PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Steve Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dante Durant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dante Durant will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Stevenson
vs
Durant

170 cm
24
156 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

187 cm
23
153 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Steve Stevenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dante Durant!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Roger Salmon and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Durant misses with a wild combination.
Durant doesn't manage to clinch there - Stevenson circles away.
Durant throws a jab but it's blocked by Stevenson.
Durant looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stevenson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Durant keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stevenson.
Stevenson fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fighters circling - Durant throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Stevenson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Stevenson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Durant swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stevenson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Durant's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson is looking to advance position but Durant won't allow it.

Stevenson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Stevenson wants to work for an arm triangle but Durant is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Durant really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stevenson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Durant is trying to stand.

Stevenson is looking for submissions but instead, Durant has regained full guard.
Durant is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Stevenson throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson trying to control the position from guard on top but Durant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stevenson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Stevenson is pushing down on Durant's leg trying to pass to half guard. Durant is fighting to maintain full guard but Stevenson has managed to sneak the leg through.

Stevenson is looking for a kimura here.

Stevenson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Stevenson seems to be looking for submissions.

Stevenson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Stevenson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Durant has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durant avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stevenson.
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.

Stevenson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Durant has managed to free his arm - good work.
Durant tries to kick Stevenson off but Stevenson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Stevenson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Durant is looking to clinch but Stevenson is avoiding it.
Durant looks to land a combination. Stevenson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Durant lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stevenson circles away quickly and effectively.
Durant swinging wildly here.
Durant wants to clinch.
Stevenson misses with a wild combination.
Durant misses with a double jab.
Sloppy strikes from Durant. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durant scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Durant tries to bum rush Stevenson with a series of wild strikes but Stevenson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Stevenson has managed to clinch.

Durant manages to break the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Durant.
Some wild striking there from Durant.
Durant is breathing heavily.

Stevenson forces Durant back against the ropes and clinches.
Stevenson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Durant is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durant is trying to force a seperation but Stevenson has the dominant position.

Durant breaks from the clinch.
Stevenson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stevenson shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Durant eats them both and turns towards Stevenson to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
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!
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Durant swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stevenson takes one to the side of the head.

Stevenson clinches.
Durant looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Durant has him pressed against the ropes.
A nice right hand lands inside from Durant.
Durant wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Durant has a couple of punches blocked by Stevenson.

Durant escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice straight punches there by Durant. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Durant.
Durant connects with a crisp jab.
Durant is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durant wants to clinch but Stevenson slips to the side

and Stevenson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Durant won't be happy with that.

Stevenson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Stevenson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Durant wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Steve Stevenson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Durant throws a right and a left that Stevenson avoids nicely.
Stevenson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Durant throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Durant misses with a wild combination.
Stevenson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stevenson throws a sloppy head kick
and Durant counters with a series of strikes. Stevenson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Durant misses with a few strikes there.
Some wild striking there from Stevenson.
Durant lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stevenson circles away quickly and effectively.
Durant takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Durant manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Stevenson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Stevenson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Durant sees it coming and defends easily.

Stevenson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Durant defends it well.
Stevenson prevents Durant from standing back up.

Stevenson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is pressing down on Durant's thigh, looking to free his foot. Durant is holding on for now.

Stevenson is trying to work for a kimura but Durant is defending well.

Stevenson seems to be working for a kimura but Durant defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Durant does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Steve Stevenson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stevenson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Still in half guard, Stevenson seems content to control.
Stevenson has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Dante Durant has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Stevenson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stevenson, 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Stevenson!