PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Harold Stephenson (ranked 2018 p4p, 239 weight class) and Violencia Rivas (ranked 1661 p4p, 199 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Harold Stephenson has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Harold Stephenson seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Stephenson
vs
Rivas

180 cm
23
165 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

173 cm
28
170 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Harold Stephenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Violencia Rivas!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Ron Honeybunn and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stephenson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Rivas scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Rivas moves into the clinch.
Rivas tries to land knees in the clinch but Stephenson avoids the damage to the body.
Stephenson is looking for a takedown.
Rivas told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Stephenson wants a takedown but no success here.
Stephenson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rivas gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Stephenson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harold Stephenson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stephenson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Stephenson tries for a takedown but Rivas manages to get underhooks.
Stephenson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Stephenson tries to score a body lock takedown but Rivas shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Nice body punch from Rivas.
Stephenson is working for takedown but Rivas is calmly controlling the position for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivas gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Stephenson.
Stephenson looking for a takedown.
Stephenson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivas lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rivas taking a breather.
Rivas scores with a nice hook to the head.
Stephenson avoids the elbow strike from Rivas, against the cage.
Stephenson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Rivas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stephenson misses with a takedown attempt
and Stephenson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stephenson swinging wildly here.
Rivas misses with the combination.
Stephenson goes for a double leg but Rivas avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rivas continues to drive forward.

Rivas clinches.
Rivas stalls.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson shoots in but no luck this time.
Stephenson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stephenson goes for a double leg but Rivas avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rivas continues to drive forward.
Rivas scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rivas shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Stephenson eats them both and turns towards Rivas to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Rivas clinches up with Stephenson and pushes him back against the cage.
Stephenson throws a head punch that misses.

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

Rivas closes the distance and clinches.
Rivas misses with a knee to the head.
I was talking to Stephenson's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Stephenson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rivas stops a takedown attempt from Stephenson.
Nice body punch from Rivas - that landed with a thud.
Stephenson is working for takedown but Rivas is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rivas presses Stephenson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Stephenson avoiding damage as Rivas throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivas misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stephenson.
Rivas gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Stephenson.
Rivas lands a hook that snaps the head of Stephenson backwards.
Rivas displaying some good clinch control by pressing Stephenson up against the cage.
A short right from Rivas.
Stephenson wants to take the fight to the mat but Rivas manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rivas scores a nice knee to the body.
Rivas landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Rivas breaks the clinch.
Rivas scores with a jab. Stephenson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rivas lands a hook that stumbles Stephenson back into the cage. Rivas follows up with a straight and another hook that land right on the button, dropping Stephenson to the canvas! Rivas pounces and lands several unanswered shots - Stephenson has had enough and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Violencia Rivas!
A victorious Violencia Rivas thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.