PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gee Gutsu (ranked 2613 p4p, 3214 weight class) and Lee Stephens (ranked 363 p4p, 449 weight class). Gee Gutsu has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gutsu
vs
Stephens

193 cm
23
195
7 - 5 - 0

188 cm
25
195
4 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gee Gutsu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lee Stephens!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Paul Tew and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stephens scores with a nice right hand.
Stephens misses with a takedown attempt - Gutsu sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gutsu feinted with a counter takedown.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stephens looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Stephens.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gutsu.
Stephens lands a left hand.
Gutsu wants to take the fight to the mat but Stephens manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gutsu.
Stephens is defending well against a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephens stops a takedown attempt from Gutsu.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gee Gutsu. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gutsu lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gutsu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Gutsu is working for a kimura but Stephens is defending it quite comfortably.
Stephens is not content to let Gutsu control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gutsu wants to work for an arm triangle but Stephens is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Stephens is refusing to be controlled, as Gutsu sits in half guard.
Gutsu stops Stephens from getting back to his feet.
Gutsu wants to free his trapped foot but Stephens is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Stephens tries to get to full guard but Gutsu has control of the leg.
Gutsu not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stephens looks like he's trying to stand up.

Gutsu is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Stephens is just riding it out for now. Gutsu eventually gives up the hold.
Stephens is trying to stand.
Gutsu tries to pass the half guard into mount. Stephens knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Stephens is looking for a sweep. Gutsu is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gutsu is thwarting Stephens's attempts to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Gutsu gets a clinch.

Stephens breaks the clinch.
Stephens looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Decent striking displayed by Stephens there.

Stephens shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gutsu wants to control but Stephens is keeping busy.
Gutsu is looking for a sweep. Stephens is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stephens scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gutsu is looking to improve his position.
Stephens trying to control from Gutsu's half guard. Gutsu has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stephens keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gutsu's head.
Stephens lands a couple of elbows.
Gutsu looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Stephens puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Gutsu wants to improve his position but Stephens is controlling well.
Gutsu is trying to control but can't.
Stephens working over Gutsu with some ground and pound. Gutsu looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stephens throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Stephens missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stephens is looking to advance position but Gutsu won't allow it.
Stephens working the head and body with strikes.
Stephens blocks the strikes from Gutsu.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gutsu shoots in and bounces Stephens off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Gutsu trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Stephens manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Gutsu is trying to control the position but Stephens postures up.
Gutsu controlling Stephens's posture.
Gutsu working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephens missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stephens trying to control the position from guard on top but Gutsu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stephens is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stephens passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Stephens tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Gutsu is looking for a sweep.
Gutsu is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Punch Out Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

Stephens decides to stand back up.
A punch combination from Stephens misses.

Stephens looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Stephens wants to pass the guard but Gutsu is defending well.
Gutsu is looking to control Stephens's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gutsu avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gutsu wants to improve his position but Stephens is controlling well.
Gutsu wants to control but Stephens is keeping busy.
Gutsu is trying to get back to full guard.
Gutsu flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gutsu moves into full guard.
Gutsu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Stephens throws a strike but Gutsu rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Stephens has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stephens is looking to stand up but Gutsu isn't so interested in that idea.
Lee Stephens has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gutsu works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gutsu is looking to advance position but Stephens won't allow it.

Gutsu is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stephens defends it well.
Gutsu is looking to pass Stephens's guard but actually Stephens recovers to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gutsu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stephens swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gutsu won't allow Stephens to get back to his feet.
Gutsu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stephens is keeping the position for now.
Stephens is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gutsu is controlling him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stephens keeping moving, preventing Gutsu from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Stephens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Gutsu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Stephens misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gutsu shoots in looking for a takedown. Stephens tries to sprawl out of it but Gutsu keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stephens manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gutsu swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Stephens counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Gee Gutsu has been cut.
Stephens doesn't manage to clinch there - Gutsu circles away.
Gutsu changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Gee Gutsu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stephens has a takedown stuffed.
Gutsu takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Gutsu misses the jab.
Gee Gutsu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gutsu tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gutsu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stephens shoots in looking for a takedown but Gutsu manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Stephens's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gutsu attempts a counter takedown but Stephens avoids it well and moves away.
Stephens shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gutsu but Gutsu pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gee Gutsu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Stephens.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens shoots in looking for a takedown. Gutsu tries to sprawl out of it but Stephens keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gutsu manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gutsu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Gutsu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stephens moves away.
Gutsu fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stephens fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stephens changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gutsu tries to avoid it but Stephens manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gutsu to the ground. Gutsu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gutsu moves in looking to clinch but Stephens pushes him off.
Stephens looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Gutsu is looking to clinch but Stephens is avoiding it.
Gutsu jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Stephens.

Gutsu darts in and clinches Stephens up against the cage.
Stephens lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gutsu backwards.

Stephens ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Stephens no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Gutsu trying to control the position from guard on top but Stephens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gutsu stops Stephens from standing up.
Gutsu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gutsu wants to control from the top but Stephens keeps moving.
Gutsu is pushing down on Stephens's leg trying to pass to half guard. Stephens is fighting to maintain full guard but Gutsu has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gutsu is trying to control. Stephens wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stephens is trying to stand back up but Gutsu is controlling him
Gutsu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stephens keeps working.
Gutsu passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Stephens!
Gee Gutsu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gutsu throwing strikes here but Stephens is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Gutsu is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Stephens has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Stephens!
Gutsu has his hands on Stephens's head, controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens looking to pass the guard.

Gutsu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gutsu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gutsu 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.
Gutsu throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gutsu looking to control but Stephens passes into half guard.
Lee Stephens is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Stephens landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lee Stephens.
Well Stephens 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lee Stephens!