PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fernando Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adonis Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stevenson has chosen F*ck the Otherside as his entrance music. 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.

Martinez
vs
Stevenson

187 cm
27
205 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

200 cm
26
210 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fernando Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Adonis Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martinez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Martinez tries to sprawl but Stevenson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Stevenson stalling.

Adonis Stevenson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Martinez tries to clinch but Stevenson moves out of range.

Martinez throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Stevenson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Martinez is in Stevenson's guard.
Stevenson working a defensive guard here.
Stevenson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson wants to sweep here but Martinez controlling him for the moment.

Stevenson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Martinez defends well.
Martinez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Stevenson pulls Martinez in close to prevent any damage.
Stevenson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez wants to control from the top but Stevenson keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stevenson with a poor takedown

and Martinez counters with a shoot takedown. Stevenson fights it but they end up in guard.
Stevenson has Martinez pulled in close to control his posture.
Stevenson trying to control the position.
Stevenson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Stevenson looking for subs off his back but Martinez has passed one foot through into half guard.
Stevenson gets back to full guard.
Stevenson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Martinez is one step ahead there.
Martinez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Stevenson's guard.
Stevenson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Martinez stopping the sweep attempt from Stevenson.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez wanted to stand there but Stevenson had control of the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Martinez gets the takedown into side control.
Stevenson can't do much from the bottom here.
Stevenson is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Martinez is staying active.
Stevenson parries the strikes from Martinez easily there. Martinez is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Stevenson to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Martinez trying to control the position but Stevenson is working away.
Stevenson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Adonis Stevenson will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stevenson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Martinez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Stevenson has Martinez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Martinez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Martinez gets underhooks to prevent Stevenson's takedown attempt.
Fernando Martinez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adonis Stevenson.

Martinez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stevenson fails with a takedown attempt.

Martinez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Martinez lands in his opponent's guard.
Martinez being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've been informed that Stevenson has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Martinez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Stevenson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Martinez sitting in guard here, content to control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Stevenson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fernando Martinez has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Stevenson drives through with a takedown into Martinez's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Stevenson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Stevenson trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Martinez manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Stevenson managing to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Stevenson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Adonis Stevenson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Martinez drives through with a takedown into guard.
Stevenson looking to control.
Stevenson pulls Martinez in close to prevent any damage.
Martinez won't allow Stevenson to sweep him here.
Stevenson has his hands on Martinez's head, controlling the position.
Martinez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Adonis Stevenson.

Martinez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Stevenson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Martinez tries to stand but Stevenson is controlling his head.
Stevenson is trying to control Martinez's posture but Martinez avoids it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stevenson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Martinez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
You can see the frustration on Stevenson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Stevenson prevents Martinez from improving position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Adonis Stevenson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Stevenson shoots for a takedown but Martinez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Martinez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Stevenson did well to prevent Martinez getting side control.
Stevenson tries to get to full guard but Martinez has control of the leg.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Stevenson tries to get to full guard but Martinez has control of the leg.
Martinez wants to take a breather but Stevenson is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Fernando Martinez.
Stevenson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Martinez avoids it really well and circles away.
Martinez swings for the body but Stevenson moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stevenson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Stevenson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
You can see the frustration on Martinez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Stevenson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Martinez keeps working.
Stevenson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Martinez wants to get back to his feet but Stevenson drags him back down.
Stevenson controls the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Adonis Stevenson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Stevenson shoots in and drives through. Martinez sprawls well.
Fernando Martinez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adonis Stevenson.
Martinez throws a head kick but Stevenson moves out of range.
Stevenson fails with a takedown attempt.
Stevenson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez closes the distance looking to clinch
and Stevenson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Martinez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stevenson swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Martinez clinches up against the cage.

Stevenson breaks the clinch.
Stevenson dives in for a single leg takedown but Martinez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Stevenson lands a body punch.

Martinez pulls guard.
Stevenson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Martinez looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson passes Martinez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Stevenson slows the pace down in half guard.
Stevenson is trying to control the action in half guard but Martinez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Stevenson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Stevenson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Martinez is looking to escape.
Adonis Stevenson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Adonis Stevenson has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stevenson controlling the pace for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevenson trying to control but Martinez is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Adonis Stevenson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Stevenson 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Adonis Stevenson!
After the big win, Adonis Stevenson made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Elite Canadian Threads and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.