PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rob Lock (ranked 6753 p4p, 6497 weight class) and Gavin Stephenson (ranked 728 p4p, 713 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lock
vs
Stephenson

184 cm
18
190
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
184
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

MKFC

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rob Lock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gavin Stephenson !
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lock shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Stephenson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Stephenson can't do much from the bottom here.

Lock working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Stephenson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Stephenson is looking to regain half guard here but Lock keeps moving and retains side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lock lands an elbow.
A lull in the action here.

Lock is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Stephenson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lock cracks Stephenson with a big right hand but Stephenson just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Lock working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Stephenson wants to control but Lock postures up.
Lock connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Stephenson some visible discomfort.

Lock is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Stephenson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Stephenson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lock working away.
Lock scores with a couple of short elbows.

It looks like Gavin Stephenson has been cut.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lock is putting a hurting on Stephenson here, landing some big shots from side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Stephenson tries to buck Lock off but Lock is having none of it.
Lock in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Stephenson 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Lock is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Stephenson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Stephenson manages to work his way to half guard, despite Lock's best efforts.
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. Lock connects with a nice short shot to Stephenson 's temple.
Lock seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Stephenson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lock is trying to control. Stephenson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lock working Stephenson over with strikes.
Lock working the head and body with strikes.
Lock working Stephenson over with strikes.

Stephenson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lock seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stephenson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Lock working Stephenson over with strikes.

Lock seems to be working for a kimura but Stephenson defends the submission attempt.
Lock slips a nice elbow through Stephenson 's hands, connecting with Stephenson 's forehead.
Stephenson is looking to escape.
The fighters are battling for position here. Stephenson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Lock working some strikes from top position.
Stephenson trying to keep a closed guard but Lock is proving a slippery customer.
Lock lands a couple of elbows.
Lock wants to pass the guard but Stephenson is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lock postures up and lands a big shot to Stephenson 's brow.
Lock slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Stephenson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lock defends it easily.
Lock scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Stephenson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lock is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lock working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stephenson 's head.
Lock working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stephenson 's head.
Lock sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Lock dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gavin Stephenson 's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lock shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Stephenson is trying to defend but Lock finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Stephenson wants to improve his position but Lock is controlling well.
Lock is nestled in close to Stephenson , controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Lock is working for a submission of some sort.
Stephenson works his way to full guard. Good work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stephenson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Lock got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stephenson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lock has managed to get both his arms back between Stephenson 's legs - danger averted.
Lock trying to control but Stephenson is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stephenson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lock defends it easily.
Lock is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stephenson can do to turn this around?
Stephenson is breathing heavily.

Stephenson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lock doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lock manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lock looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Lock content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lock scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Stephenson has momentary wrist control but Lock slips an elbow through the middle.
Lock with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Lock lands a couple of elbows.
Lock working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stephenson 's head.
Lock has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lock stands up over Stephenson , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lock with a nice head shot there.
Rob Lock overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lock cracks Stephenson with a solid left hand.
Stephenson keeping full guard, as Lock tries to pass.
Lock working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stephenson 's head.
Lock landing some decent shots from guard.

Stephenson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lock can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Stephenson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lock controls the pace.

Stephenson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lock stands up over Stephenson , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Our spies down at at Cozad MMA Las Vegas inform us that Stephenson has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Lock content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lock wants to control from the top but Stephenson keeps moving.
Lock is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Lock trying to control the position from guard on top but Stephenson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lock lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Lock is working Stephenson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Stephenson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lock defends it easily.

Lock drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lock jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Lock avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lock is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lock working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Lock working some strikes from top position.
Lock scoring with some ground and pound.

Stephenson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lock doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lock manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lock is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lock is working Stephenson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Lock dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gavin Stephenson 's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Stephenson moves in looking to clinch but Lock pushes him off.

Lock scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Lock scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Lock lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Lock takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Lock slips a nice elbow through Stephenson 's hands, connecting with Stephenson 's forehead.
Stephenson gets back to full guard.
Lock content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lock makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Lock postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lock wants to control from the top but Stephenson keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stephenson working for a triangle but Lock defends it easily.
Lock is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lock stands up over Stephenson , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lock scoring with punches to the head and body.

Stephenson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Stephenson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Lock drops back looking for a leg! Stephenson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Stephenson manages to kick Lock off! Lock jumps back into Stephenson 's guard.
Lock connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lock drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lock jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Stephenson has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Lock should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Stephenson has tightened it up now! Lock should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Gavin Stephenson !