PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Adesanya (ranked 3541 p4p, 3646 weight class) and Lee Stephens (ranked 444 p4p, 452 weight class). Anderson Adesanya had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Adesanya
vs
Stephens

192 cm
24
200
5 - 7 - 0

188 cm
26
195
5 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Un-Kaged Nutrition

HELLBENT

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 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Anderson Adesanya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lee Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Ackerman and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stephens throws out a loose jab but Adesanya uses good head movement to avoid it.

Adesanya takes the fight into the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Stephens wants to break the clinch but can't.
Adesanya throws a knee to the head but misses.
Stephens lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Anderson Adesanya has been cut.
Stephens is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Adesanya pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Stephens takes a knee to the side of the body.
I was talking to Adesanya's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Adesanya tries to land knees in the clinch but Stephens avoids the damage to the body.
Adesanya trying to land knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Adesanya landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Stephens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Adesanya throws a nice looking combination but Stephens bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Stephens bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Stephens looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Adesanya looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stephens looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adesanya misses with a two punch combination.

Stephens gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Adesanya gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Adesanya fails to land.

Stephens has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Adesanya is trying to keep an underhook but Stephens manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Adesanya kicks off Stephens and gets to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Adesanya gets tackled into the cage by Stephens. Stephens maintains the clinch.
Stephens lands a shoulder strike.
Adesanya misses with a knee to the head.
Adesanya trying to land knees to the body.
Stephens lands a body punch.
Adesanya tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Adesanya takes a shot to the head.
Stephens misses with an elbow strike.
Adesanya tries to land knees in the clinch but Stephens avoids the damage to the body.
Adesanya scores with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adesanya connects with a nasty looking knee right to Stephens's face.

Stephens pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Stephens closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Stephens breaks from the clinch.
Adesanya tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stephens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Adesanya tries to clinch up but Stephens circles away and keeps his distance.
Adesanya tries to clinch up.
Stephens throws a leg kick but Adesanya moved away.

Adesanya fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stephens, pushing him back against the cage.
A short right from Stephens on the inside.
Adesanya using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stephens has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Adesanya throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Stephens throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Adesanyas head.

Stephens escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Adesanya misses with a head kick.
Adesanya throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adesanya misses with a head kick.
Adesanya is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Adesanya throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Stephens flicks out a counter leg kick but Adesanya steps away.
Adesanya darts in trying to clinch
and Stephens counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Adesanya tries to clinch but Stephens moves out of range.
Stephens is looking for the big counter here.
Stephens throws a right hand that Adesanya ducks under and follows up with a left that Adesanya also avoids with ease.
Adesanya avoids the head kick by Stephens.

Stephens gets tackled into the cage by Adesanya. Adesanya maintains the clinch.

Stephens breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Adesanya gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Adesanya lands a knee to the head.
Adesanya tries to land knees in the clinch but Stephens avoids the damage to the body.
Adesanya with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Adesanya.
Adesanya tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stephens avoids it.
Stephens has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Adesanya after a bit of a struggle.
Adesanya takes a shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Adesanya lands an elbow inside.
Adesanya using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stephens has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Adesanya tries to land a knee to the head but Stephens blocks with his arms.
Adesanya with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Stephens looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Adesanya just misses with a elbow thrown towards Stephens's brow.
Stephens has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Adesanya is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Anderson Adesanya has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Stephens.

Stephens escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Adesanya tries a low kick but Stephens avoids it.
Adesanya is looking to clinch but Stephens is avoiding it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stephens's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Stephens duly obliges.

Adesanya instigates a clinch.
Stephens on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stephens takes a knee right on the jaw!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Anderson Adesanya will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Anderson Adesanya'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.

Stephens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Stephens moves into the clinch.
Adesanya tries to land knees in the clinch but Stephens avoids the damage to the body.
Adesanya throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Adesanya just misses with a elbow thrown towards Stephens's brow.
Stephens lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Stephens lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Adesanya backwards.
Adesanya blocks the elbow strike.
Stephens misses with some punches.
Stephens misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Adesanya.

Stephens breaks the clinch.
Adesanya fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Adesanya misses with a series of wild punches.

Stephens instigates a clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Adesanya lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adesanya throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Adesanya tries a knee to the head but Stephens blocks it.
Adesanya lands a knee to the body.

Stephens's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Stephens closes the distance and clinches.
Stephens tries to land a knee to the head but Adesanya blocks with his arms.
Stephens looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Adesanya prevents Stephens from breaking the clinch.
Stephens takes a knee right on the jaw!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stephens.
Anderson Adesanya has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Stephens lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Stephens pulls guard.

Adesanya decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Adesanya ducks under a wild hook from Stephens.
Adesanya is looking to clinch but Stephens is avoiding it.
Stephens throws a counter combo.
Adesanya is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens avoids a kick to the body.
Adesanya misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Adesanya tries to clinch but Stephens is having none of it.
Lee Stephens seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stephens takes a swing at Adesanya's ribcage but misses.
Stephens wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Stephens looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stephens goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Adesanya tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stephens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Adesanya takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Anderson Adesanya is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Stephens gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stephens lands a nice uppercut.

Stephens pulls Adesanya into guard.
Adesanya has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Adesanya won't allow Stephens to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Adesanya tries to free his leg and advance position but Stephens is retaining full guard.

Adesanya stands and steps away. Stephens gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Adesanya missing with knees to the body.
Adesanya gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Stephens is struggling to control the position.
Stephens misses with the head strike.
Adesanya looking to throw knees to the head but Stephens is blocking nicely.
Stephens avoiding damage as Adesanya throws knees to the body.
Adesanya lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Adesanya looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Stephens breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Adesanya takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Adesanya wants to clinch up but Stephens keeps it at a distance.
Adesanya misses with a looping left.
Adesanya tries to clinch up but Stephens circles away and keeps his distance.
Adesanya scores with a head kick. Stephens tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Adesanya is looking to clinch but Stephens is avoiding it.
Despite the aggression on Stephens's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
No joy there for Stephens, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stephens avoids the head kick by Adesanya.
Adesanya misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Adesanya tries to clinch but Stephens moves out of range.
Stephens throws a series of punches but Adesanya moves out of range.
Adesanya moves out of range of the strikes.
Adesanya tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Stephens manages to circle out of the way.
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.
The cut man is working on Anderson Adesanya's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Adesanya scores with a head kick. Stephens tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
A head kick by Adesanya misses
enabling Stephens to counter with a crisp jab.
Adesanya tries to clinch up but Stephens circles away and keeps his distance.
Stephens throws a series of punches but Adesanya avoids them all with ease.
Adesanya's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Stephens connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Adesanya scrambles back to his feet.
Anderson Adesanya is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Stephens closes the distance and clinches.
Stephens lands a knee to the body.
Adesanya misses with an elbow strike.
Stephens is looking to take this one to the mat.
Adesanya with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Adesanya lands an elbow inside that Stephens shrugs off.
Adesanya using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stephens has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stephens avoids the elbow strike from Adesanya, against the cage.

Stephens breaks from the clinch.
Stephens takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Adesanya fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Adesanya as Stephens shoots in.
Adesanya tries to clinch there but Stephens circles away.
Adesanya tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stephens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Adesanya scores with a kick to the body.
Anderson Adesanya seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Stephens, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Stephens forces Adesanya back against the cage and clinches.
Stephens swings wildly with an uppercut but Adesanya uses good head movement to avoid it.
Adesanya trying to land knees to the body.
Adesanya pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Stephens working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Adesanya tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Stephens escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Adesanya tries to clinch up.
Stephens is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Stephens rushes Adesanya and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Adesanya landing knees to the head.
Stephens crunches a lovely knee into Adesanya's ribcage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Adesanya lands an elbow just above Stephens 's eye.
Stephens working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Adesanya landing knees to the head.
Stephens lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Stephens throws a punch but it's blocked by Adesanya.

Stephens breaks from the clinch.
Adesanya wants to clinch up but Stephens keeps it at a distance.
A combination from Stephens does no damage.
Adesanya tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stephens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stephens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Adesanya wants to clinch up but Stephens keeps it at a distance.
Nice defenses there by Stephens.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adesanya moves out of range of the body kick.
Stephens scores with a jab.
Adesanya is looking to clinch.
Stephens unleashes a big counter combination but Adesanya bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Adesanya throws a head kick that misses.
As Adesanya backs off Stephens throws a huge counter combo but Adesanya manages to avoid it all.
Adesanya showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stephens.
Stephens connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Adesanya lands a big head kick that sends Stephens tumbling to the mat! Adesanya takes a step backwards and waves Stephens back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Stephens is rocked!

Stephens darts in and clinches Adesanya up against the cage.
Stephens is still on wobbly legs! Can Adesanya finish him?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Knees in the clinch landing for Adesanya.
Adesanya with a knee to the head.
Adesanya using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Clinched against the cage, Adesanya lands a big elbow that drops Stephens! The ref dives in to save him from more shots - Stephens is complaining that he's OK but he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Anderson Adesanya!
Anderson Adesanya gave a mention to Un-Kaged Nutrition in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).