PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Kermodian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cleve Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kermodian comes to the ring accompanied by Arctic Monkeys - Mardy Bum. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kermodian
vs
Stevens

185 cm
20
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

187 cm
20
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mark Kermodian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Cleve Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, William Peck and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kermodian is fending him off so far but Stevens persists. Nope, Kermodian circles away and we're back to standing.
Kermodian lands a slapping body shot.
Stevens throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kermodian's waist but Stevens gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stevens off to one side.
Stevens tries to bum rush Kermodian with a series of wild strikes but Kermodian uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cleve Stevens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Stevens decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Stevens is looking to stall here but Kermodian recovers full guard.
Stevens won't allow Kermodian to sweep him here.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Kermodian keeps moving.

Stevens drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kermodian looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kermodian looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kermodian!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens being controlled for a moment.
Stevens trying to control but Kermodian flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Kermodian biding his time, controlling Stevens.
Stevens trying to control but not successfully.

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.
Kermodian has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Stevens's body.
Stevens trying to control the hands but Kermodian breaks the grip.
Stevens tries to roll but Kermodian sticks to his back.
Kermodian is riding his opponent, not letting Stevens buck him off.
Kermodian has the hooks in. Stevens is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
What can Stevens do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mark Kermodian.
Kermodian keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mark Kermodian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cleve Stevens.
Stevens looks gassed!
Kermodian misses with a looping left.

Stevens gets a takedown into half guard.
Stevens wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kermodian keeps working.
Kermodian controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kermodian 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!
I would not like to be Stevens right now.
Stevens trying to control the hands but Kermodian breaks the grip.
Kermodian just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Kermodian dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Stevens fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kermodian scores with a punch to the head.
Stevens slips a straight right by Kermodian.
Kermodian scores with a push kick.
Stevens fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kermodian lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kermodian throws a head kick but Stevens moves out of range.
Kermodian moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Kermodian lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Stevens at a distance.
Kermodian works Stevens's body with a nice hook.
Kermodian misses with the combination.
Cleve Stevens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stevens uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kermodian.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kermodian as he jumps to the side.
Mark Kermodian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cleve Stevens.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kermodian stuffs the takedown.
Stevens blocks a head kick by Kermodian.
Kermodian thows a body shot but no joy.
Kermodian loads up on a big right hand but Stevens slips the punch.
Kermodian displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stevens throws out the jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Stevens.
Nice sprawl there from Kermodian as Stevens shoots in.
Stevens throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A low kick from Kermodian misses
and Stevens counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kermodian throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Stevens on the side of the head.
Stevens uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kermodian.
Kermodian lands a right hook to the body.
Stevens moves away from the strike by Kermodian.
Stevens ducks under a wild hook from Kermodian.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kermodian.
Kermodian misses with a looping left.
Kermodian throws a lazy uppercut

and Stevens counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Stevens tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Kermodian.
Kermodian trying to hold on to Stevens's head to control him but Stevens postures up.
Kermodian desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Stevens trying to control the action but Kermodian is working from the bottom.
Kermodian slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens thows a big elbow that misses.
Stevens trying to control but Kermodian is working from the bottom.
Kermodian pulls Stevens in close to prevent any damage.
Stevens pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kermodian is keeping the position for now.
Kermodian controls Stevens momentarily but Stevens frees himself.

That's four 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.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Kermodian keeps moving.
Stevens content to stall in guard here.
Stevens trying to control but Kermodian is working from the bottom.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Stevens looking to sit in guard and control but Kermodian gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Cleve Stevens.
Kermodian stuffs the takedown attempt from Stevens. Stevens gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Kermodian dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kermodian slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kermodian swings widly with a right hand

and Stevens counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kermodian controlling Stevens's posture.
Kermodian's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Kermodian bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stevens's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens being controlled here, momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mark Kermodian.
Kermodian misses with a body shot
and Stevens counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mark Kermodian is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kermodian throws the left hand but Stevens avoids the punch easily.
Stevens swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kermodian makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Stevens misses with an uppercut. Kermodian saw that one coming.
Kermodian connects with a good right hand that stumbles Stevens. Stevens circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kermodian throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kermodian misses with a kick to the body.
A jab from Kermodian finds it's way through Stevens's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kermodian cracks Stevens with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Stevens dodges the punch combination from Kermodian.
A head kick by Kermodian misses

and Stevens counters by moving into the clinch.
Stevens tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kermodian just stands there and leans against the ropes.

Stevens manages to break the clinch.
Kermodian fails to land with a series of punches.
Stevens misses with a takedown attempt - Kermodian sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stevens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kermodian pinned against the cage. Kermodian gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mark Kermodian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cleve Stevens.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kermodian.
Stevens closes the distance but Kermodian moves to the side
and Stevens takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stevens fails with a takedown attempt.
Kermodian stuffs the takedown attempt from Stevens. Stevens gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Stevens or perhaps it was just good defense by Kermodian which made him look bad.
Kermodian takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kermodian tries to land a leg kick but Stevens saw it coming and moves away.
Kermodian throws a lazy right hand but Stevens sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cleve Stevens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kermodian jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Stevens slips under a jab from Kermodian.
Stevens throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kermodian's waist but Stevens gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stevens off to one side.
Kermodian comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Mark Kermodian is winning the standup battle so far.
Kermodian ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stevens moves away.
A punch combination from Stevens misses.
Stevens tries to clinch but Kermodian is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kermodian swats away the attempt to clinch by Stevens.
Stevens takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Stevens fails with the takedown.
Stevens takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Kermodian punishes Stevens's body with a nice straight punch.
Kermodian is looking to chop away at Stevens's legs.
Nice sprawl there from Kermodian as Stevens shoots in.
Cleve Stevens has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kermodian with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Stevens connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Stevens will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stevens gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Stevens takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stevens connects with a solid leg kick.
Kermodian swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stevens throws a wild body kick that Kermodian sees coming a mile off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Kermodian showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kermodian, 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Kermodian!