PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Donnie Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samu Voutilainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Voutilainen has chosen Girls wanna have fun as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Stevens
vs
Voutilainen

183 cm
20
161 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
160 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Improved boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Blueprint Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Donnie Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Samu Voutilainen!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crunch! Voutilainen slams his shin into Stevens's torso.
Voutilainen is looking to score with low kicks.
Stevens tries to clinch but Voutilainen is having none of it.
A low kick from Stevens is predictable there
and Voutilainen finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stevens lands a body shot in the clinch.
Stevens throws a head punch that misses.
The referee calls for Voutilainen to work.
Stevens lands with a light punch inside.
Voutilainen looking for a takedown.
Stevens's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Stevens lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Stevens lands a shot to the body.
A hook to the body from Stevens.
Voutilainen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stevens pulls his leg out and moves away.

Voutilainen instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens is working Voutilainen over against the cage.
Stevens is working Voutilainen over against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Stevens scores with a nice short uppercut.
Voutilainen tries to pull guard but Stevens holds him up against the cage and eventually Voutilainen drops back down to his feet.
Donnie Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samu Voutilainen.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Voutilainen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stevens gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Stevens stalls.
Stevens creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Stevens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Voutilainen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Voutilainen shoots in but Stevens avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Stevens takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stevens moves into the clinch.
A body shot lands from Stevens.

Stevens breaks from the clinch.

Stevens shoots in and bounces Voutilainen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Stevens working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Voutilainen's head.
Stevens content to stall in guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevens stopping the sweep attempt from Voutilainen.
Voutilainen has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Stevens has passed into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voutilainen is trying to get back to half guard.
Stevens working away.
Stevens controls the position.
Voutilainen is looking to regain half guard here but Stevens keeps moving and retains side control.
Stevens happy to just control the position for now.
Voutilainen is trying to improve his position.
Voutilainen is trying to work for a sweep but Stevens has mounted him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Stevens dominating with strikes here.
Voutilainen tries to reverse the position but Stevens maintains control.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Stevens cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Voutilainen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Stevens landing strikes from the mount.
Stevens punishing his opponent with strikes.
Stevens controlling his opponent.
Stevens lands a heavy elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Voutilainen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Stevens sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Stevens lands with some strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnie Stevens dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Voutilainen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A bone on bone clash there as Voutilainen blocks the leg kick.
Voutilainen tries to clinch up.

Stevens takes the fight into the clinch.
Stevens misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Voutilainen.
Stevens leaning against his opponent.
Stevens lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Stevens escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Donnie Stevens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A left and a right from Stevens both land. Nice combination.
Stevens thows a body shot but no joy.
Voutilainen misses with a takedown attempt

and Stevens counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Stevens.
Voutilainen is trying to break the clinch but Stevens has him pressed against the cage.
Good body shot from Stevens.
Voutilainen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Voutilainen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stevens gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Donnie Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samu Voutilainen.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stevens breaks the clinch.
Stevens misses with the combination.
Voutilainen swats away the attempt to clinch by Stevens.
Donnie Stevens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Voutilainen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Voutilainen there as he acknowledges the shot.
Voutilainen closes the distance looking to clinch

and Stevens counters with a nice double leg into side control. Voutilainen won't be happy with that.
Stevens scoring with punches and elbows.
Voutilainen is working to avoid the ground and pound but Stevens connects with a decent elbow.
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.
Voutilainen takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Stevens stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Voutilainen tries to clinch but Stevens is having none of it.
Voutilainen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stevens as he jumps to the side.

Stevens takes the fight into the clinch.
Stevens pressing his opponent against the cage.
Stevens pushes Voutilainen back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stevens prevents the takedown attempt.
Stevens lands a nice shot to the body.
Voutilainen is breathing heavily.
Stevens stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Voutilainen tries for a takedown but Stevens manages to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens prevents the takedown attempt.
Voutilainen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Stevens gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Stevens lands an elbow inside.
Stevens manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Stevens scores with a shot to the side of Voutilainen's head.
Voutilainen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stevens smiles and moves away.
Stevens swinging wilding here.
Stevens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Voutilainen tries to clinch up.
Voutilainen throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Stevens lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Voutilainen avoids the body shot from Stevens.
Stevens connects with a jab.
Stevens misses with an attempted mid kick.

Voutilainen tries to keep at a distance but Stevens has taken the fight into the clinch.
Stevens scores with a hook to the body.
Stevens's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Stevens breaks the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Voutilainen tries a head kick but it misses.
Stevens tries to clinch up but Voutilainen circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnie Stevens dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Stevens throws a leg kick that is checked
and Voutilainen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stevens avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stevens wants to clinch but Voutilainen slips to the side
and Voutilainen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Stevens thinking.
Stevens throws a quick inside leg kick.
Stevens scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Voutilainen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Voutilainen shoots in for a takedown but Stevens shows good takedown defense.
Stevens throws a leg kick

and Voutilainen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Stevens manages to get to full guard.
Voutilainen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Voutilainen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Voutilainen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stevens looking for a guillotine here but Voutilainen defends easily.
Stevens can't keep his opponent in guard - Voutilainen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Voutilainen trying to mount his opponent but Stevens defends it.
Voutilainen wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Stevens uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Voutilainen stopping the sweep attempt from Stevens.
Stevens is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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.
Voutilainen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Stevens avoids the attempt from Voutilainen to control.
Stevens lands a heavy elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Voutilainen can't escape the position.
Stevens wants to control the pace but Voutilainen is squirming around nicely.
Voutilainen is in all sorts of trouble here.
Stevens controlling from mount.
Donnie Stevens overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Voutilainen tries to reverse the position but Stevens maintains control.
Stevens wants to control the pace but Voutilainen is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Stevens content just to control the position here.
Voutilainen is looking to improve his position but Stevens isn't that keen on the idea.
Voutilainen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Samu Voutilainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Stevens is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Voutilainen can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Voutilainen is trying desperately to improve position.
Stevens controlling his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Donnie Stevens.
Well Stevens has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:26
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:26
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donnie Stevens!