PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vlad Darko (ranked 795 p4p, 676 weight class) and Adonis Stevenson (ranked 116 p4p, 97 weight class). Darko comes to the cage accompanied by Ominous Drumming. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Adonis Stevenson was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Darko
vs
Stevenson

178 cm
39
180
22 - 13 - 2

180 cm
39
175
30 - 19 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Savage Fightwear

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 22 - 13 - 2, fighting out of New York, Vlad Darko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 19 - 1, fighting out of New York, Adonis Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slapping leg kick lands for Stevenson.
Darko cracks Stevenson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Darko smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Stevenson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Stevenson misses with a left hand
and Darko counters with a straight right hand.
Good work by Darko as he checks the leg kick.
Darko pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Stevenson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Stevenson misses with a hook.
Darko scores with a decent looking hook.
Darko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stevenson.
Darko appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Stevenson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Darko appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Darko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Stevenson misses the target.
Darko is looking to counter punch.
Stevenson misses with a left hand
and Darko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Darko sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Stevenson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Stevenson loads up on a big right hand but Darko slips the punch.
Darko jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Darko looks to land a left hand but Stevenson moved out of range nicely.
Darko takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Stevenson throws a shot from downtown. Darko moves away and avoids it.
Darko was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Darko throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Stevenson throws a lazy uppercut
and Darko counters with a nice low kick that buckles Stevenson's knee momentarily.
Stevenson throws a leg kick but Darko moved away.
Stevenson looks to throw the jab but Darko is out of range.
Stevenson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stevenson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Darko manages to avoid it.
Darko fires out a quick counter leg kick but Stevenson just manages to avoid it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Stevenson. That's going to slow Darko down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Darko throwing a counter right hand but Stevenson manages to avoid it.
Adonis Stevenson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Darko slips a jab from Stevenson.
Stevenson looks to land a right hand but Darko moved out of range.
Stevenson tried to score with a low kick but Darko checks it.
Stevenson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Stevenson misses with an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stevenson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Darko.
Darko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stevenson.
A jab from Stevenson does it's job there.
Stevenson takes a swing at Darko's ribcage but misses.
A solid leg kick lands there for Stevenson.
Stevenson lands the left hand.
A head kick misses from Darko.
A slapping leg kick lands for Stevenson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darko dodges the punch combination from Stevenson.
Adonis Stevenson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stevenson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Darko is looking to counter the offense by Stevenson and move into the clinch.
Stevenson misses with an uppercut.
Stevenson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Darko.
Darko throwing a counter right hand but Stevenson manages to avoid it.
Stevenson scores with a jab to the body.
Stevenson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Stevenson lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A solid leg kick lands there for Stevenson.
Stevenson throws a predictable looking body shot
and Darko counters with a nice uppercut.
Darko takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Darko changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Stevenson cracks Darko with an open hand slap.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Darko connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stevenson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Darko feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Darko defending well as Stevenson loads up on a big left hand.
Darko fakes the leg kick and cracks Stevenson in the body.
Darko staying out of range there.
A decent looking cross lands there for Darko.
A shot to the body from Stevenson misses
and Darko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stevenson misses with a right hand
and Darko counters with an inside leg kick.
Stevenson throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Darko counters with a big uppercut that knocks Stevenson off his feet! Darko dives into side control looking to finish!

Stevenson is rocked!
Stevenson looks winded!

Darko goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Stevenson has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Darko but great work by Stevenson.
Stevenson is still in real trouble! Can Darko finish him?
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Darko tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Stevenson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Darko is trying to control Stevenson's posture but Stevenson avoids it.
Stevenson seems to have recovered his senses.
Stevenson in the domination position with Darko hanging on.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Adonis Stevenson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Darko needs to keep his hands up - Stevenson had a free shot at his head there.
Stevenson throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Stevenson misses the target.
Stevenson wants to land a leg kick but Darko is out of range.
Stevenson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Darko circles away quickly and effectively.
Stevenson throws a leg kick
and Darko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stevenson throws a right hand that misses
and Darko counters with a straight right hand.
Stevenson scores with a jab. Darko acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevenson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Stevenson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Darko changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Stevenson tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Stevenson missing with a left hand there. Darko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson throws a jab but it's blocked by Darko.
Stevenson tests Darko's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Stevenson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stevenson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Darko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stevenson sizes up Darko with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Darko takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Stevenson connects with a nice looking jab.
Stevenson lands with a hook. Darko tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Stevenson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Darko in his tracks.
Stevenson looks to throw the jab but Darko is out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Darko misses the target.
Stevenson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Darko takes a shot to the body in his stride.
That kick from Stevenson tenderised Darko's leg. Darko is trying to keep his angry face on.
Some bone on bone action there as Darko checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson avoids the body shot from Darko.
Stevenson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Darko slips a jab from Stevenson.
Darko went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Stevenson throws a right hand that misses
and Darko counters with a straight right hand.
Stevenson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Stevenson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stevenson sizes up Darko with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Stevenson cracks Darko with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Darko checks the leg kick nicely there.
Darko steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stevenson.
Darko is looking to counter punch.
Stevenson misses with a body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Darko misses the target.
A nice leg kick lands there from Stevenson.
Stevenson misses with a combination
and Darko counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Darko counters with a right hand that sends Stevenson tumbling to the canvas! Can Darko finish him? He dives into Stevenson's guard looking to do just that!
Darko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stevenson is keeping the position for now.

Darko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Stevenson keeping moving, preventing Darko from controlling successfully.
Stevenson wants to sweep but no luck.
Stevenson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Darko manages to get himself to full guard.

Stevenson won't allow Darko to sweep him here.

Darko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Darko looking to control.
Darko controlling the position.

Darko has his foot on Stevenson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stevenson works his way back into a safe position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Adonis Stevenson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Darko walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Darko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stevenson.
Darko stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Stevenson.
Stevenson connects with a right hand. Darko shakes it off.
Stevenson misses with a hook. Darko ducked under it nicely.
Darko is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Stevenson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Darko counters with a nice kick to the body.
Stevenson throws a hook but Darko blocks it.
Darko swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Darko displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stevenson throws out the jab.
Darko throws a body punch but Stevenson moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevenson connects with a crisp jab.
Stevenson misses with an uppercut. Darko saw that one coming.
Stevenson misses with a low kick as Darko jumps back.
Stevenson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darko fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
The fighters circling - Stevenson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Darko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stevenson.
Darko throws a quick counter kick to the body but Stevenson avoids it.
Stevenson misses with an uppercut
and Darko counters with a slapping leg kick.
Stevenson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Darko displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stevenson throws out the jab.
Stevenson tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick by Stevenson misses
and Darko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Darko looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Stevenson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Darko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stevenson throws a right hand that misses
and Darko counters with a huge left! Stevenson is in big trouble! He's backing up but Darko isn't giving him chance to recover. Under a barage of punches the ref has to step in to save Stevenson from any more damage. A dominating finish by Darko!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Vlad Darko!
Vlad Darko really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Conviction logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.