PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jonny Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Erik Andersen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Jonny Stevens has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Jonny Stevens seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Stevens
vs
Erik Andersen

175 cm
23
138 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

159 cm
25
137 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Granite chin

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jonny Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jon Erik Andersen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Andersen. No joy for Stevens on that attempt.
Stevens takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Andersen looks to score with a jab to the body but Stevens is just out of range.
Stevens shoots in looking for a takedown. Andersen tries to sprawl out of it but Stevens keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Andersen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice takedown defense from Andersen. No joy for Stevens on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonny Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Andersen scores with a jab.
Andersen misses with a right hand

and Stevens counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Stevens won't allow Andersen to sweep him here.
Stevens is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Andersen trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Andersen wants to sweep but no luck.
Stevens controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Andersen wants to sweep but no luck.
Stevens controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Stevens will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Stevens won't allow Andersen to sweep him here.
Stevens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Andersen being controlled here, momentarily.
Andersen trying to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Stevens shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Stevens seems content to control.
Stevens has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andersen controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jonny Stevens.
Andersen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Andersen wants it to stay on the feet.
Andersen tries to clinch up.
Jon Erik Andersen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stevens circles away from the clinch attempt.
Andersen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Stevens's hands.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Andersen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stevens, pushing him back against the cage.
Stevens blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Andersen looking to stall.
Andersen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stevens is defending well for now.

Stevens has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Andersen is trying to keep an underhook but Stevens manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stevens is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Andersen defends it well.
Stevens prevents Andersen from improving his position.
Stevens thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Andersen's head.
Stevens perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Andersen flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Andersen is trying to control but Stevens passes into side control!
Andersen is trying to work for a sweep but Stevens has mounted him!
BOOM! Stevens connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Stevens lands a heavy elbow.
Andersen takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Stevens controlling from mount.
Andersen tries to reverse the position but Stevens maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stevens takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Andersen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Andersen takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Andersen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Stevens is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Stevens raining down shots from the mount!
Andersen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Stevens tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonny Stevens dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Stevens moves out of range of the strikes.

Stevens changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Andersen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Andersen struggling a bit here.
Andersen might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Stevens kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Stevens lands an elbow.
Andersen can't do much from the bottom here.
Andersen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stevens landing a few strikes.
Stevens working away.
Stevens 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.
Andersen tries to bench press Stevens off him but Stevens keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andersen is trying to work for a sweep but Stevens has mounted him!
Andersen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Stevens tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Stevens landing strikes, looking to finish!
Stevens scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Andersen?
Stevens controlling the pace for now.
Andersen tries to reverse the position but Stevens maintains control.
Stevens lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Andersen hang on?
Stevens controlling his opponent.
Andersen taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens controlling the pace for now.
Stevens cracks Andersen with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Andersen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Stevens takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Stevens prevents Andersen from getting the reversal.
Stevens looking to finish Andersen with some ground and pound. This is bad for Andersen!
Stevens with the ground and pound from mount.
Stevens controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens landing strikes from the mount.
Stevens scoring with strikes but Andersen is staying in there.
Stevens content just to control the position here.
Andersen is trying to escape the mount.
Stevens tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Jonny Stevens overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Andersen tries to lock up and control but Stevens gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Andersen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens lands a heavy elbow.
Stevens controlling the pace for now.
Stevens lands a nice shot to the head.
Andersen is in all sorts of trouble here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stevens with a couple of short strikes.
Andersen is trying to escape the mount.
Stevens has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Andersen's face.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevens lands with some strikes.
Stevens tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Andersen takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Andersen tries to clinch up
and Stevens counters with a series of strikes. Andersen will be more careful next time no doubt.
Andersen looks to land a combination but Stevens avoids it well.
Andersen slaps away a takedown attempt from Stevens, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Stevens drives through and clinches with Andersen against the cage.
Stevens blocks an uppercut.
Stevens is looking for a takedown.
Stevens has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Andersen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonny Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Andersen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Andersen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Andersen throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andersen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stevens blocks it with crossed arms.
Andersen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stevens blocks it with crossed arms.
Andersen is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Stevens tries to pull guard but Andersen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Stevens is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Andersen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Andersen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Andersen throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Stevens has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Andersen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stevens has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Andersen is trying to keep an underhook but Stevens manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Andersen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Stevens cracks Andersen with a solid left hand.
Andersen trying to control the position.
Stevens won't allow Andersen to sweep him here.
Stevens is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Andersen controls Stevens momentarily but Stevens frees himself.

Andersen throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Stevens escapes and throws Andersen's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Andersen is working to avoid the ground and pound but Stevens connects with a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andersen wants to control but Stevens postures up.
Stevens is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Andersen will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Stevens has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Andersen is pushing Stevens's head away, looking to escape. Stevens manages to hold on to the position though.
Stevens is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jonny Stevens wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Stevens manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Andersen on his heels. He'll look to pass Andersen's guard now, I'm sure.
Andersen being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Andersen has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Stevens is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Andersen.
Stevens taking a breather here.
Jonny Stevens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jonny 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonny Stevens!
After the fight, Jonny Stevens was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.