PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joe Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Peter Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kelly
vs
Stevenson

165 cm
19
138 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

161 cm
20
146 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joe Kelly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Peter Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevenson avoids a punch combination nicely.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stevenson.
Stevenson remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Stevenson connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Kelly some visible discomfort.

Stevenson is trying to get an arm triangle but Kelly is defending well.
Kelly is looking to reverse the position.

Stevenson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Stevenson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Stevenson controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson trying to control the position but Kelly is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevenson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Kelly sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Kelly tries to bench press Stevenson off him but Stevenson keeps the position.
Stevenson content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Kelly is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Stevenson asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kelly misses with a strike from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Stevenson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Stevenson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Stevenson passes to side control.
Kelly throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.

Stevenson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kelly is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kelly stops Stevenson from passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelly can't do much from the bottom here.
Kelly is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Stevenson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Stevenson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kelly, who protects the arm well.
Stevenson has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Kelly!
Stevenson looking to control and managing it successfully.

Stevenson stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelly scores with a nice right hand.
Kelly shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Stevenson counters with a shoot takedown. Kelly fights it but they end up in guard.
Kelly trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Stevenson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kelly being controlled here, momentarily.
Stevenson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stevenson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Stevenson 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.

Some wild striking there from Kelly.
Stevenson moves out of range as Kelly throws a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stevenson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stevenson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Stevenson controlling the action here.
Stevenson stops Kelly from getting back to his feet.
Stevenson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Kelly has one foot on Stevenson's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Kelly misses with a takedown attempt

and Stevenson counters with a single leg into guard. Kelly didn't expect that.
Stevenson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kelly swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kelly wants to stand up but Stevenson is controlling him.
Stevenson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kelly wants to stand up but Stevenson is controlling him.

Stevenson gets to his feet. Kelly looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Kelly fails with the takedown

and Stevenson counters with a single leg into guard. Kelly didn't expect that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson trying to control but Kelly is working from the bottom.
Kelly can't keep his opponent in guard - Stevenson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Stevenson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevenson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Stevenson lands a nice short elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kelly works his way to full guard. Good work.
Stevenson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kelly controls Stevenson momentarily but Stevenson frees himself.
Stevenson trying to control but Kelly is working from the bottom.
Stevenson 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.
Kelly wants to sweep here but Stevenson controlling him for the moment.
Kelly wants to stand up but Stevenson is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Stevenson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kelly gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Stevenson counters with a takedown into side control.
Stevenson advances to full mount.
Kelly wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Stevenson controlling the pace for now.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Stevenson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Stevenson is looking to work his way around to Kelly's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson controlling the position easily from mount.
Kelly tries to lock up and control but Stevenson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kelly swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Stevenson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Stevenson jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Kelly is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Kelly and Stevenson has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Stevenson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Stevenson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kelly, who protects the arm well.
Stevenson controls the position from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is looking to take a break and control but Kelly is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Despite being in the dominant position, Peter Stevenson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kelly looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stevenson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kelly circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kelly closes the distance and clinches.
Stevenson can't break the clinch.
Kelly looking for a takedown.

Stevenson breaks from the clinch.
Stevenson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kelly tries to clinch

and Stevenson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kelly's guard now.
Kelly is looking to stand up but Stevenson isn't so interested in that idea.
Peter Stevenson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kelly being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson stops Kelly from standing up.

Kelly manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Stevenson walks into a left hand.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Stevenson shoots and misses
and Kelly counters with a three punch combo that has Stevenson backing up. Stevenson nods at Kelly to acknowledge the strikes.
Joe Kelly has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Peter Stevenson.
Stevenson fails with a takedown attempt.
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!
Stevenson fails with the takedown
and Kelly cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
Peter Stevenson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Stevenson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Peter Stevenson!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Peter Stevenson!
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight for Peter Stevenson!

Peter Stevenson wins by unanimous decision!