PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Victor Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frankie Sheldon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Stevens
vs
Sheldon

175 cm
23
135 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

170 cm
26
140 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
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 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Victor Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Frankie Sheldon!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sheldon closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stevens pressing his opponent against the cage.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Stevens unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sheldon lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Stevens tries to pull guard but Sheldon forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sheldon tries to pull guard but Stevens forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sheldon tries to throw a body punch but Stevens avoids it by throwing Sheldon back against the cage.
Stevens pushes Sheldon back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Stevens really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Stevens throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Knees in the clinch landing for Stevens.
Stevens trying to land knees to the body.

Sheldon has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Stevens uses from the top position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stevens trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sheldon's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Sheldon keeps moving.
Stevens wants to get up but he can't break Sheldon's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sheldon looking for a sweep. Not yet Sheldon, not yet.
Stevens would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sheldon keeping moving, preventing Stevens from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Victor Stevens just wasn't active enough.
Stevens takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sheldon.
Sheldon will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stevens tries to bum rush Sheldon with a series of wild strikes but Sheldon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stevens throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sheldon sizes up Stevens with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Stevens fails to land with a series of punches.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sheldon takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sheldon misses with a series of wild punches.

Sheldon moves into the clinch successfully.

Stevens breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stevens misses with a head kick.
Sheldon shoots in looking for a takedown but Stevens manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sheldon's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sheldon paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stevens displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stevens misses with a double jab.
Stevens tries a head kick but it misses.
Stevens throws a head kick but Sheldon moves out of range.
Sheldon attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Stevens cracks Sheldon with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Sheldon leaves Stevens with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Sheldon bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Stevens is breathing heavily.

Sheldon stands up and beckons Stevens to his feet.
Stevens throws a nice looking combination but Sheldon bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Stevens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Sheldon shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
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!

Sheldon gets to his feet - Stevens follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens misses with a jab, cross combination.
A decent looking cross lands there for Stevens.
Sheldon misses with an attempted mid kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stevens looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stevens throws a right and a left that Sheldon avoids nicely.
Stevens takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Stevens connects with a jab.
Stevens tries to grapple but his opponent circles
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Sheldon counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sheldon works the jab nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Stevens clinches with his opponent.
Stevens tries to circle away but Sheldon has him pinned against the cage.
Stevens working hard to break the clinch.

Stevens is fighting off a takedown attempt but Sheldon is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Stevens to the mat. Stevens regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Victor Stevens will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sheldon lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sheldon takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Stevens has managed to clinch.
Stevens lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Stevens misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sheldon.
Sheldon tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stevens smiles and moves away.
Stevens uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sheldon.
An inside leg kick from Sheldon misses.
Stevens tries to clinch up.
Stevens throws a head kick but Sheldon moves out of range.
Sheldon throws a combination. Stevens tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Stevens takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Stevens takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stevens misses with the combination.
A swing and a miss from Sheldon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sheldon paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stevens falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sheldon counters with a stiff right hand.
Sheldon stuffs the takedown attempt from Stevens. Stevens gets slowly back to his feet.
Stevens stuns Sheldon with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sheldon takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Stevens lands a head kick!
Sheldon shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stevens defends it nicely.
Sheldon throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sheldon takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Stevens slips a jab and a cross from Sheldon.
Sheldon takes one to the chin there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheldon gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Victor Stevens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sheldon displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Sheldon is breathing heavily.
Stevens misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Victor Stevens is winning the standup battle so far.
Stevens is looking to clinch.
Stevens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stevens pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stevens throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sheldon feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Stevenss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Sheldon keeps the fight on the outside.
Sheldon scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Stevens is looking to clinch but Sheldon is avoiding it.
Stevens connects with a crisp jab.

Sheldon shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Sheldon gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Sheldon counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Sheldon is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Stevens sees it coming and defends easily.
Stevens is trying to stand.

Sheldon gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Sheldon tries a head kick but it misses.
Sheldon cracks Stevens with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Stevens misses with a wild combination.
Sheldon avoids the head kick by Stevens.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sheldon throws a series of punches but Stevens moves out of range.
Sheldon scores with a shot to the body.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sheldon swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stevens throws a sloppy head kick and Sheldon moves out of range easily.
Victor Stevens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Stevens checks a leg kick.
Stevens is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sheldon tries to clinch up.
Stevens takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Stevens misses with a body kick.
Stevens scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Sheldon works over Stevens's head and body with a nice combination.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stevens throws a series of punches but Sheldon moves out of range.
Stevens misses with the combination.
Stevens punishes Sheldon's body with a nice straight punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Sheldon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Stevens's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A decent looking cross lands there for Stevens.
Stevens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stevens tries to land a front kick but Sheldon steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sheldon swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Sheldon closes the distance and clinches.
Stevens is looking to control Sheldon's arms but Sheldon gets an underhook and turns him. Now Stevens has his back to the cage.
Stevens tries to break the clinch but Sheldon is controlling the position.
Stevens jumps guard but Sheldon turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the head but Sheldon blocks with his arms.
Stevens is trying to pull guard but Sheldon has him pressed against the cage.
Nice body punch from Sheldon - that landed with a thud.
Sheldon managing to block the knees to the body from Stevens.

Sheldon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stevens misses with a head kick.
Stevens goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Sheldon misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheldon throws an overhand right that lands on Stevens's shoulder, as Stevens tries to avoid the shot.

Sheldon darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Stevens wants to get back to full guard.
Sheldon frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Sheldon is working for a guillotine from mount but Stevens frees his head quite easily.

Sheldon stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheldon scores with a body shot.
Sheldon ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stevens moves away.
Sheldon throws a lazy right hand but Stevens sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sheldon misses with a few strikes there.
Stevens throws a series of strikes that have Sheldon backpedaling.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sheldon takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Stevens bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sheldon's head backwards.
Sheldon misses with a series of wild punches.
Stevens pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Sheldon throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Stevens was covering up waiting for the punch and Sheldon finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sheldon trying to control but Stevens is working from the bottom.
Frankie Sheldon has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stevens is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Stevens blocks a body shot from Sheldon.
Stevens throws a head punch that misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Stevens tries to pull guard but Sheldon forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Victor Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sheldon pulls guard successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sheldon is trying to keep Stevens in close.

Sheldon is looking for a triangle but Stevens pushes his legs off easily.
Stevens controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sheldon looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Stevens puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Stevens decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Stevens slips under a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frankie Sheldon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sheldon has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frankie Sheldon!