PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Adonis Stevenson (ranked 976 p4p, 1110 weight class) and Zenzo Rai (ranked 150 p4p, 168 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Stevenson
vs
Rai

180 cm
39
175
29 - 19 - 1

183 cm
31
180
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 29 - 19 - 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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zenzo Rai!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shigeki Sano and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rai uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stevenson.
Rai throws a head kick that misses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rai.
Rai changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stevenson tries to avoid it but Rai manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stevenson to the ground. Stevenson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Stevenson looks to land a left hand but Rai moved out of range nicely.
Stevenson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rai moves away.
Stevenson connects with a solid leg kick.
Rai slips under a jab from Stevenson.
Rai wants to clinch.
Stevenson misses with a leg kick.
Rai looks like he wants to counter punch here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevenson misses with an uppercut.
Rai throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Rai checks a low kick from Stevenson.

Rai clinches up with Stevenson and pushes him back against the cage.
Stevenson wants to get back to striking at distance but Rai won't allow it.
Rai tries for a takedown but Stevenson manages to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rai holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Rai breaks the clinch.
Stevenson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rai.
Adonis Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zenzo Rai.
Stevenson throws a hook but Rai blocks it.
Rai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
And Rai tries to counter it with a takedown but Stevenson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Rai closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stevenson circles away.
Rai tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stevenson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stevenson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rai.
Rai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stevenson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stevenson looks to score with a jab to the body but Rai is just out of range.
Stevenson misses with an uppercut.
A lazy body kick from Stevenson
and Rai counters with a nice body shot.
Stevenson looks to throw the jab but Rai is out of range.
Stevenson throws a shot from downtown. Rai moves away and avoids it.
Stevenson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rai.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson connects with a right hand. Rai shakes it off.
Stevenson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rai throws a right hand that Stevenson ducks under and follows up with a left that Stevenson also avoids with ease.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rai dodges the punch combination from Stevenson.
Rai uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stevenson.
Stevenson throws a jab when Rai was well out of range.
Stevenson throws a shot from downtown. Rai moves away and avoids it.
Rai fails with a takedown attempt.
Stevenson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rai shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stevenson misses with an uppercut.

Rai darts in and clinches Stevenson up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stevenson cracks Rai with a good jab.
Rai throws a head kick but Stevenson moves out of range.
Rai has a takedown stuffed.
Stevenson blocks a head kick by Rai.
Rai wants to clinch up but Stevenson keeps it at a distance.
Stevenson throws a nice looking combination but Rai bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rai is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Rai clinches.

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

Rai darts in and clinches Stevenson up against the cage.
A short left from Stevenson.
Stevenson lands a right hand.
Rai is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Stevenson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
I was talking to Stevenson's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Stevenson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rai breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rai.
Good leg kick by Rai.
Rai closes the distance and clinches up with Stevenson, looking for a takedown. Rai pushes Stevenson against the cage but Stevenson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Stevenson scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Zenzo Rai has been cut.
A jab from Stevenson misses.
Rai slips a jab from Stevenson.
Stevenson misses with a low kick as Rai jumps back.
Rai tries to clinch but Stevenson is having none of it.
Stevenson lands a head shot.
Stevenson misses with a looping right.
Rai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stevenson.
Stevenson dips to his left and cracks Rai with an uppercut!

Stevenson tries to keep at a distance but Rai has taken the fight into the clinch.

Rai manages to break the clinch.
Stevenson throws an off balance right hand

and Rai counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rai.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Adonis Stevenson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zenzo Rai's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Stevenson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rai.
Stevenson looks to throw the jab but Rai is out of range.
Stevenson lands a brutal head kick. Rai looks out on his feet and Stevenson throws more strikes until the ref is forced to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:13 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick and Punches). Adonis Stevenson!
Adonis Stevenson managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Fenrir Fightgear - Anno 2013, into his post fight interview.