PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Benji Stevens (ranked 4598 p4p, 6902 weight class) and Duncan Spong (ranked 394 p4p, 470 weight class). Benji Stevens has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Stevens
vs
Spong

170 cm
21
135
5 - 1 - 0

179 cm
21
152
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Altitude Clothing
HARDCORE Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Benji Stevens!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Duncan Spong!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Glass and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Stevens, as that shot connected.
Stevens lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Spong slips a jab and a cross from Stevens.
Stevens throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Spong throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stevens.
Spong takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Some wild striking there from Spong.
Spong shoots in looking for a takedown. Stevens tries to sprawl out of it but Spong keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Stevens manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Stevens throws a half hearted mid kick.
Stevens lands a glancing blow to the side of Spong's head.
Spong has his takedown stuffed
enabling Stevens to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Spong moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Benji Stevens has been cut.
Spong swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A little feinted left hand from Stevens on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Spong walks into a left hand.
Stevens looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
No joy there for Spong, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Spong throws a big shot that misses.
Spong throws a hook but Stevens avoids it easily.
Good standup being displayed there by Stevens as he connects with a hook.
Stevens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Spong throws a counter combo.
Stevens scores with a jab. Spong acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

It looks like Duncan Spong has been cut.
A jab from Stevens misses.
Stevens attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Spong lands the left hand.
Stevens throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
We've been told by Stevens's head coaches at Hardman MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Benji Stevens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stevens swings for the body but Spong moves out of range.
Stevens misses with a straight left.
Stevens blocks a head kick by Spong.
Spong blocks a jab.
Spong fails to land with a series of punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stevens blocks a low kick nicely.
Stevens misses with a leg kick
and Spong counters with a straight right hand.

Stevens is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens looks to score with a jab to the body but Spong is just out of range.
Oh Stevens is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Spong throws a right hand that misses
and Stevens counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Stevens seems to have got his legs back now.
Stevens keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Spong.
Stevens with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Spong chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Stevens can pounce on him.
Stevens scores with a sloppy right hand. Spong should have avoided that one.
Stevens lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A left lands for Stevens.
Stevens throws a half hearted mid kick.
Spong let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Stevens is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Spong.
Stevens lands with a nice body punch.
Stevens pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Spong looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stevens throws a body kick that misses.
A lazy left from Spong finds it's target.
Spong throws a leg kick but Stevens checks it.
Stevens lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Spong circles away quickly and effectively.
As Stevens backs off Spong throws a huge counter combo but Stevens manages to avoid it all.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Stevens throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Stevens blocks a head kick by Spong.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Spong.
Benji Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Duncan Spong.
Stevens throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Spong.
Stevens swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Spong takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Spong checks a low kick from Stevens.
Stevens fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Spong throws a lazy head kick
and Stevens makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Spong on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Spong throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Stevens digs a good body shot into Spong's ribs.
Stevens tries a low kick but Spong avoids it.
Stevens moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Spong gets tackled into the ropes by Stevens. Stevens maintains the clinch.
Stevens lands a hook that snaps the head of Spong backwards.
Spong lands a left hand that snaps the head of Stevens backwards.
Stevens pushes Spong back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Stevens scores with a shoulder strike.
A shot in the inside from Stevens.
Stevens lands with a short shot to the head.
Stevens scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Stevens lands a body punch.
Stevens lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short left from Stevens.
A right hand to the body from Stevens.
Stevens working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Stevens scores with a hook to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Stevens.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Stevens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Spong keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stevens scores with the left hand. Spong knows he should have avoided that one.
Stevens misses with a hook.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Benji Stevens dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Spong misses with a double jab
and Stevens connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Stevens misses with a wild body shot.
A jab from Spong misses.
Stevens appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Stevens takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Spong misses with a takedown attempt
and Stevens counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stevens goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Stevens pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Stevens cracks Spong with a good jab.
Spong takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Spong keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Stevens clinches with his opponent.
Spong is looking to break free of the clinch but Stevens has double underhooks.
Stevens lands with a right to the head.

Stevens escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Spong bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A left lands for Stevens.
Stevens is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Spong can do to turn this around?
Stevens slips under a jab from Spong.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Stevens as he connects with a hook.
Spong throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stevens.
Stevens appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Spong has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Spong there as he acknowledges the shot.
Stevens steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Spong.
Spong throws a sloppy head kick and Stevens moves out of range easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Spong. Stevens does a little dance to reset his feet.
Spong is looking to score with low kicks.
Stevens was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Spong misses with a hook.
Stevens fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Stevens lands a really nice looking cross but Spong seems unphased.
Stevens lets loose with a powerful body kick. Spong will feel that in the morning.
Spong slips under a jab.
Stevens lands a body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Spong throws out a loose jab but Stevens uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stevens cracks Spong with an open hand slap.
Stevens lands with a hook. Spong tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spong swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Stevens to counter with a crisp jab.
Spong on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Spong is breathing heavily.
Spong uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stevens.
Stevens looks to land a combination but Spong avoids it well.
Stevens bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Spong's head backwards.
Stevens cracks Spong with a right hand to the side of the head.

Spong is rocked!
Spong throws a quick inside leg kick.
Spong shoots in and drives through. Stevens sprawls well.
A telegraphed right hand from Spong misses the target.
Spong misses with a straight right.
Stevens fires out a quick counter leg kick but Spong just manages to avoid it.
Stevens lands a nice shot to the body.
Stevens throws the kick towards the body but Spong avoids it.
Stevens bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Stevens slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Stevens looks to land a body kick but Spong moved away.
Stevens misses with a looping left.
Spong has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Stevens lands.
Spong is still on wobbly legs! Can Stevens finish him?
A jab from Spong misses.
Spong seems to have recovered his senses.
Spong loads up on a big right hand but Stevens slips the punch.
Spong throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stevens sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Spong misses with a straight right.
Duncan Spong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stevens lands a two punch combo.
Stevens ducks under a wild hook from Spong.
Stevens swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Spong throws a head kick but Stevens moves out of range.
Stevens connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Stevens lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Spong circles away quickly and effectively.
Spong uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stevens.
Stevens connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Spong momentarily.
Stevens lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Benji Stevens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stevens fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Spong manages to avoid it.
Spong throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Stevens misses its intended target.
Spong misses with a body kick.
Spong steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Stevens. That one must have hurt.
Stevens pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Despite the aggression on Spong's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Stevens displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Spong throws out the jab.
A swing and a miss from Stevens.
Stevens bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
It looked like Stevens was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Stevens scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Spong takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Spong misses with a two punch combination.
Spong takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Spong moves out of range of the leg kick from Stevens.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stevens steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Spong.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Stevens here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Good standup being displayed there by Stevens as he connects with a hook.
Stevens swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Spong.
Good shot there by Stevens.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Benji Stevens dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Spong staying out of range there.
A jab from Spong misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Stevens.
Spong fails to land the takedown.
Spong misses with an uppercut.
Benji Stevens is winning the standup battle so far.
Spong throws a nice looking combination but Stevens bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Stevens throws a looping overhand right but Spong ducks down to avoid it.
Spong takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Stevens throws a half hearted mid kick.
Spong moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch lands to the side of Spong 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nice shot lands for Spong.

Stevens has taken the fight to the clinch.
Stevens lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Spong backwards.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A nice left hand lands by Stevens.
Spong swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens lands a shot to the body.
Spong takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A shot in the inside from Stevens.
Spong is trying to push Stevens away but Stevens has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.

Stevens breaks from the clinch.
Spong fails with the takedown
and Stevens counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Spong ducks right into an uppercut from Stevens.
Stevens lets his hands go wild with a nice combination. Left! Right! Uppercut! Spinning backfist! Spong goes down and covers up as Stevens starts wailing on him! The ref watches the action closely before stepping in and putting a stop to the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Benji Stevens!
Benji Stevens retains his featherweight title!
Benji Stevens decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.