PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gene Paolo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Stevens
vs
Paolo

175 cm
21
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bryan Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gene Paolo!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, John Roberts and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens throws a head kick that misses.
Stevens uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Paolo.
Paolo fails to land with a series of punches.
Paolo throws a leg kick but Stevens sees it coming and moves out of range.

Stevens clinches.
Paolo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Stevens has Paolo pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Stevens pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Paolo tumbling to the mat - Stevens dives into Paolo's guard.
Stevens stops Paolo from standing up.
Paolo keeping moving, preventing Stevens from controlling successfully.
Paolo wants to get back to his feet but Stevens is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stevens thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Paolo wants to stand but Stevens is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Paolo throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Stevens moves into range and clinches up with Paolo.
Stevens holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Stevens jumps guard but Paolo stands there with Stevens around his waist. Stevens gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Paolo is trying to break the clinch but Stevens has him pressed against the cage.
Stevens lands with a light punch inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Paolo wants to break free but Stevens has control.
Paolo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Stevens has him pressed against the cage.
Paolo is trying to break the clinch but Stevens has him pressed against the cage.
Paolo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

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

Stevens moves into the clinch.

Stevens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stevens blocks a head kick by Paolo.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Paolo.
Paolo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Paolo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Paolo throws a head kick that misses.

Stevens has managed to clinch.

Stevens lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Paolo wants to get back to his feet.
Paolo looks gassed!
Stevens tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Paolo.

Paolo has one foot on Stevens's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Gene Paolo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paolo loads up on a big right hand but Stevens slips the punch.
Paolo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Stevens looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Paolo!
Paolo is trying to stand up.

Paolo defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Stevens.
You get the feeling that Paolo really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Paolo is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stevens get's back to his feet.

Stevens looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Paolo!
Stevens throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Paolo is trying to stand up.
Stevens trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Paolo trying desperately to get to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Stevens dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Paolo is trying to break the clinch but Stevens has him pressed against the cage.
Stevens prevents Paolo from breaking the clinch.
Stevens tries to pull guard but Paolo won't allow it.
Paolo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Stevens drops down looking for an ankle pick but Paolo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Paolo throws a head kick but Stevens moves out of range.
Paolo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Stevens looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Paolo!
Paolo is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paolo is squirming around, avoiding Stevens's attempts to control the action.
Paolo's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Stevens lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
You get the feeling that Paolo really doesn't like being in this position too much.

Stevens working for a submission but Paolo is keeping him at bay.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Paolo really wants to buck Stevens off and get back to his feet.
Stevens looking to finish with strikes here!
Paolo is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Stevens wants to take Paolo's back here but Paolo is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
You get the feeling that Paolo really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens looking to finish Paolo with some ground and pound. This is bad for Paolo!

Paolo somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Paolo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bryan Stevens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Paolo wants to land a leg kick but Stevens is out of range.
Paolo looks for the body kick but Stevens saw that one coming.
Stevens checks a leg kick.
Paolo thows a left - swing and a miss!

Stevens closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stevens lands in his opponent's guard.
Paolo wants to get back to his feet but Stevens is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Paolo keeps moving.

Paolo uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Paolo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Paolo wants to stand but Stevens is controlling the position.
Stevens trying to control but Paolo is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Stevens dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Stevens instigates a clinch.

Stevens tightens his grip and picks Paolo up, before dumping him to the ground. Paolo manages to land in guard.
Paolo wants to stand but Stevens is controlling the position.
Paolo keeping moving, preventing Stevens from controlling successfully.
Paolo is looking to stand up but Stevens isn't so interested in that idea.
Bryan Stevens overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Paolo pushes Stevens off and scrambles back to his feet.
Paolo throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Paolo!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stevens.
Sloppy strikes there by Stevens.
Paolo is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Stevens is controlling him well.
Stevens trying to control the position but Paolo is working away.
Paolo is trying to get back to his feet.
Paolo is not content to let Stevens control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Stevens gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevens tries to advance position but instead Paolo slips a leg back in to half guard.
Stevens thows a huge punch but Paolo dodges it nicely.
Paolo is trying to stand back up but Stevens is controlling him
Paolo is not content to let Stevens control the position.

Paolo pushes Stevens off and gets back to his feet.
Paolo swinging wilding here.
Stevens blocks a head kick by Paolo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Paolo. Stevens shrugs it off though.
Paolo misses with a hook.
Stevens checks the leg kick.
A slow jab from Stevens misses its intended target.
Paolo misses the shot to the body.
Stevens moves out of range as Paolo throws a body kick.
Paolo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Stevens drives through and clinches with Paolo against the cage.
Paolo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Stevens will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Paolo up against the cage.

Stevens breaks the clinch.
Stevens takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A combination from Paolo does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Paolo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stevens.
Paolo thows a body kick. Stevens tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Stevens darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Stevens stops Paolo from getting back to his feet.

Stevens is trying to work for a kimura but Paolo is defending well.
Paolo is trying to stand up here but Stevens is controlling him well.
Gene Paolo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bryan Stevens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stevens trying to control from half guard but Paolo is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan Stevens showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stevens, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryan Stevens!