PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lucien Smalls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and MONTY STEVEZ (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). MONTY STEVEZ has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Smalls
vs
STEVEZ

184 cm
23
225 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
21
278 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lucien Smalls!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, MONTY STEVEZ!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Alyssa Summers and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smalls misses with a double jab.
Smalls could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
STEVEZ swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smalls counters with a left to the body.

Smalls clinches.
Smalls has had enough of the clinch but STEVEZ keeps him there for the moment.

STEVEZ's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
STEVEZ swinging wilding here.
Smalls digs a good hook to STEVEZ's body.
Smalls throws a combination but it was largely blocked by STEVEZ.
STEVEZ walks into a left hand.
STEVEZ closes the distance but Smalls moves to the side
and Smalls counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Smalls misses with a head kick.
STEVEZ throws a hook to the side of Smalls's head but Smalls sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
STEVEZ wants to clinch
and Smalls counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like MONTY STEVEZ has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
STEVEZ takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
STEVEZ looks gassed!
STEVEZ tries to clinch

and Smalls holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Smalls is trying to break the clinch but STEVEZ has him pressed against the ropes.
Smalls is looking to break free of the clinch but STEVEZ has double underhooks.
Smalls lands a body punch.

Smalls breaks the clinch.
STEVEZ gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smalls bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
MONTY STEVEZ seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Smalls moves into the clinch successfully.
STEVEZ keeps control of Smalls as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Smalls is trying to break the clinch but STEVEZ has him pressed against the ropes.
Smalls has had enough of the clinch but STEVEZ keeps him there for the moment.
Smalls is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.

Smalls breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
STEVEZ tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Smalls counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Smalls throws a shot to the body.

Smalls moves into the clinch.
STEVEZ prevents Smalls from breaking the clinch.
STEVEZ wants to break free but Smalls has control.

Smalls breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smalls thuds a left hand into STEVEZ's body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Smalls closes the distance and clinches.
Smalls prevents STEVEZ from breaking the clinch.

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

Smalls closes the distance and pushes STEVEZ back into the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smalls is looking to break free of the clinch but STEVEZ has double underhooks.
STEVEZ wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smalls has him pressed against the ropes.

Smalls breaks the clinch.
STEVEZ takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A left and a right from Smalls both land. Nice combination.

Smalls moves into range and clinches up with STEVEZ.

Smalls manages to break the clinch.
Smalls throws a nice outside leg kick.
Smalls with a jab.
Smalls lands with a nice body punch.
A left and a right from Smalls both land. Nice combination.
Smalls fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt STEVEZ.

Smalls fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with STEVEZ, pushing him back against the ropes.
STEVEZ is looking to break free of the clinch but Smalls has double underhooks.

Smalls manages to break the clinch.
Smalls's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Smalls duly obliges.
Smalls closes the distance and lands a one-two.
STEVEZ throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smalls counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
STEVEZ closes the distance looking to clinch
and Smalls counters with a series of strikes. STEVEZ will be more careful next time no doubt.
STEVEZ takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Smalls throws a chopping leg kick but STEVEZ manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Smalls gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells STEVEZ's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
STEVEZ must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Smalls has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but STEVEZ can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

STEVEZ avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
STEVEZ pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smalls is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
STEVEZ connects with a couple of short punches.
Smalls controls STEVEZ momentarily but STEVEZ frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
STEVEZ with a lazy takedown attempt
and Smalls cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
STEVEZ shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smalls but Smalls pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smalls throws a combination. STEVEZ tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
STEVEZ uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smalls.
STEVEZ fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lucien Smalls has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of MONTY STEVEZ.
STEVEZ tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smalls swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucien Smalls dominated that round.
The cut man is working on MONTY STEVEZ's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from Smalls. No joy for STEVEZ on that attempt.
STEVEZ shoots in but no luck this time.
Smalls scores with a spinning back kick!
Smalls scores with a jab. STEVEZ acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Lucien Smalls is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smalls ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Smalls scores with a nice right hand.
Smalls throws out a powerful jab.
Smalls is looking to clinch but STEVEZ is avoiding it.
Smalls is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that STEVEZ can do to turn this around?
STEVEZ shoots for a double leg takedown but Smalls sprawls well. He's pushed STEVEZ's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lucien Smalls has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of MONTY STEVEZ.
Smalls works STEVEZ's body with a nice hook.
A slapping leg kick lands for Smalls.
Smalls thuds a left hand into STEVEZ's body.

Smalls takes the fight into the clinch.
Smalls lands a body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smalls is looking to break free of the clinch but STEVEZ has double underhooks.

Smalls breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
STEVEZ looks to clinch
and Smalls cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.

STEVEZ decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Smalls is looking to improve his position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. STEVEZ connects with a nice short shot to Smalls's temple.
STEVEZ tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Smalls.
STEVEZ working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

STEVEZ decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Smalls tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but STEVEZ paws at him with a jab and circles away.
STEVEZ moves out of range of the leg kick from Smalls.
STEVEZ fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nice shot lands for Smalls.
STEVEZ changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smalls tries to avoid it but STEVEZ manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smalls to the ground. Smalls escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lucien Smalls is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
STEVEZ swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
STEVEZ looks to land a combination but Smalls avoids it well.
Smalls throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
STEVEZ is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smalls keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
STEVEZ has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Smalls throws a sloppy head kick and STEVEZ moves out of range easily.
STEVEZ looks to clinch

and Smalls counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

STEVEZ pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
STEVEZ misses with a takedown
and Smalls counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
STEVEZ fails to land the takedown.
Smalls misses with a two punch combination.
STEVEZ shoots in looking for a takedown. Smalls tries to sprawl out of it but STEVEZ keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Smalls manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smalls lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
STEVEZ connects with a looping right hand.
Smalls moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Smalls comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from STEVEZ misses the target.
STEVEZ gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Smalls counters with a straight right hand.
Smalls circles away from the clinch attempt
and Smalls cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
STEVEZ with a poor takedown

and Smalls counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
STEVEZ keeps control of Smalls as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

STEVEZ manages to break the clinch.
Smalls scores with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Smalls connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
STEVEZ looks to clinch
and Smalls counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Smalls lands a right hook to the body.
STEVEZ tries for a takedown but Smalls sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Smalls doesn't manage to clinch there - STEVEZ circles away.
STEVEZ swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smalls counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Smalls will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smalls throws a hook to the side of STEVEZ's head but STEVEZ sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
STEVEZ throws out a loose jab but Smalls uses good head movement to avoid it.
STEVEZ misses with a takedown attempt
and Smalls makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
STEVEZ shoots and misses
and Smalls counters with a nice uppercut.
Smalls is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
STEVEZ misses with a takedown
and Smalls counters with an outside leg kick.

STEVEZ clinches.
Smalls tries to break the clinch but STEVEZ is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucien Smalls dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on MONTY STEVEZ's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Smalls closes this distance looking for a takedown but STEVEZ circles away.
STEVEZ clinches but Smalls breaks the clinch
and Smalls counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Excellent takedown into side control there by STEVEZ.
Smalls is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
STEVEZ is working Smalls over with some ground and pound from side control.

STEVEZ tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Smalls takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Smalls gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
STEVEZ takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smalls has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. STEVEZ is working away from the top position though.
STEVEZ takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
STEVEZ wants to control but Smalls is keeping him busy.

STEVEZ looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Smalls wants to control but STEVEZ is keeping busy.
STEVEZ thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Smalls's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
STEVEZ tries to stand but can't do so whilst Smalls controls his leg.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Smalls scores with a shot to the body.

Smalls takes the fight into the clinch.
Smalls wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but STEVEZ has him pressed against the ropes.
Smalls blocks a punch to the side of the head.
STEVEZ lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Smalls backwards.

STEVEZ manages to break the clinch.
STEVEZ tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Smalls has closed the distance and engaged STEVEZ in a clinch.

Smalls breaks from the clinch.
STEVEZ slips under a jab.
STEVEZ avoids a punch combination nicely.
STEVEZ shoots in and drives through. Smalls sprawls well.
STEVEZ wants to clinch but Smalls slips to the side
and Smalls counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smalls takes the fight into the clinch.
STEVEZ swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Smalls manages to break the clinch.
STEVEZ on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Smalls. Smalls obviously looking to wear him down.
Smalls fakes high and swings low for a body shot but STEVEZ manages to avoid it.
STEVEZ throws a right hand that Smalls ducks under and follows up with a left that Smalls also avoids with ease.
Smalls misses with a series of wild punches.
STEVEZ doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Smalls counters with a left and a right that stings STEVEZ.
Smalls's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Smalls duly obliges.
Smalls lands with an overhand left.

STEVEZ scores a takedown into full mount!
STEVEZ looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
STEVEZ cracks Smalls with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
STEVEZ with a couple of short strikes.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Smalls is looking to improve his position but STEVEZ isn't that keen on the idea.
The referee warns Smalls that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Smalls is looking to improve his position but STEVEZ isn't that keen on the idea.

STEVEZ swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Smalls is now in STEVEZ's guard. A big mistake from STEVEZ there, giving up the dominant position!
STEVEZ looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lucien Smalls is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smalls trying to control the position from guard on top but STEVEZ is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
STEVEZ looking for a sweep. Not yet STEVEZ, not yet.
MONTY STEVEZ has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
STEVEZ keeping moving, preventing Smalls from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
MONTY STEVEZ comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smalls 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lucien Smalls!