PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lee Stephens (ranked 2509 p4p, 3222 weight class) and Charles Bukowski (ranked 351 p4p, 434 weight class). Charles Bukowski has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Stephens
vs
Bukowski

188 cm
24
195
4 - 4 - 0

183 cm
23
195
5 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Darvin Nutrition

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lee Stephens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Charles Bukowski!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bukowski throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bukowski looks to land a left hand but Stephens moved out of range nicely.
Stephens is looking to counter punch.
We've been informed that Bukowski has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Stephens fails to land with a series of punches.

Bukowski gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Bukowski blocking some punches.
Bukowski doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bukowski scores with a nice hook to the head.
Bukowski throws a head punch that misses.
Bukowski working aggressively here.
A hook to the body from Bukowski.
Stephens lands a left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bukowski on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bukowski creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Bukowski lands a nice shot to the body.
I was talking to Stephens's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A short left from Bukowski.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stephens is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Stephens tries for a takedown but Bukowski manages to get underhooks.
Stephens trying to control the position but instead, Bukowski has worked for underhooks and has pushed Stephens into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bukowski keeps control of Stephens as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bukowski is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Bukowski misses with a punch on the inside.
Bukowski tries a body shot but Stephens blocks it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Bukowski.
Stephens blocks a body shot from Bukowski.

Stephens pulls guard successfully.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Bukowski postures up in Stephens's guard and throws a big left but Stephens blocks it.
Stephens keeping moving, preventing Bukowski from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bukowski wants to pass the guard but Stephens is keeping the position.
Bukowski wants to control from the top but Stephens keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bukowski throwing strikes from guard but Stephens blocks nicely.
Bukowski throwing strikes from guard but Stephens blocks nicely.
Bukowski working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stephens's head.
Bukowski landing some decent shots from guard.
Bukowski controlling from the top position.
Bukowski in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bukowski accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bukowski with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bukowski is looking to work some ground and pound but Stephens has wrist control.
Stephens wants to stand up but Bukowski is controlling him.
Bukowski is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Stephens utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bukowski looking to sit in guard and control but Stephens gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Bukowski lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bukowski lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Stephens utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bukowski has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Stephens wants to sweep here but Bukowski controlling him for the moment.
Bukowski is looking to work some ground and pound but Stephens has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bukowski throws a strike but Stephens rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Bukowski looking for a sweep. Not yet Bukowski, not yet.
Stephens throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bukowski works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stephens wants to control from the top but Bukowski keeps moving.
Bukowski is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stephens trying to control the position from guard on top but Bukowski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bukowski is looking for a triangle but Stephens pushes his legs off easily.
Bukowski is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Stephens is fighting to break Bukowski's control of his arms but Bukowski is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Charles Bukowski dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bukowski circles away from the clinch attempt
and Bukowski counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stephens misses with a looping left.
Stephens looks to land a right hand but Bukowski moved out of range.
Lee Stephens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stephens swinging wildly here.
Bukowski doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Stephens shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bukowski as he avoids it easily.
Bukowski is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bukowski leaves Stephens with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bukowski stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bukowski wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee Stephens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bukowski fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stephens manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bukowski swivels and escapes.

Bukowski drops Stephens with a beautiful combination! Stephens stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Bukowski is looking for the KO!
Charles Bukowski seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bukowski drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Bukowski digs a good hook to Stephens's body.
Bukowski throws a lazy right hand but Stephens sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Stephens is looking to counter punch.
Stephens will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stephens throws a looping overhand right but Bukowski ducks down to avoid it.
Stephens tries to clinch up.
Stephens with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bukowski counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A big left from Bukowski misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Stephens just misses with a punch to the body.
Bukowski missing with a left hand there. Stephens was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stephens tries to clinch but Bukowski is having none of it.
Stephens throws a left and a right that both miss
and Bukowski counters with a series of strikes that practically lifts Stephens off his feet! He tumbles backwards, his head bouncing off the mat - Bukowski follows up with more strikes before the ref can step in but Stephens was out before he hit the floor.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Charles Bukowski!