PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Noel Brown (ranked 1605 p4p, 2252 weight class) and Ryder Stephens (ranked 211 p4p, 279 weight class). Ryder Stephens has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Brown
vs
Stephens

170 cm
25
158
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
160
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Noel Brown!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ryder Stephens!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Winston Alpacca and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Brown ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Brown no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Stephens pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Brown is keeping the position for now.
Stephens with a flurry of punches that miss.
Brown keeping moving, preventing Stephens from controlling successfully.
Stephens slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Brown tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Stephens wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Brown can't do much from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brown is looking for a sweep.

Stephens thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brown wants to control but Stephens postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stephens tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Stephens has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Brown struggling a bit here.
Brown tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Brown's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Stephens misses with the ground and pound.

Stephens looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Stephens looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Brown manages to get back to half guard.
Brown keeping hold of Stephens's head, controlling as best he can.

Stephens is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens is pressing down on Brown's thigh, looking to free his foot. Brown is holding on for now.
Brown is in trouble now - Stephens has advanced to mount!
Brown wants to control but Stephens is having none of it.
Brown really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Stephens throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

Stephens looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Brown is in all sorts of trouble here.
Stephens trying to control but Brown is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens is trying to take his opponent's back.

Stephens has control of Brown's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Brown regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Stephens throws some wild stikes that Brown manages to avoid easily.
Stephens wants to control the pace but Brown is squirming around nicely.
Brown manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Brown is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Stephens pulls his head out easily.
Brown is looking to control Stephens's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Brown avoid being mounted?
Stephens thows a huge punch but Brown dodges it nicely.
Brown is refusing to be controlled, as Stephens sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens is looking to advance position but Brown won't allow it.
Brown is looking to control Stephens's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Brown avoid being mounted?
Stephens throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Brown trying to control but Stephens postures up.

Brown actively working from the bottom here.

Brown looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Stephens is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Brown looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stephens is looking to take a break and control but Brown is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ryder Stephens dominated that round.
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.

Stephens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Brown tries to clinch there but Stephens circles away.
Brown tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stephens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Noel Brown is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stephens throws a body kick that misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Brown jumps guard.
Stephens has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Brown looking for a guillotine here but Stephens defends easily.

Brown has an active guard here but Stephens has managed to pass into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Brown looking for submissions off his back.
Stephens tries to pass the half guard into mount. Brown knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brown blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stephens.

Brown is defending against the submission attempts here by Stephens.

Brown looking for submissions off his back.
Stephens passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Brown!

Stephens working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Brown is desperately trying to improve his position but Stephens has a good base and remains in mount.
My spies in Cozad The Island inform me that Stephens has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Stephens throws some wild stikes that Brown manages to avoid easily.
Brown looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Brown avoids a series of strikes thrown by Stephens.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brown sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Brown avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stephens.
Stephens moves into full mount! Brown won't be happy about that!
Poor strikes thrown by Stephens there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Brown is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Stephens looking to ground and pound but Brown is blocking nicely.
Stephens mounts Brown! Really nice guard pass there!
Stephens avoids the attempt from Brown to control.
Stephens wants to take his opponent's back but Brown doesn't allow it.
Brown is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Stephens is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Brown is in real trouble.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Stephens looking for the RNC.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brown tries to roll but Stephens sticks to his back.
Stephens struggling to keep hold of the position.
Stephens not allowing Brown to control his hands.
Brown prevents Stephens from getting a body triangle.
Brown turns into Stephens and is now in his guard.

Stephens looking for subs off his back but Brown has passed one foot through into half guard.

Brown is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stephens defends it well.
Brown is thwarting Stephens's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stephens looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Brown is trying to work for a kimura but Stephens is defending well.
Stephens works his way to full guard. Good work.
Brown pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stephens is keeping the position for now.
Ryder Stephens has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Stephens has his feet on Brown's thighs here. He's pushed Brown off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Brown screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ryder Stephens!