PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lee Stephens (ranked 2683 p4p, 3089 weight class) and Ma Bong Sik (ranked 346 p4p, 391 weight class). Lee Stephens has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Stephens
vs
Bong Sik

188 cm
28
195
7 - 9 - 0

189 cm
23
190
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conviction
Conquer

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 - 9 - 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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ma Bong Sik!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stephens scores with a sloppy right hand. Bong Sik should have avoided that one.
Bong Sik jabs Stephens right on the nose. Stephens blinks but takes it well.
Bong Sik throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Stephens stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Stephens throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Bong Sik throws a right hand that misses
and Stephens cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bong Sik is looking to score with low kicks.
Stephens tries to counter by clinching up but Bong Sik breaks away and moves out of range.
Bong Sik misses with a leg kick
enabling Stephens to counter with a crisp jab.
Bong Sik avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stephens swinging wildly here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Bong Sik tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stephens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A jab from Bong Sik does it's job there.
Ma Bong Sik seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bong Sik swings for the body but Stephens moves out of range.
Stephens moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bong Sik throws a half hearted mid kick.
Stephens throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bong Sik.
Stephens checks the leg kick nicely there.
Bong Sik throws a chopping leg kick but Stephens manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Stephens takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Bong Sik throws out a loose jab but Stephens uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bong Sik misses with a low kick.
Bong Sik throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stephens takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Stephens slips a jab and a cross from Bong Sik.
Stephens definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Bong Sik will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Stephens keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stephens pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A left lands for Stephens.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bong Sik throws a hook but Stephens blocks it.
Stephens blocks a low kick nicely.
Stephens stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bong Sik.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bong Sik misses with a low kick.
A big right from Bong Sik misses.
Stephens misses with a low kick.
Bong Sik with a nice cross.
Stephens moves out of range as Bong Sik throws a body kick.
Bong Sik tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stephens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stephens throws a big shot that misses.
Bong Sik connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Bong Sik throws a lazy body kick
enabling Stephens to counter with a crisp jab.
Stephens fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bong Sik throws a leg kick that misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Stephens misses the target.
Stephens looks to land a left hand but Bong Sik moved out of range nicely.
Bong Sik checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Stephens uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Bong Sik throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bong Sik misses with a hook. Stephens ducked under it nicely.
Bong Sik fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bong Sik tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stephens was well out of range. Poor timing from Bong Sik.
Bong Sik throws a hook but Stephens avoids it easily.
Stephens lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Bong Sik throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stephens checks the leg kick.
Stephens went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Stephens lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bong Sik circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens lands a nice shot to the body.
Stephens is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Stephens misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bong Sik feints a counter leg kick.
A low kick from Bong Sik misses
and Stephens counters with a series of strikes. Bong Sik will be more careful next time no doubt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stephens throws a right hand that Bong Sik ducks under and follows up with a left that Bong Sik also avoids with ease.
A good leg kick by Bong Sik.
Bong Sik jabs Stephens to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Stephens loads up on a big right hand but Bong Sik slips the punch.
Stephens looks to land a right hand but Bong Sik moved out of range.
Stephens checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Stephens misses with the combination.
Nice cross by Bong Sik.
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 Lee Stephens will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Stephens misses with a wild body shot.
Stephens lands with a nice combination. Bong Sik backs away looking to recover.
Bong Sik throws a front kick that sends Stephens stumbling back into the cage.
Stephens throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Stephens cracks Bong Sik with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Lee Stephens is winning the standup battle so far.
Stephens slips a straight right by Bong Sik.
Stephens takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Stephens scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Stephens slips a straight right by Bong Sik.
Stephens missing with a left hand there. Bong Sik was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bong Sik connects with the punch.
Stephens walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bong Sik misses with a looping left.
Bong Sik throws a wild body kick that Stephens sees coming a mile off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bong Sik is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stephens.
Bong Sik throws a hook but Stephens blocks it.
Stephens takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Stephens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
It seemed like Bong Sik was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Bong Sik throws a hook but Stephens avoids it easily.
Stephens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bong Sik walks into a jab.
Bong Sik fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stephens manages to avoid it.
Bong Sik takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Bong Sik misses with a kick to the body.
Bong Sik misses with a body shot.
Bong Sik misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens moves out of range of the leg kick from Bong Sik.
Stephens scores with a sloppy right hand. Bong Sik should have avoided that one.
Bong Sik scores with a jab to the jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bong Sik lands a nice shot to the body.
Stephens missing with a left hand there. Bong Sik was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stephens misses with a wild body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bong Sik. Stephens does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stephens is looking to counter punch.
Stephens lands a head kick!
Bong Sik loads up on a big right hand but Stephens slips the punch.
Stephens drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bong Sik sprawls and moves away.
Bong Sik throws a leg kick
and Stephens makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Stephens scores with a jab to the body.
Stephens checks a low kick from Bong Sik.

Stephens takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bong Sik lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Bong Sik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice shot lands for Bong Sik.
Stephens lands a nice leg kick that just misses Bong Sik's sensitive parts.
Stephens lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Bong Sik throws a low kick but it's checked well by Stephens.
Stephens tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Stephens throws a right and a left that both miss.
Stephens with a hook.
Bong Sik throws a leg kick but Stephens sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Bong Sik scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Nice body kick from Bong Sik.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stephens scores with a sloppy right hand. Bong Sik should have avoided that one.
Ma Bong Sik is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Decent striking displayed by Stephens there.
Stephens misses with a body shot
and Bong Sik counters with a straight right hand.
Stephens chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Bong Sik can pounce on him.
Stephens tries to bum rush Bong Sik with a series of wild strikes but Bong Sik uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bong Sik only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Stephens.
That kick from Bong Sik tenderised Stephens's leg. Stephens is trying to keep his angry face on.

Stephens takes the fight into the clinch.
Stephens tries to pull guard but Bong Sik won't allow it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lee Stephens will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Bong Sik tries to clinch up.
Bong Sik misses with a shot to the body
and Stephens counters with a stiff right hand.
Bong Sik throws a poor cross that misses

and Stephens holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Bong Sik throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Stephenss head.
Bong Sik can't find room to land a body shot as Stephens controls the action.
Stephens blocks a body shot from Bong Sik.
A nice right hand lands inside from Bong Sik.
Bong Sik lands a shoulder strike.

Bong Sik breaks from the clinch.
Lee Stephens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bong Sik throws a low kick but it's checked well by Stephens.
Bong Sik is looking to score with low kicks.
A little feinted left hand from Stephens on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Stephens uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bong Sik.
Bong Sik throws a body kick that misses.
Stephens appears to be looking for a big counter.
A lazy left from Stephens finds it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens slips a straight right by Bong Sik.
Bong Sik swings widly with a right hand
and Bong Sik takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stephens has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Bong Sik.
Bong Sik looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Bong Sik tried to score with a low kick but Stephens checks it.
Bong Sik throws a nice inside leg kick.
Stephens lunges at Bong Sik with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Bong Sik's hand.
Bong Sik has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Stephens does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Bong Sik throws a looping overhand right but Stephens ducks down to avoid it.
Stephens is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Stephens looks to land a combination but Bong Sik avoids it well.
Stephens lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Bong Sik fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Stephens checks it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Bong Sik.
Stephens keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bong Sik with the inside leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Bong Sik throws a leg kick

and Stephens moves into the clinch.
A short uppercut from Bong Sik.
Bong Sik lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Stephens or not.
A left hand lands to the body for Bong Sik.
Bong Sik tries a body shot but Stephens blocks it.
Bong Sik tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Stephens tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stephens blocks an uppercut.
Stephens prevents a body shot from Bong Sik.
Bong Sik lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bong Sik digs a right hand into Stephens's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Stephens's gas tank.
Stephens throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bong Siks head.
Bong Sik swings wildly with an uppercut but Stephens uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bong Sik misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Bong Sik fails to land.
Stephens prevents a body shot from Bong Sik.
Bong Sik tries to throw a body punch but Stephens avoids it by throwing Bong Sik back against the cage.
Bong Sik fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bong Sik doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bong Sik stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Bong Sik misses with a hook from the clinch.
Stephens blocks a body shot from Bong Sik.
Ma Bong Sik has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bong Sik tries to work over Stephens's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bong Sik lands a body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bong Sik presses Stephens against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Bong Sik misses with the head strike.
Bong Sik throws a punch but it's blocked by Stephens.
Bong Sik lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Bong Sik swings wildly with an uppercut but Stephens uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short left from Bong Sik.
Bong Sik pushes Stephens back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Stephens's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right from Bong Sik.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bong Sik working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Lee Stephens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Stephens manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ma Bong Sik comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Stephens has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

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