PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Harold Stephenson (ranked 4547 p4p, 436 weight class) and Oliver Huang (ranked 4246 p4p, 411 weight class). The key to victory for Harold Stephenson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Stephenson
vs
Huang

180 cm
21
165 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

177 cm
20
157 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Harold Stephenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Oliver Huang!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Chris Dean and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stephenson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Huang!

Stephenson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Huang is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Stephenson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Huang tries to get to full guard but Stephenson has control of the leg.

Stephenson is working for a kimura but Huang is defending it quite comfortably.
Huang wants to improve his position but Stephenson is controlling well.

Huang makes his way to full guard, as Stephenson worked for a kimura.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephenson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Huang swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Huang wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huang trying to control the position.
Huang wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Stephenson tries to free his leg and advance position but Huang is retaining full guard.
Huang is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Stephenson is looking to improve his position.
Huang wants to take a breather but Stephenson is having none of it.
Stephenson tries to get to full guard but Huang has control of the leg.
Huang trying to control the action but Stephenson is working from the bottom.

Huang is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Stephenson is just riding it out for now. Huang eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Huang tries to pass the half guard into mount. Stephenson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson tries to roll over but Huang keeps him under control.
Huang 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.
Stephenson is looking for a sweep. Huang is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Huang moves nicely into side control.
Stephenson gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Huang punishing his opponent with strikes.
Stephenson working to try and regain half guard.
Huang with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson working to try and regain half guard.
Huang with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Huang with good strikes from the mount here!
Huang looking to control but Stephenson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Huang punishing his opponent with strikes.
Huang scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Huang looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Huang trying to control but Stephenson is having none of it.
Stephenson has given up his back.
Stephenson rolls, trying to escape but Huang keeps control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Huang tries to get the hooks in deep but Stephenson pushed the leg off.
Our spies down at at Jitz MMA inform us that Huang has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Huang is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Huang patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
I really don't envy Stephenson right now.
Huang biding his time, looking for the opening.
Stephenson tries to escape but Huang has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Stephenson fending off the submission attempt from Huang.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Huang lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Stephenson rolls, trying to escape but Huang keeps control of the position.
I would not like to be Stephenson right now.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Huang.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oliver Huang dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Stephenson gets a takedown into half guard.
Huang moves into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Huang is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Stephenson wants to improve his position but Huang is controlling well.
Stephenson trying to control from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Huang.
Huang has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Huang with a couple of short strikes.
Huang prevents Stephenson from getting the reversal.
Stephenson regains half guard.
Huang has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stephenson moves into full guard.
Huang has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huang scoring with some ground and pound.
Stephenson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Huang pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stephenson is keeping the position for now.
Huang pushing down on Stephenson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Huang moves into full mount! Stephenson won't be happy about that!
Stephenson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Stephenson tries to lock up and control but Huang gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Huang trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Huang landing shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Huang scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Stephenson?
A nice elbow there by Huang.
Stephenson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Stephenson is working hard here to advance position.
Huang wants to control the pace but Stephenson is squirming around nicely.
Huang with good strikes from the mount here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Huang controlling the pace for now.
Huang landing strikes, looking to finish!
Huang breaks from Stephenson's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Huang lands a couple of good shots and Stephenson has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Huang controlling the position well here. Stephenson rolled but Huang kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
You can see the frustration on Stephenson's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good control from Huang.

Stephenson is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Huang gets his way!
Huang trying to control momentarily.
Huang punishes Stephenson with strikes from the back mount.

Huang is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Stephenson taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Huang.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Oliver Huang!