Stevenson misses with a straight right.
Mir takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Good work by Stevenson as he checks the leg kick.
Stevenson throws a hook to the side of Mir's head but Mir sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mir throws a looping overhand right but Stevenson ducks down to avoid it.
Mir throws a lazy uppercut
and Mir takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stevenson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Mir checks the leg kick nicely there.
Stevenson jabs at Mir's body.
Stevenson attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Mir ducks under a wild hook from Stevenson.
Mir went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Stevenson misses with a hook.
Jab by Mir.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Mir has managed to clinch.
Mir is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Stevenson breaks from the clinch.
Stevenson scores with a jab to the body.
Stevenson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Mir's head backwards.
Stevenson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adonis Stevenson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stevenson throws a lazy right hand but Mir sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Stevenson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Mir with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Stevenson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mir looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Mir slips a jab from Stevenson.
Mir pivots, looking for a leg kick but Stevenson is out of range and Mir settles back down.
Stevenson is looking to score with low kicks.
Mir was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Mir.
Stevenson scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Stevenson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Stevenson misses with a leg kick.
Mir is looking to counter with head kicks.
Mir 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.
A decent looking cross lands there for Stevenson.
Stevenson scores with a jab to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A solid body kick from Mir.
A cross from Mir lands.
Stevenson throws a looping overhand right but Mir ducks down to avoid it.
A little feinted left hand from Mir on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Stevenson throws an overhand right that lands on Mir's shoulder, as Mir tries to avoid the shot.

Mir closes the distance and clinches.
Stevenson is trying to break free.

Stevenson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mir takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Mir bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Adonis Stevenson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stevenson moves away from the strike by Mir.
Mir moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Mir waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stevenson.
Mir fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stevenson manages to avoid it.
Stevenson lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Stevenson connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Stevenson misses with a few strikes there.
Stevenson just misses with a punch to the body.
Mir throws a nice outside leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mir.
Stevenson looks for the body kick but Mir saw that one coming.
A punch lands to the side of Mir 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Mir staying out of range there.
Stevenson wants to slow Mir down by chopping away at his legs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A solid leg kick lands there for Stevenson.
A left lands for Stevenson.
Stevenson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mir was well out of range. Poor timing from Stevenson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Mir lands a nice looking kick to the body. Stevenson takes a step back to recover.
Mir delivers a nice body kick.

Mir closes the distance and clinches.
Mir misses with the head strike.
Mir tries a knee to the head but Stevenson blocks it.
Mir landing knees to the head.
Mir tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stevenson avoids it.
Stevenson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stevenson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A short uppercut from Stevenson.
Mir using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Stevenson is breathing heavily.
Knees in the clinch landing for Mir.
Mir keeps control of Stevenson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mir throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mir lands a hook that snaps the head of Stevenson backwards.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mir moves into the clinch.
Stevenson has had enough of the clinch but Mir keeps him there for the moment.
Mir looking to throw knees to the head but Stevenson is blocking nicely.

Stevenson breaks the clinch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Mir.
Stevenson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Stevenson has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Mir.
Donk. Stevenson catches Mir right on the button with a cross.
Stevenson throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Mir to counter with a crisp jab.
Mir displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stevenson throws out the jab.
Mir scores with a hook.
Nice cross by Mir.

Mir clinches up with Stevenson and pushes him back against the cage.
Mir connects with a knee to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short body shot lands from Mir as the two fighters clinch.
A knee to the head by Mir.
Mir missing with knees to the body.
Mir lands with a right to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mir tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Stevenson's elbow.
Mir keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stevenson's efforts to push away.
Mir tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stevenson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mir keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stevenson's efforts to push away.
Mir throws a punch but it's blocked by Stevenson.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mir throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Stevenson scores with the left hand. Mir knows he should have avoided that one.
Nice defenses there by Mir.
A big right from Stevenson misses.
Mir is looking to counter the offense by Stevenson and move into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stevenson drops his hands momentarily and Mir takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Stevenson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mir cracks Stevenson with an open hand slap.
A big left from Mir misses.
No joy there for Stevenson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
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 Yoel Mir will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Stevenson lands a jab.
Good leg kick by Stevenson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Mir scores with a body shot.
Stevenson swings for the body but Mir moves out of range.
Mir wants to land a leg kick but Stevenson is out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Stevenson.
Mir takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Mir moves into the clinch.
Mir throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stevenson blocks it with crossed arms.
Mir tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stevenson avoids it.
Stevenson's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

Stevenson breaks the clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Stevenson.
Mir lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Mir slips a straight right by Stevenson.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stevenson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mir just misses with a punch to the body.
Stevenson only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Stevenson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Mir misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mir displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stevenson throws out the jab.
Stevenson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Stevenson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mir uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stevenson.
Mir throws a big counter combination but Stevenson scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Stevenson throws a hook to the side of Mir's head but Mir sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mir tries to clinch up but Stevenson circles away and keeps his distance.
A cross from Stevenson lands.
Nice cross by Mir.
Stevenson throws a looping overhand right but Mir ducks down to avoid it.
A leg kick checked by Mir.
Mir thumps Stevenson with a low kick.
Mir tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stevenson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A big right from Stevenson misses.
Mir throws a hook but Stevenson blocks it.
Some bone on bone action there as Mir checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Mir fires out a quick counter leg kick but Stevenson just manages to avoid it.
Mir lets loose with a powerful body kick. Stevenson will feel that in the morning.
Stevenson lands a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson throws a hook but Mir avoids it easily.
Mir checks a low kick from Stevenson.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mir tries to clinch there but Stevenson circles away.
Mir looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Mir drives through and clinches with Stevenson against the cage.
Mir tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mir scores with a knee to the head.
Mir lands a shoulder strike.
Mir misses with a hook to the ribs.
Mir lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Stevenson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mir misses with a knee to the head.
Stevenson is trying to break the clinch but Mir has him pressed against the cage.
Mir with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Mir lands a nice shot to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Mir.
Mir tries a body shot but Stevenson blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson tries to circle away but Mir has him pinned against the cage.
Mir putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Stevenson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Mir putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Stevenson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Mir - that landed with a thud.
Mir lands with a light punch inside.
Mir has Stevenson pressed against the cage, preventing Stevenson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Stevenson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Stevenson has had enough of the clinch but Mir keeps him there for the moment.
Mir tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Stevenson's elbow.
Stevenson has had enough of the clinch but Mir keeps him there for the moment.
A head punch on the inside from Mir fails to land.
Mir fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mir using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stevenson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Yoel Mir has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Mir tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stevenson avoids it.
Mir works on Stevenson's body with a couple of short punches.
Mir prevents Stevenson from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mir throws a punch but it's blocked by Stevenson.
A short right from Mir on the inside.
Stevenson tries to break the clinch but Mir is controlling the position.
Mir lands a good knee to the midsection. Stevenson won't want to take too many of those.
A left hand lands to the body for Mir.
A shot in the inside from Mir.
Mir misses with a knee strike.
Mir tries a body shot but Stevenson blocks it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mir landing knees to the head.
Stevenson wants to get back to striking at distance but Mir won't allow it.
Mir gets through Stevenson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Stevenson takes a knee right on the jaw!
Mir lands a shoulder strike.
Mir keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stevenson's efforts to push away.
Mir with an attempt at a knee that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoel Mir showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mir has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoel Mir!
A relieved looking Yoel Mir thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.