PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Xon HiChi (ranked 3037 p4p, 3236 weight class) and Ryder Stephens (ranked 351 p4p, 372 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

HiChi
vs
Stephens

180 cm
25
160
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
160
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Island Boys Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Xon HiChi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ryder Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Daniel Franklin and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stephens's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Stephens duly obliges.
HiChi throws a shot from downtown. Stephens moves away and avoids it.
HiChi throws out a loose jab but Stephens uses good head movement to avoid it.
HiChi cracks Stephens with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
HiChi swings for the body but Stephens moves out of range.
Donk. HiChi catches Stephens right on the button with a cross.
HiChi scores with a crisp jab that stopped Stephens in his tracks.
Stephens has his takedown stuffed
and HiChi counters with a nice uppercut.
Stephens misses with a takedown attempt
enabling HiChi to counter with a crisp jab.
Stephens shoots for a double leg takedown but HiChi sprawls well. He's pushed Stephens's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Xon HiChi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryder Stephens.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
HiChi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A jab lands there for HiChi.
HiChi ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
HiChi stuffs the takedown.
HiChi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Stephens at a distance.
Stephens looks to land a right hand but HiChi moved out of range.
HiChi is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
HiChi scores with a shot to the body.
Stephens misses with a takedown attempt
enabling HiChi to counter with a crisp jab.
Stephens shoots and misses
enabling HiChi to counter with a crisp jab.
HiChi is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Stephens misses with a leg kick
and HiChi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A head kick misses from Stephens.
HiChi throws a combination. Stephens tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
HiChi connects with a right hand. Stephens shakes it off.
A head kick by Stephens misses
and HiChi counters with a straight right hand.
Xon HiChi 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.
HiChi fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
HiChi goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
HiChi cracks a nice hook into Stephens's ribs.
Stephens takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
HiChi lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Stephens has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Donk. HiChi catches Stephens right on the button with a cross.
HiChi lands with a straight right. Stephens didn't see that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
HiChi lands with a good body shot.
Stephens throws a body kick that misses.
HiChi lands a nice shot to the body.
HiChi lands a right hook to the body.
HiChi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stephens was well out of range. Poor timing from HiChi.
Stephens looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Stephens has his takedown stuffed
and Stephens takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
HiChi scores with a jab. Stephens acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
HiChi scores with a nice strike.
Stephens throws out a loose jab but HiChi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stephens misses with a left hand
and HiChi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
HiChi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Stephens has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
HiChi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
HiChi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
HiChi definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Stephens throws a combination but it was largely blocked by HiChi.
Stephens looks for the body kick but HiChi saw that one coming.
HiChi works the jab nicely.
HiChi blocks a head kick by Stephens.
Stephens tries a head kick but it misses.
Stephens looks to throw a body kick
and HiChi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
HiChi stalks Stephens and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Stephens's face. Stephens staggers backwards, shaken.
HiChi checks the leg kick nicely there.
HiChi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stephens misses with a body kick.
Stephens throws a head kick that misses.
HiChi throws a good cross that connects.
HiChi jabs Stephens right on the nose. Stephens blinks but takes it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
HiChi darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Stephens throws a lazy head kick
and HiChi counters with a stiff right hand.
Stephens misses with a kick to the body
and HiChi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stephens is defended easily by HiChi.
HiChi connects with a body shot.
Stephens takes one on the chin but seems OK.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
HiChi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stephens.
A little feinted left hand from HiChi on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
HiChi lands a lovely overhand right.
HiChi keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Stephens misses with a head kick.
HiChi was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Xon HiChi dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

HiChi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Stephens at a distance.
HiChi scores with a crisp jab that stopped Stephens in his tracks.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Stephens might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, HiChi has got the better of the exchanges.
Stephens tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but HiChi swivels and escapes.

HiChi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Stephens stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. HiChi swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Stephens is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Stephens trying to control but HiChi is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Stephens forces his way into half guard.

Stephens is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so HiChi is just riding it out for now. Stephens eventually gives up the hold.

Stephens is trying for a kimura here. HiChi looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Stephens wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ryder Stephens!