PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Adam Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Stepp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Jones
vs
Stepp

194 cm
35
220 lbs
21 - 15 - 1

193 cm
28
218 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Meet the Future

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Adam Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steven Stepp!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Patrick Alders and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones circles away from the clinch attempt.
Steven Stepp seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Stepp does it's job there.
Stepp tries for a takedown but Jones circles away easily
and Jones counters with a leg kick.
Stepp gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Jones counters with a slapping leg kick.
Stepp shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Jones counters with a solid body kick.
Adam Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Stepp.
Stepp has his takedown stuffed
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Stepp gets a takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Stepp wants to take a breather but Jones is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stepp misses with a head shot. Jones uses the momentum to regain guard.
Stepp with a flurry of punches that miss.
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.
Stepp loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Stepp postures up in Jones's guard and throws a big left but Jones blocks it.
Stepp working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Stepp in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepp working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Stepp postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stepp throws a strike but Jones rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Jones won't allow Stepp to get back to his feet.
Stepp throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Stepp is looking to sweep but instead, Jones has passed into half guard.
Stepp wants to improve his position but Jones is controlling well.
Stepp is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Jones's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Jones's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stepp misses with a punch to the head.
Jones has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Stepp missing with strikes from the back.
Stepp lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Jones hold on?!
Stepp is working the ground and pound. Can Jones escape?
The referee is taking a good look at Jones as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Stepp!
Stepp throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Jones is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stepp punches the canvas rather than the man.
Stepp thows a strike but Jones uses the opportunity to reverse the position! Great move by Jones as he ends up in Stepp 's guard!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones won't allow Stepp to sweep him here.
Stepp looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Jones puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Stepp is looking to escape.
Stepp is looking to improve his position.
Stepp is trying to control but can't.
Stepp wants to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones controlling the action here.
Stepp has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Stepp regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Stepp dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Stepp fails with the takedown
and Jones counters with a low kick, right behind Stepp 's knee.
Stepp shoots in and drives through. Jones sprawls well.
Stepp looks to score with a jab to the body but Jones is just out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stepp is defended easily by Jones.
Adam Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Stepp.
Stepp shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've been told by Jones's head coaches at MuscleWorks Amsterdam™ that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Stepp lands a glancing blow to the side of Jones's head.
Stepp with a lazy takedown attempt
and Jones counters with a nice leg kick.
Stepp has his takedown stuffed
and Jones counters with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stepp.
Jones moves forwards but Stepp connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Stepp dives in and grabs Jones's left leg, looking for a takedown. Jones pushes down on Stepp's head and hops out.
Stepp throws an overhand right that lands on Jones's shoulder, as Jones tries to avoid the shot.
Stepp shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Jones pinned against the ropes. Jones gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Stepp gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Jones counters with a head kick. That will keep Stepp thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Stepp misses with a takedown
and Jones counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Stepp is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepp misses with a takedown
and Jones counters with a low kick, right behind Stepp 's knee.

Stepp gets a takedown into half guard.
Stepp throws a strike but Jones avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Stepp throws a big right hand that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stepp throws an elbow that misses. Jones uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Stepp's guard. Nice move by Jones!
Jones trying to control but Stepp is working from the bottom.
Jones won't allow Stepp to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stepp is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Jones looking to pass the guard.
Jones wants to control from the top but Stepp keeps moving.
Stepp is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Stepp throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Stepp working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Jones keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stepp working over Jones with some ground and pound. Jones looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Jones blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stepp.
Jones avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stepp.
Stepp sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Jones defending well though.
Stepp throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Jones blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stepp.
Stepp missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stepp sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Jones defending well though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stepp throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stepp sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Jones defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Stepp showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Jones leaves Stepp with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Stepp swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Jones counters with a nice low kick that buckles Stepp's knee momentarily.
Stepp tries for a takedown but Jones circles away easily
and Jones counters with a low kick, right behind Stepp 's knee.
Stepp is trying hard to land a takedown here. Jones sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Adam Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Stepp.
Stepp throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Stepp shoots and misses
and Jones counters with an inside leg kick.
Stepp missing with a left hand there. Jones was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stepp with a lazy takedown attempt
and Jones counters with an inside leg kick.
Stepp shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stepp with a poor takedown
and Jones makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Stepp takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stepp misses with a takedown attempt - Jones sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stepp with a poor takedown
and Jones counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Good standup being displayed there by Jones as he connects with a hook.
Stepp gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Jones counters with a leg kick.
Stepp with a lazy takedown attempt
and Jones counters with a head kick. That will keep Stepp thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Stepp tries for a takedown but Jones circles away easily
and Jones counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stepp tries for a takedown but Jones circles away easily
and Jones counters with a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepp with a lazy takedown attempt
and Jones counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Stepp tries for a takedown but Jones circles away easily
and Jones makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Stepp really felt that one!
Stepp with a poor takedown
and Jones counters with an inside leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stepp fails with the takedown
and Jones counters with a low kick, right behind Stepp 's knee.
Stepp shoots in but no luck this time.
Stepp's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Stepp shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Jones counters with a stiff right hand.
Stepp shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Jones counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stepp tries for a takedown but Jones circles away easily
and Jones cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Stepp closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Jones did well to prevent Stepp getting side control.
Stepp thows a huge punch but Jones dodges it nicely.
Stepp thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stepp throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Stepp sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Jones defending well though.
Steven Stepp has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stepp throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Stepp thows a huge punch but Jones dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stepp.
Stepp has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Stepp landing shots from mount.
Adam Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steven Stepp is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stepp raining down hammerfists from mount.
Stepp landing strikes, looking to finish!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Stepp landing punches.
Stepp landing strikes from the mount and Jones is in trouble!

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Stepp comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Stepp winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Stepp!
Steven Stepp bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.