PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bazyl Iwanowicz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stevens has chosen Strange Music Box By : Tech N9ne as his entrance music. Xavier Stevens struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.3lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Iwanowicz
vs
Stevens

178 cm
22
153 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bazyl Iwanowicz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Xavier Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Gregory Folan and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stevens is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stevens.
Iwanowicz throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Stevens darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Stevens not doing much here.
Iwanowicz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens is looking to take a break and control but Iwanowicz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Stevens connects with a nice short shot to Iwanowicz's temple.
Iwanowicz is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Stevens's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Stevens's back!
Stevens can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Stevens holding both Iwanowicz 's hands and preventing any damage.
I really don't envy Stevens right now.
Stevens looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Iwanowicz is looking to control Stevens but Stevens is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Iwanowicz biding his time, controlling Stevens.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Stevens's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

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.
Stevens is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Iwanowicz.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Stevens dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Iwanowicz scores with a kick to the midsection.
Stevens moves out of range of the body kick from Iwanowicz.
Stevens slips a jab and a cross from Iwanowicz.
Xavier Stevens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Iwanowicz takes the fight into the clinch.
Stevens has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Iwanowicz is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Stevens lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Iwanowicz throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Iwanowicz comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Stevens blocks the elbow strike.

Stevens manages to pull guard.
Stevens is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Stevens is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Stevens is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens has a closed guard, preventing Iwanowicz from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Iwanowicz won't allow Stevens to sweep him here.
Iwanowicz is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iwanowicz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Iwanowicz trying to control but Stevens is working from the bottom.

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

Iwanowicz pushes Stevens up against the cage in a clinch.
Iwanowicz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stevens has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Stevens goes for a takedown attempt but Iwanowicz pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Iwanowicz lands a nice shot to the body.
Stevens is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Iwanowicz. That's going to slow Stevens down.
Crunch! Iwanowicz slams his shin into Stevens's torso.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Iwanowicz.
Bazyl Iwanowicz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Iwanowicz throws a combination. Stevens tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Iwanowicz bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Iwanowicz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Iwanowicz throws a combination. Stevens tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Iwanowicz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Iwanowicz tries to land a front kick but Stevens steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Bazyl Iwanowicz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Iwanowicz dodges the punch combination from Stevens.
Iwanowicz looks for the body kick but Stevens saw that one coming.
Stevens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stevens takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Iwanowicz misses with a double jab
and Stevens counters with a two punch combo.
Stevens throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Iwanowicz counters with an outside leg kick.
Stevens with a poor takedown
and Iwanowicz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bazyl Iwanowicz dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Stevens drives through with a takedown into guard.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Iwanowicz keeps moving.
Stevens looking to sit in guard and control but Iwanowicz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Stevens looking for a sweep. Not yet Stevens, not yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens keeping moving, preventing Iwanowicz from controlling successfully.
Stevens is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stevens has a closed guard, preventing Iwanowicz from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Iwanowicz throws a right hand that Stevens ducks under and follows up with a left that Stevens also avoids with ease.
Iwanowicz feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Stevens's calf.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Iwanowicz finds it's target.
Stevens takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

Iwanowicz moves into the clinch successfully.
Iwanowicz pushes off an throws an elbow but Stevens leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Stevens letting Iwanowicz take a breather here.
Iwanowicz missing with knees to the body.
Iwanowicz pushes off an throws an elbow but Stevens leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Stevens fails to pull guard.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Iwanowicz.
Iwanowicz tries to land a knee to the head but Stevens blocks with his arms.
Stevens tries for a takedown. No joy.
Iwanowicz tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Iwanowicz pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Iwanowicz looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Stevens is working for takedown but Iwanowicz is calmly controlling the position for now.
Bazyl Iwanowicz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xavier Stevens.
Iwanowicz tries to land a knee to the head but Stevens blocks with his arms.
With the fighters up against the cage, Iwanowicz throws an elbow but misses.
Iwanowicz tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stevens avoids it.
Iwanowicz misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stevens.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Iwanowicz misses with a knee to the head.
Iwanowicz pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Stevens is trying to drag Iwanowicz to the mat but Iwanowicz just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Stalling in the clinch from Iwanowicz.
Iwanowicz misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stevens.
Stevens lands a damaging elbow.
Iwanowicz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stevens fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Stevens is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Iwanowicz tries a knee to the head but Stevens blocks it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Iwanowicz throws an elbow but it misses.
Iwanowicz trying to control the position but instead, Stevens has worked for underhooks and has pushed Iwanowicz into the cage.

Stevens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Bazyl Iwanowicz.
I think Iwanowicz 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bazyl Iwanowicz!