PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jhogo Ko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donnie Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Ko might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to DJ Khaled - All I do is win. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Donnie Stevens was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Ko
vs
Stevens

173 cm
28
157 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

183 cm
27
146 lbs
17 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jhogo Ko!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Donnie Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Jonathan Paton and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ko connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Some wild striking there from Ko.
Stevens slaps away a takedown attempt from Ko, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ko shoots in looking for a takedown but Stevens manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ko's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Stevens avoids the head kick by Ko.
Stevens is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ko looks to land a right hand but Stevens moved out of range.
Stevens connects with a nice looking jab.
Ko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stevens.
Stevens thows a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ko throws the left hand but Stevens avoids the punch easily.
Ko shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stevens as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jhogo Ko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stevens.
Ko misses with a wild body shot.
Stevens avoids the head kick by Ko.
Ko throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Stevens scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ko doesn't seem bothered though.
Stevens throws the left hand but Ko avoids the punch easily.
Stevens tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ko was well out of range. Poor timing from Stevens.
Stevens ducks under a wild hook from Ko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens moves out of range as Ko strikes.
Ko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ko uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stevens.

Stevens moves into the clinch.
Ko is trying to drag Stevens to the mat but Stevens just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Stevens lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ko backwards.
Stevens working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Stevens lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ko has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stevens is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Stevens prevents the takedown attempt.
Stevens scores with a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stevens lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ko goes for a takedown in the clinch but Stevens prevents it.
Ko is breathing heavily.
Stevens digs a right hand underneath Ko's ribcage. Ko let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens prevents the takedown attempt.
Stevens scores with a shot to the side of Ko's head.
Stevens softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Stevens lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ko is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Stevens's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Ko is trying to push Stevens away but Stevens has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Stevens scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Stevens lands with a light punch inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Stevens.
Stevens is working Ko over against the cage.
Stevens lands with a right to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Stevens.
Ko tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stevens just stands there and leans against the cage.
Stevens gets through Ko's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Stevens scores with a shoulder strike.
Stevens softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Stevens.

Ko is rocked!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Stevens.
Oh Ko is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Stevens lands with a short head shot on the inside.
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!
Stevens tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Stevens lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Ko prevents a body shot from Stevens.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens scores with a shot to the side of Ko's head.
A hook to the body from Stevens.
Stevens gets through Ko's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Ko successfully pulls guard.
Stevens must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Ko has an active guard here but Stevens has managed to pass into half guard.
Ko tries to roll over but Stevens keeps him under control.
Ko seems to have got his legs back now.
It looks like Stevens is going to stand back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stevens wants to pass to mount but Ko is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stevens misses with an uppercut.
Stevens ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ko moves away.
Ko connects with a crisp jab.
Stevens lands a nice looking body shot.
Stevens bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Ko misses with a few strikes there.
Stevens is looking to clinch but Ko is avoiding it.
Stevens slips under a jab from Ko.
Ko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ko takes one on the button.
Ko throws a jab when Stevens was well out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ko. Stevens does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stevens moves out of range as Ko throws a body kick.
Ko misses with a hook
and Stevens counters with a nice uppercut.
Stevens rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Stevens scores with a jab to the jaw.
Stevens lands a nice shot to the body.
Ko takes one on the button.
Donnie Stevens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd cheers as Stevens lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ko doesn't seem phased though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ko sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ko is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Stevens drives through and clinches with Ko against the cage.
Stevens presses Ko against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Good body shot from Stevens.
Ko jumps guard but Stevens stands there with Ko around his waist. Ko gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stevens lands with a light punch inside.
Ko tries to pull guard but Stevens holds him up against the cage and eventually Ko drops back down to his feet.
Ko tries to pull guard but Stevens won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jhogo Ko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ko jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stevens walks away with a smile on his face. Ko gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Stevens cracks Ko with an open hand slap.
Stevens comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The crowd cheers as Stevens lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ko doesn't seem phased though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens lands the left hand.
Stevens throws a shot to the body.
Stevens tests Ko's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Stevens has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Ko throws a lazy head kick
and Stevens counters with a crisp right that sends Ko to the canvas! Stevens follows up with punches from the mount and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Donnie Stevens! Donnie Stevens retains his featherweight title!