PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igosh Tammih (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Stevenson
vs
Tammih

180 cm
25
170 lbs
4 - 5 - 1

185 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Thomas Stevenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Igosh Tammih!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Sandra Marshall and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tammih shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Stevenson keeping moving, preventing Tammih from controlling successfully.
Stevenson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Tammih connects with a couple of short punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevenson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Stevenson 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.
Tammih postures up in Stevenson's guard and throws a big left but Stevenson blocks it.

Stevenson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tammih gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Tammih postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Stevenson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Tammih, into his guard.
Stevenson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tammih is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson controlling from the top position.
Stevenson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tammih tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stevenson trying to control but Tammih is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tammih is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stevenson defends well.
Tammih being controlled here, momentarily.
Tammih thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Stevenson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

We're going to have a standup here because Thomas Stevenson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Stevenson throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson moves in looking to clinch but Tammih pushes him off.
Stevenson throws a head kick but Tammih moves out of range.
Tammih shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stevenson as he avoids it easily.
Stevenson tries to clinch there but Tammih circles away.

Tammih looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Stevenson!
Stevenson dodges the ground and pound from Tammih.
Stevenson struggling a bit here.

Tammih is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Stevenson has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson regains half guard there - taking advantage of Tammih's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Stevenson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tammih's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tammih's back!
Stevenson lands strikes to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tammih tries to roll but Stevenson sticks to his back.

Tammih showing good submission defense here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Stevenson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stevenson misses the shot to the body.
Stevenson misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Tammih counters with a three punch combo that has Stevenson backing up. Stevenson nods at Tammih to acknowledge the strikes.
A combination from Tammih does no damage.
Tammih lands a nice looking body shot.
Tammih lands a lovely overhand right.

Stevenson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Stevenson working some strikes from top position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tammih can do anything to dispel that myth.
Stevenson landing with the ground and pound.
Tammih thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson wants to control from the top but Tammih keeps moving.
Stevenson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Tammih is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Stevenson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Stevenson fails to land the takedown.
Stevenson throws a leg kick but Tammih sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tammih tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stevenson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tammih works over Stevenson's head and body with a nice combination.

Stevenson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Tammih's half guard.
Stevenson is thwarting Tammih's attempts to control the position.

Stevenson decides to stand up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stevenson darts in trying to clinch
letting Tammih counter with a right hand.
Thomas Stevenson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Tammih misses the target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stevenson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tammih misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Stevenson.
Thomas Stevenson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tammih keeps the fight on the outside.
Stevenson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stevenson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Tammih counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Stevenson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tammih takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Stevenson shoots in looking for a takedown but Tammih manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Stevenson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Tammih scores with a jab.
Tammih uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Tammih connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Stevenson's hands.
Stevenson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevenson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Stevenson has his takedown stuffed

so Tammih counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Thomas Stevenson will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Tammih lands a nice hook to Stevenson's body. Stevenson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Tammih keeps the fight on the outside.
Tammih thows a body shot but no joy.
Stevenson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tammih sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stevenson somewhat.

Stevenson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Stevenson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Tammih tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Stevenson manages to break the clinch.
Stevenson fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tammih circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stevenson tries to clinch up but Tammih circles away and keeps his distance.
Tammih displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stevenson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Stevenson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tammih lands with an uppercut that bounces Stevenson off the cage and back into range.
Stevenson throws a right hand that Tammih ducks under and follows up with a left that Tammih also avoids with ease.
Stevenson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tammih.
Stevenson tries to move into range but Tammih moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Tammih lands a head shot.
Tammih works the jab nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tammih lands a nice shot that snaps Stevenson's head back.
Stevenson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tammih misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice takedown defense from Tammih. No joy for Stevenson on that attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Stevenson instigates a clinch.
Tammih misses with a hook to the ribs.

Stevenson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Stevenson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Tammih wants to stand but Stevenson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Stevenson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tammih has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stevenson is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson throwing shots but Tammih is blocking nicely.
Stevenson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Stevenson wants to stand but Tammih has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Stevenson stops Tammih from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Thomas Stevenson wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Stevenson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tammih tries to avoid it but Stevenson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tammih to the ground. Tammih escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A combination from Stevenson does no damage.

Tammih closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Igosh Tammih has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Tammih is working for a kimura but Stevenson is defending it quite comfortably.
Stevenson controlling the position for now.

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 Thomas Stevenson.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stevenson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Stevenson!