PBP Commentary

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

Rokusho
vs
Stevenson

175 cm
21
153 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

170 cm
26
156 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

STEEL PENN'S 160 OF STEEL $50 Hilo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ikki Rokusho!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Steve Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Josh West and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Stevenson.

Stevenson scores a takedown into full mount!
Rokusho tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rokusho tries to hold on but Stevenson pushes him away.
Rokusho is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Stevenson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Stevenson is working for a guillotine from mount but Rokusho frees his head quite easily.
Stevenson prevents Rokusho from getting the reversal.
Stevenson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rokusho is looking to escape.
Rokusho is trying desperately to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stevenson working for a guillotine from mount but Rokusho is in no mood to give up.
Rokusho tries to hold on but Stevenson postures up.
Rokusho is working to get back to half guard.
Rokusho looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Rokusho just trying to survive but Stevenson is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Stevenson wants to control but Rokusho is keeping busy.

Stevenson is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Rokusho is trying to break free.
Rokusho trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rokusho rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevenson prevents Rokusho from improving his position.
Rokusho has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stevenson is working away from the top position though.
Rokusho wants to get back to full guard.
Rokusho trying to control but Stevenson postures up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stevenson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rokusho does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Stevenson is looking for a kimura but Rokusho is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Stevenson to get the leverage.

Stevenson is trying to work for a kimura but Rokusho is defending well.
Rokusho works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rokusho trying to keep a closed guard but Stevenson is proving a slippery customer.
Rokusho is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rokusho is adopting a defensive guard.
Stevenson looking to pass the guard.
Stevenson trying to control the position from guard on top but Rokusho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rokusho pulls Stevenson in close to prevent any damage.

Ikki Rokusho has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rokusho misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

It looks like Steve Stevenson has been cut.
Rokusho ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stevenson moves away.
Rokusho works over Stevenson's head and body with a nice combination.
Rokusho lands with a hook. Stevenson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rokusho lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Stevenson is rocked!
Ikki Rokusho is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stevenson throws a looping overhand right but Rokusho ducks down to avoid it.
Stevenson is still on wobbly legs! Can Rokusho finish him?
Rokusho walks forward and throws a big overhand right! Stevenson drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes! Rokusho swarms on him with more punches until the referee wrestles him away from Stevenson's unconscious body! Wow, that was brutal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ikki Rokusho!
Ikki Rokusho retains his featherweight title!
A very excited looking Ikki Rokusho made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.