PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lance Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malcolm Master (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Master has chosen Master of Puppets as his entrance music. Malcolm Master told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Stevens
vs
Master

170 cm
22
143 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

225 cm
31
119 lbs
10 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lance Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Malcolm Master!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Paul Gruel and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Master shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Master there.
Master missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Master has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Master wants to control but Stevens is keeping him busy.
Stevens is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Master is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Stevens wants to get back to his feet.
Master not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Master looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Stevens with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Master is looking to take a break and control but Stevens is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Master slips a nice elbow through Stevens's hands, connecting with Stevens's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens pushes Master off looking to stand but Master dives back in and keeps control.
Master is trying to control. Stevens wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stevens trying to hold on to Master's head to control him but Master postures up.
Master is looking to take a break and control but Stevens is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Malcolm Master hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Stevens throws a shot from downtown. Master moves away and avoids it.
Stevens defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Master.
Master fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Master fails with the takedown.
Lance Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Malcolm Master.
Master looks for a takedown but Stevens sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens throws a hook but Master blocks it.
Malcolm Master seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Master shoots in looking for a takedown but Stevens manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Master's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Stevens is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Master.
Master gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Stevens ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Master blocks a jab.
Stevens lands with a cross.
Master ducks under a wild hook from Stevens.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stevens throws a big shot that misses.
The crowd cheers as Stevens lands an impressive looking overhand right. Master doesn't seem phased though.
Some wild striking there from Stevens.
Sloppy strikes from Stevens. Those never looked like landing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevens looks to land a left hand but Master moved out of range nicely.
Stevens keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A slow jab from Stevens misses its intended target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Malcolm Master will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Master.
Stevens throws a hook to the side of Master's head but Master sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Stevens throws an overhand right that lands on Master's shoulder, as Master tries to avoid the shot.
Master with a poor takedown
and Stevens counters with a straight right hand.
Stevens is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Stevens swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Master has a takedown stuffed.
Lance Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Malcolm Master.
A shot to the liver by Stevens. Beautiful body shot.
Nice defenses there by Master.
Stevens swings for the body but Master moves out of range.
Master shoots in but no luck this time.
Master fails with a takedown attempt.
Stevens misses with a wild body shot.
Master fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stevens lands a jab to Master's midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Master fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Master changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stevens tries to avoid it but Master manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stevens to the ground. Stevens escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Master closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stevens circles away.
Master takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Stevens stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stevens wants it to stay on the feet.
Master is breathing heavily.
Master moves out of range as Stevens strikes.
Stevens misses with a body shot.
Stevens misses with a looping left.
Stevens slaps away a takedown attempt from Master, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Stevens stuffs the takedown.
Master dodges the punch combination from Stevens.
Stevens dips to his left and cracks Master with an uppercut!
Stevens swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Master.
Stevens leaves Master with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Master blocks a jab.
Lance Stevens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens looks to land a right hand but Master moved out of range.
Stevens cracks Master with an open hand slap.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Master shoots in for a double leg but Stevens sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stevens defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Master.
Master shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stevens as he avoids it easily.
Master gets cracked there but stands up to it.
No luck for Master with that takedown attempt.
Stevens stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stevens wants it to stay on the feet.
Stevens throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Stevens stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stevens wants it to stay on the feet.
Stevens keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Master is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Stevens fails to land with a series of punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stevens misses with a straight right.
Master takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Stevens lands with a cross.
Master uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stevens.
Master has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Stevens finds it's way round the side to connect with Master's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lance Stevens dominated that second 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.

Stevens throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Master ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Master moves forwards but Stevens connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Stevens looks to land a left hand but Master moved out of range nicely.
Master closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stevens circles away.
Master moves to clinch but Stevens breaks away
and Stevens counters with a right hand to the body.
Master fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Master doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Master shoots in for a takedown but Stevens shows good takedown defense.
Lance Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Malcolm Master.
Master keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stevens.
Malcolm Master is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Master misses with a takedown attempt - Stevens sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lance Stevens is winning the standup battle so far.
Master closes the distance and clinches up with Stevens, looking for a takedown. Master pushes Stevens against the ropes but Stevens circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Master takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A jab from Stevens does it's job there.
Stevens works the jab nicely.

Master is rocked!
Master walks into a left hand.
Master is still on wobbly legs! Can Stevens finish him?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stevens connects with a good right hand that stumbles Master. Master circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Master is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stevens sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Master sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Stevens keeps the fight on the outside.
Master slips a straight right by Stevens.
Stevens stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Master slips a jab from Stevens.
Stevens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stevens throws a lazy uppercut

and Master counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Stevens holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Stevens wants to get back to his feet.
Stevens wants to improve his position but Master is controlling well.
Master throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Master lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Master is working for a submission of some sort.
Master seems to have recovered his senses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Master is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Stevens sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Master is working away from the top position though.
Malcolm Master has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stevens wants to get back to his feet.
Master winds up and cracks Stevens with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Master keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Master drops an elbow to the side of Stevens's head.
Stevens is staying active underneath Master, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Master looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Stevens with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Master is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stevens defends it well.
Master prevents Stevens from standing back up.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
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.

That was a close round but Lance Stevens did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Master slips a straight right by Stevens.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Stevens misses the jab.
Master shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stevens sprawls well. Stevens wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Master gets slowly back to his feet.
Stevens lands a lovely overhand right.
Master tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stevens swivels and escapes.
Stevens connects with a right hand. Master shakes it off.
Master takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Master avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Master misses with a few strikes there.
Stevens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A shot to the liver by Stevens. Beautiful body shot.
Master defending well as Stevens loads up on a big left hand.
Stevens is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Master dives in and grabs Stevens's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stevens pushes down on Master's head and hops out.
Lance Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Malcolm Master.
Master looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Stevens bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Master's head backwards.
Stevens scores with a punch to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Stevens. No joy for Master on that attempt.
Master displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stevens throws out the jab.
Stevens takes a swing at Master's ribcage but misses.
Stevens misses with a few strikes there.
Master moves out of range of the strikes.
Stevens throws a right and a left that both miss.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Master is defended easily by Stevens.
Master fails with a takedown attempt.
Master misses with a takedown attempt - Stevens sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Master is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Master takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Master fails with the takedown.
Stevens looks to throw the jab but Master is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Master tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stevens sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Master somewhat.
Master tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stevens sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Master somewhat.
No luck for Master with that takedown attempt.
Master walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Stevens scores with a shot to the body.
Stevens cracks Master with a right hand to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stevens stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stevens wants it to stay on the feet.
The fighters circling - Stevens throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Master closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Stevens to the mat! Stevens manages to get full guard.
Stevens wants to stand up but Master is controlling him.
Stevens might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Master looking to sit in guard and control but Stevens gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lance Stevens had his way with Malcolm Master in that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Stevens lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Master.
Stevens fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Stevens throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Master on the side of the head.
Stevens scores with a jab to the body.
Stevens throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Master counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Stevens's guard now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stevens is on top in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Master has a closed guard, preventing Stevens from standing up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Stevens decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Master keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stevens.
Master shoots in for a takedown but Stevens shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens throws a hook but Master blocks it.
Master dives in and grabs Stevens's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stevens pushes down on Master's head and hops out.
Lance Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Malcolm Master.
Master is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Master slips under a jab.
Master misses with a takedown attempt - Stevens sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Master uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stevens.
Stevens ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Stevens scores with a nice strike.
Stevens lands with a good body shot.
Stevens throws a hook to the side of Master's head but Master sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Master fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Master takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Stevens throws a shot from downtown. Master moves away and avoids it.
Stevens throws a hook but Master avoids it easily.
Stevens throws out a loose jab but Master uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice shot lands for Stevens.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Master moves away.
Master misses with a takedown attempt - Stevens sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Master looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stevens is fending him off so far but Master persists. Nope, Stevens circles away and we're back to standing.
Stevens with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Master fails to land the takedown.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice takedown defense from Stevens. No joy for Master on that attempt.
Master ducks right into an uppercut from Stevens.
Master tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stevens sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Master somewhat.
Stevens lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stevens connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Master throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stevens's waist but Stevens gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Master off to one side.
Malcolm Master has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Master moves away from the strike by Stevens.
Nice body punch from Stevens.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lance Stevens showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stevens has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Josh West scores the fight for Lance Stevens!
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight for Lance Stevens!
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight for Lance Stevens!

Lance Stevens wins by unanimous decision!
Lance Stevens decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.