PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Adonis Stevenson (ranked 859 p4p, 959 weight class) and Zenzo Rai (ranked 128 p4p, 141 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Stevenson
vs
Rai

180 cm
39
175
28 - 18 - 1

183 cm
30
180
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Savage Fightwear

FF Gear

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 28 - 18 - 1, fighting out of New York, Adonis Stevenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zenzo Rai!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Seu Braga and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rai blocks a low kick nicely.
Stevenson throws a lazy right hand but Rai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Stevenson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rai lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Rai throws a quick inside leg kick.
Stevenson loads up on a big right hand but Rai slips the punch.
Stevenson looks to score with a jab to the body but Rai is just out of range.
Stevenson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Stevenson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A big right from Stevenson misses.
Stevenson throws a shot from downtown. Rai moves away and avoids it.
Rai misses with a leg kick
and Stevenson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rai tries a head kick but it misses.
Rai throws a combination that misses
and Stevenson counters with a body kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Rai.
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!
Rai lands a nice leg kick that just misses Stevenson's sensitive parts.
Rai just misses with a punch to the body.
Rai attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Rai misses with a leg kick
letting Stevenson counter with a right hand.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rai.
Stevenson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Stevenson pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Rai misses.
Stevenson lands with a shot to the body.
Stevenson is looking to land body kicks.
Rai attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
An attempted straight right counter from Stevenson misses the target.
Stevenson lands a body shot.
Stevenson punishes Rai's body with a nice straight punch.
Stevenson just misses with a punch to the body.
Rai throws a leg kick but Stevenson checks it.
Stevenson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Stevenson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stevenson misses with an uppercut.
Zenzo Rai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A clash of legs there as Rai blocks the low kick.
Rai thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rai avoids a kick to the body.
Rai tries a quick counter leg kick but Stevenson is wise to it.
Stevenson throws an off balance right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Rai takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rai tried to score with a low kick but Stevenson checks it.
A big left from Rai misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rai moves into range and connects with a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stevenson clobbers Rai with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Stevenson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Stevenson missing with a left hand there. Rai was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rai tried to score with a low kick but Stevenson checks it.
Rai connects with a leg kick.
Rai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stevenson.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Rai.
Stevenson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Stevenson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rai misses with a low kick.
Rai throws a leg kick but Stevenson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Rai connects with a nice looking jab.
Rai bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Stevenson throws a hook but Rai avoids it easily.
Rai flicks out a counter leg kick but Stevenson steps away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rai.
Rai goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Stevenson misses with a two punch combination.
A low kick lands for Rai.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson misses with a straight right.
Stevenson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stevenson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stevenson fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rai is out of range.
Rai connects with a solid leg kick.
Stevenson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Rai fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Stevenson.
Stevenson misses with a body shot
and Rai counters with a nice leg kick.
Stevenson ducks under a wild hook from Rai.
Stevenson swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A jab from Stevenson misses.
Stevenson takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Stevenson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rai chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A slow jab from Rai misses its intended target.
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!
Stevenson checks a leg kick nicely.
Stevenson thinks about countering with a head kick.
Rai throws a head kick but Stevenson moves out of range.
Rai scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Stevenson walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rai checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rai tries to score with a low kick but Stevenson moves his leg out of the way.
Rai throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Stevenson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stevenson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rai throws a hook but Stevenson blocks it.
Rai blocks a head kick by Stevenson.
Stevenson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rai.
Rai misses with a hook. Stevenson ducked under it nicely.
Stevenson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stevenson blocks a leg kick.
Stevenson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Stevenson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rai throws a lazy right hand but Stevenson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Stevenson scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Stevenson throws a right and a left that both miss.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rai thows a leg kick but Stevenson checks it
enabling Stevenson to counter with a crisp jab.
Rai scores with a leg kick.
Stevenson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rai manages to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zenzo Rai will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rai tries to land a leg kick but Stevenson saw it coming and moves away.
Rai fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Stevenson is out of range.
Stevenson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Rai misses with a left hand
and Stevenson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Stevenson thuds his right hand into Rai's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Rai misses with a low kick.
Stevenson swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Rai attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Stevenson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Rai takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rai appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Zenzo Rai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stevenson slips a jab and a cross from Rai.
Rai tries a low kick but Stevenson avoids it.
Stevenson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Stevenson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevenson misses with a wild body shot.
Rai throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Stevenson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stevenson misses with a straight right.
Rai displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stevenson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stevenson. Rai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stevenson thows a leg kick but Rai checks it
and Stevenson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stevenson's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rai connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Stevenson scrambles back to his feet.
Stevenson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Stevenson blocks a jab.
It appears Stevenson was looking to counter with a kick there.
Stevenson looks for the body kick but Rai saw that one coming.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rai. That's going to slow Stevenson down.
Rai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stevenson.
Stevenson backing away here, and Rai unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Rai looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rai lunges at Stevenson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Stevenson's hand.
Rai connects with an inside leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rai.
Stevenson misses with a double jab
and Rai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Stevenson misses with a head kick.
Rai scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stevenson feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rais jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Stevenson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Stevenson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Stevenson defending well as Rai loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Stevenson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rai.
Rai looks like he wants to counter punch here.
An inside leg kick lands from Rai.
Rai takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rai lands an overhand right.
Rai throws a low kick but Stevenson moves out of range easily.
Stevenson appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Rai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice jab there from Rai.
Rai throws a leg kick but Stevenson moved away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rai.
Rai throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Stevenson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Stevenson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rai throws a low kick but it's checked well by Stevenson.
Stevenson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rai.
Stevenson catches Rai with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Stevenson walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rai checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Rai on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson throws a low kick but Rai avoids it.
Stevenson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rai throws a jab when Stevenson was well out of range.
Stevenson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rai avoids the head kick by Stevenson.
Stevenson tries to move into range but Rai moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Rai throws a head kick that misses.
Rai fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Stevenson.
Rai connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rai misses with a body kick.
Stevenson just misses with a punch to the body.
Rai buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Stevenson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rai jabs at Stevenson's body.
Stevenson takes a swing at Rai's ribcage but misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rai.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rai lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson looks to throw the jab but Rai is out of range.
Stevenson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A good leg kick by Rai.
Stevenson scores with a jab to the head.
Rai feints and then cracks Stevenson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Stevenson down.
A punch lands to the side of Rai 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Stevenson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stevenson misses with a head kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rai. That's going to slow Stevenson down.
Rai with a nice calf kick.
Stevenson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rai looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Stevenson looks for the body kick but Rai saw that one coming.
Rai flicks out a counter leg kick but Stevenson steps away.
Rai lands a leg kick that knocks Stevenson off balance momentarily.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Stevenson might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rai connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rai takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rai.
Rai misses with an attempted mid kick.
Stevenson swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Stevenson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zenzo Rai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rai walks into a stiff left hand from Stevenson.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rai. Stevenson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stevenson looks to land a left hand but Rai moved out of range nicely.
Rai is looking for the big counter here.
Rai misses with a body kick.
Rai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stevenson.
Rai scores with a nice right hand.
Rai pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rai lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Stevenson throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rai.
Stevenson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Rai looks to land a body kick but Stevenson moved away.
Stevenson on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Rai connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A nice leg kick from Rai, right into the meat of the thigh.
Stevenson slips a jab from Rai.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rai pivots, looking for a leg kick but Stevenson is out of range and Rai settles back down.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Stevenson lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Rai has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rai and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Rai misses with a straight right.
A counter left hand to the body from Stevenson misses its target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Stevenson throws a sloppy body shot
and Rai counters with a solid body kick.
Stevenson tries to clinch up but Rai circles away and keeps his distance.
Stevenson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Stevenson throws a sloppy body shot
and Rai counters with a flying knee. Nice.
A big right from Rai misses.
Stevenson is looking to counter punch.
Rai throws a half hearted mid kick.
Stevenson is looking to slow Rai down with leg kicks.
Stevenson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rai feints and then cracks Stevenson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Stevenson down.
Stevenson staying out of range there.
Stevenson tried to counter with a leg kick but Rai avoided it.
Rai with the inside leg kick.
Rai throws a jab but it's blocked by Stevenson.
Stevenson misses with an uppercut
letting Rai counter with a right hand.
Stevenson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rai. Rai obviously looking to wear him down.
Rai has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stevenson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rai moves away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A low kick lands for Rai.
Adonis Stevenson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rai pivots, looking for a leg kick but Stevenson is out of range and Rai settles back down.
Stevenson takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Stevenson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rai.
Rai lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A low kick from Rai is predictable there
and Stevenson counters with a stiff right hand.
Stevenson misses with a kick to the body.
Rai tries a quick counter leg kick but Stevenson is wise to it.
Rai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Stevenson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rai takes one to the side of the head.
Stevenson misses with a kick to the body
and Stevenson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rai lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rai lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Some bone on bone action there as Rai checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Stevenson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rai connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The fighters circling - Stevenson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rai checks a leg kick nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rai takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Stevenson throws a body kick that misses.
Rai lands with an uppercut that bounces Stevenson off the cage and back into range.
Stevenson throws a sloppy head kick and Rai moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rai lands a nice leg kick that just misses Stevenson's sensitive parts.
Stevenson looks to throw the jab but Rai is out of range.
Stevenson connects with the punch.
Nice body kick there by Stevenson.
Stevenson throws the left hand but Rai avoids the punch easily.
Rai thumps Stevenson with a low kick.
Rai lands a leg kick that knocks Stevenson off balance momentarily.
Stevenson throws a sloppy head kick
and Rai counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Stevenson thinking.
Rai with a nice calf kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rai.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stevenson throws a nice head kick!
Rai with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Stevenson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Rai misses.
Stevenson misses the jab.
Rai connects with the punch.
Stevenson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Stevenson lands with a good body shot.
Rai lands a nice leg kick that just misses Stevenson's sensitive parts.
Rai turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rai lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stevenson.
Stevenson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nice cross by Rai.
Stevenson tries a low kick but Rai avoids it.
Rai takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stevenson misses with a looping right.
Rai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rai.
Stevenson throws a big shot that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zenzo Rai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rai 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zenzo Rai!
After winning the bout, Zenzo Rai thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.