PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Feodor Stepanovic (ranked 5968 p4p, 0 weight class) and Markus Saenchai Janssen (ranked 6044 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Stepanovic
vs
Saenchai Janssen

186 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Feodor Stepanovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Markus Saenchai Janssen!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Colin Fotheringham and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Janssen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Janssen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stepanovic fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Stepanovic tries to keep at a distance but Janssen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Stepanovic goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Stepanovic wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Stepanovic has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stepanovic jumps guard but Janssen turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Janssen breaks the clinch.

Stepanovic gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Janssen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stepanovic shoots and misses
and Janssen counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Feodor Stepanovic has been cut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Feodor Stepanovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Janssen misses with a head kick.
As Janssen backs away, Stepanovic returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Stepanovic avoids the head kick by Janssen.
Stepanovic attempts a counter takedown but Janssen avoids it well and moves away.

Janssen moves into the clinch.
Stepanovic jumps guard but Janssen turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Janssen manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Stepanovic sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Janssen wants to stand and escape but Stepanovic is having none of it.
Stepanovic wants to control from the top but Janssen keeps moving.
Stepanovic might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Janssen wants to stand up but Stepanovic is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovic controlling from the top position.
Stepanovic stops Janssen from standing up.

Janssen pushes Stepanovic off and scrambles back to his feet.
Janssen stuffs the takedown.
Stepanovic throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Janssen's waist but Janssen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stepanovic off to one side.

Janssen clinches up against the cage.
Janssen tries to land knees in the clinch but Stepanovic avoids the damage to the body.
Stepanovic is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Janssen pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Janssen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Janssen shoots in and drives through. Stepanovic sprawls well.

Janssen clinches.
Stepanovic has had enough of the clinch but Janssen keeps him there for the moment.
Stepanovic takes a knee to the side of the body.
Stepanovic is breathing heavily.
Janssen lands an elbow just above Stepanovic 's eye.
Janssen is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Janssen breaks the clinch.

Janssen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Janssen stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Janssen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Stepanovic doesn't seem phased though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Janssen gets a clinch.

Janssen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Janssen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stepanovic.

Janssen closes the distance and clinches.
Janssen lands a nice shot to the body.
Janssen scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Janssen breaks from the clinch.
Janssen lands with a thumping leg kick.

Janssen gets a clinch.
Stepanovic fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Stepanovic working aggressively here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markus Saenchai Janssen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Feodor Stepanovic's cut.
That's time! Stepanovic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stepanovic tries for a takedown but Janssen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Janssen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Stepanovic to the mat! Stepanovic manages to get full guard.
Stepanovic has a closed guard, preventing Janssen from standing up.

Stepanovic pushes Janssen off and scrambles back to his feet.

Janssen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Janssen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Stepanovic 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.

Janssen has managed to clinch.

Janssen jumps into guard, dragging Stepanovic to the mat.

Janssen pushes Stepanovic off and scrambles back to his feet.
Markus Saenchai Janssen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Janssen dives in and grabs Stepanovic's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stepanovic pushes down on Janssen's head and hops out.
Stepanovic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Janssen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Janssen takes the fight into the clinch.

Janssen pulls guard successfully.
Stepanovic wants to control from the top but Janssen keeps moving.
Janssen wants to get back to his feet but Stepanovic is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Stepanovic controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Janssen wants to stand and escape but Stepanovic is having none of it.

Janssen scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Janssen. No joy for Stepanovic on that attempt.
Nice body kick there by Janssen.
Janssen delivers a nice body kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

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

Janssen decides to stand back up.
Janssen lands a high kick!
Janssen shoots in looking for a takedown but Stepanovic manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Janssen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Janssen rushes Stepanovic and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Janssen manages to break the clinch.
Stepanovic takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Janssen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Stepanovic on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Janssen. Janssen obviously looking to wear him down.
Nice sprawl there from Janssen as Stepanovic shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Feodor Stepanovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Janssen rushes Stepanovic and presses him up against the cage.

Janssen breaks from the clinch.
Stepanovic throws a lazy head kick

and Janssen moves into the clinch.

Janssen breaks from the clinch.
Stepanovic takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Janssen lands a nice looking kick to the body. Stepanovic takes a step back to recover.

Janssen instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovic tries to pull guard but Janssen holds him up against the cage and eventually Stepanovic drops back down to his feet.
Janssen effectively controlling the action here.

Janssen ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Janssen no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stepanovic seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Janssen has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Stepanovic has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Janssen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markus Saenchai Janssen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Feodor Stepanovic's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Janssen looking to score a takedown here. Stepanovic is defending well but Janssen drives through and ends up in Stepanovic's guard.

Stepanovic manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Janssen taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Stepanovic is trying to maintain a safe position but Janssen gets an underhook and turns Stepanovic into the cage.

Janssen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stepanovic avoids a punch combination nicely.
Janssen fails with the takedown.
Janssen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stepanovic looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stepanovic throws a low kick but Janssen moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stepanovic tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Stepanovic takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stepanovic takes one to the side of the head.

Feodor Stepanovic's cut is getting worse.
Janssen throws a series of punches but Stepanovic moves out of range.
Stepanovic misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Janssen has Stepanovic up against the cage in a clinch.
Stepanovic is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Janssen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Feodor Stepanovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Janssen manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Janssen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Janssen is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Janssen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stepanovic, pushing him back against the cage.
Stepanovic fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Stepanovic drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Janssen gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Janssen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Janssen lands a knee to the body.
Janssen pressing his opponent against the cage.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Janssen clinches up against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Janssen.
Janssen landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Janssen manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Stepanovic won't allow Janssen to get back to his feet.

Janssen pushes Stepanovic off and gets back to his feet.

Janssen clinches.

Janssen breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stepanovic tries to keep at a distance but Janssen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Janssen scores with a knee to the head.
Janssen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Janssen holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Janssen stalling in the clinch.
Stepanovic is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Stepanovic wants to get back to striking at distance but Janssen won't allow it.
Stepanovic tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Janssen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stepanovic fails with the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Markus Saenchai Janssen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Janssen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight for Markus Saenchai Janssen!
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Markus Saenchai Janssen!
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Markus Saenchai Janssen!

Markus Saenchai Janssen wins by unanimous decision!
Markus Saenchai Janssen seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.