PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jon Stead (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Longson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Longson has chosen Oopsy daisy chipmunk as his entrance music. Brandon Longson is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Stead
vs
Longson

165 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

165 cm
19
160 lbs
2 - 3 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Jon Stead!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, Brandon Longson!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Sam Margolis and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Longson dodges the punch combination from Stead.

Longson moves into the clinch.
Stead is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Longson pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Longson breaks the clinch.
Stead throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Stead tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Longson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Stead.

Longson manages to break the clinch.
Stead could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Stead changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Longson tries to avoid it but Stead manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Longson to the ground. Longson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Stead gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Longson counters with a nice body kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Stead. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stead is breathing heavily.
Longson lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Stead sprawling to the canvas. Longson follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Stead hang on?

It looks like Jon Stead has been cut.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Longson winds up and cracks Stead with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Stead knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Longson on the ground.
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. Longson connects with a nice short shot to Stead's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Longson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Longson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Stead with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Stead taking some punishment here, with Longson in his half guard.

Longson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Stead doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Longson.
Stead is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Longson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nice strikes from Longson there.
Stead has hold of Longson's hands but Longson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Longson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Longson passes the guard and advances to mount!
The referee warns Stead that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Longson with shots to the head and body - Stead looks very uncomfortable down there.
Longson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Longson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Stead can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Longson breaks from Stead's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Longson landing strikes from the mount and Stead is in trouble!
Longson lands with some strikes.
Stead is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Longson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Stead is in all sorts of trouble here.
Longson landing strikes from the mount and Stead is in trouble!
Stead in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Stead reaches up and holds on to Longson to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stead tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Longson has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Stead's face.
Longson lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Longson lands a heavy elbow.
Longson lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Longson working Stead over with strikes here.
Longson is landing with some decent strikes but Stead is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Stead is desperately trying to improve his position but Longson has a good base and remains in mount.
Stead bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Longson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stead manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Longson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Longson lands a couple of digs.
Stead not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Longson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Stead wants to sweep but no luck.
Stead is pulling down on Longson's head to control his posture.
Longson landing some decent shots from guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stead managing to control the position.
Longson stopping the sweep attempt from Stead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Longson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jon Stead's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Stead is looking to clinch.
Stead misses with a takedown attempt

and Longson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Longson breaks from the clinch.
Stead scores with the left hand. Longson knows he should have avoided that one.
Longson tries to clinch up.
Stead throws a head kick that misses.
Longson tries to bum rush Stead with a series of wild strikes but Stead uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Longson in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Longson swats away the attempt to clinch by Stead.
Stead scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stead shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Longson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Stead's knee momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stead doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Longson counters with a head kick. That will keep Stead thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Stead. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stead gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Longson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Stead is fighting off a takedown attempt but Longson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Stead to the mat. Stead regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Stead working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Longson.
Stead is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Longson is working Stead over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Stead pulls Longson in close to his closed guard and prevents Longson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Longson looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Longson stands up over Stead, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Longson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stead trying to control the position here.
Longson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stead is trying to keep Longson in close.
Longson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stead scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Longson misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Longson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Brandon Longson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stead has his takedown stuffed

and Longson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Stead drops down looking for an ankle pick but Longson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Stead paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Longson has Stead up against the cage in a clinch.

Longson has picked Stead up - he's going for a ride! Longson dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Longson passes to side control.
Stead struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Longson in side control lands a decent elbow.
Longson scores with a couple of short elbows.
Stead is looking for a sweep.
Longson works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Stead takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Longson scores with a couple of short elbows.
Stead gets back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stead wants to control but Longson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Longson works his foot free and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Longson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jon Stead'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. This is the final round!

Stead fails with the takedown

and Longson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Stead jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Longson walks away with a smile on his face. Stead gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Longson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Longson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Stead.
Stead tries to clinch but Longson is having none of it.
Stead misses with a takedown attempt

and Longson counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Stead. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Longson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A thudding body kick lands there by Longson!
Stead wants to clinch but Longson slips to the side

and Longson counters by clinching up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Longson breaks the clinch.
Stead showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Longson.
Jon Stead is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Longson swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Longson swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Stead has his takedown stuffed
and Longson counters with a nice body kick.
Stead shoots in for a takedown but Longson shows good takedown defense.
Stead tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Longson was well out of range. Poor timing from Stead.
Longson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stead changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Longson tries to avoid it but Stead manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Longson to the ground. Longson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Stead connects with a right hand. Longson shakes it off.
Stead closes the distance and clinches up with Longson, looking for a takedown. Stead pushes Longson against the cage but Longson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Stead closes the distance and clinches up with Longson, looking for a takedown. Stead pushes Longson against the cage but Longson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Stead wants to clinch.
Longson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Stead counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice body kick from Stead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Stead tries to clinch but Longson moves out of range.
Stead fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Longson.
Brandon Longson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Longson throws a series of punches but Stead moves out of range.
Longson tries to clinch but Stead moves out of range.
Stead closes the distance but Longson moves to the side

and Longson counters by moving into the clinch.
Stead is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Longson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Stead is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Stead tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Stead is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Longson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stead fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stead tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Longson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Longson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Longson is looking to slow Stead down with leg kicks.
Longson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Stead gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Longson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stead fails with a takedown attempt.
Longson lands with a nice combination. Stead backs away looking to recover.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Longson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Longson counters by clinching up.
Stead looking for a takedown.
Longson avoiding damage as Stead throws knees to the body.
Stead tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Longson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Longson looks to land a body kick but Stead moved away.
Stead gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Longson counters with a nice body kick.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Stead. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Longson slips a jab and a cross from Stead.

Stead rushes Longson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Jon Stead has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Brandon Longson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Longson breaks the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brandon Longson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Longson 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 Atkins scores the fight for Brandon Longson!
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Brandon Longson!
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Brandon Longson!

Brandon Longson wins by unanimous decision!