PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Jake Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyhma Saapas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Stevenson
vs
Saapas

173 cm
25
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

197 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Excellent MT
Good chin

Great elbows
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jake 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, Tyhma Saapas!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Santiago Holmes and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saapas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stevenson feints and then cracks Saapas's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Saapas down.

Saapas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stevenson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Stevenson throws a head punch that misses.

Saapas breaks the clinch.
Saapas thows a left - swing and a miss!
Stevenson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Stevenson throws out a loose jab but Saapas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stevenson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stevenson throws a nice outside leg kick.
Saapas misses with a double jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saapas throws a series of punches but Stevenson moves out of range.
Stevenson keeps the fight on the outside.
Saapas moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Stevenson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stevenson keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saapas slips under a jab.
Stevenson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Stevenson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Stevenson lands a nice shot to the body.
Saapas connects with a solid leg kick.

Saapas instigates a clinch.
Stevenson unloads a knee to the mid-section. Saapas lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Saapas slowing the pace effectively.
Stevenson has a couple of punches blocked by Saapas.

Saapas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Saapas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stevenson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Saapas avoids a punch combination nicely.

Saapas gets a clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Stevenson throws an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is trying to break the clinch but Saapas has him pressed against the cage.
Saapas is struggling to control the position.
Saapas using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stevenson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Knees to the body from Stevenson.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saapas blocks an elbow strike.
Saapas content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Saapas breaks from the clinch.
Stevenson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Saapas.
Stevenson moves out of range of the body kick from Saapas.
Saapas tries to clinch there but Stevenson circles away.
Stevenson connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Saapas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stevenson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson lands with a nice body kick.
Stevenson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saapas manages to avoid it.
Stevenson cracks a nice hook into Saapas's ribs.
Stevenson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saapas.
Stevenson throws a push kick but Saapas slaps the foot to one side.

Stevenson tries to keep at a distance but Saapas has taken the fight into the clinch.
Stevenson lands a damaging elbow.

Saapas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stevenson swinging wildly here.
Stevenson avoids the body shot from Saapas.
Saapas misses the shot to the body.
Stevenson is looking to wear down Saapas with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Stevenson thumps Saapas with a low kick.
Stevenson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stevenson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Saapas takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stevenson throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Saapas breaks the clinch.
Stevenson throws a solid leg kick but Saapas takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Stevenson.
Stevenson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Saapas closes the distance and clinches.
Stevenson trying to land knees to the body.

Saapas breaks the clinch.
Saapas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Saapas misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Saapas takes a swing at Stevenson's ribcage but misses.
Stevenson lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Saapas doesn't manage to clinch there - Stevenson circles away.
Saapas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stevenson tries to work over Saapas's front leg with a kick but Saapas checks it.
Stevenson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Saapas was well out of range. Poor timing from Stevenson.
Stevenson throws a leg kick that is checked

and Saapas counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Stevenson tries to break free but Saapas pushes him back against the cage.

Saapas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stevenson throws a sloppy head kick

and Saapas counters by clinching up.
Stevenson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Saapas avoids it.
Saapas lands a right hand.
Stevenson throws an elbow that misses.

Saapas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson swats away the attempt to clinch by Saapas.
Saapas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Saapas misses with a head kick.
Stevenson lands with a nice body kick.
Good exchange - Stevenson coming out on top.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Stevenson swings for the body but Saapas moves out of range.
Saapas moves away from the strike by Stevenson.
Stevenson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Saapas closes the distance and clinches.
Saapas pushes Stevenson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Stevenson tries to circle away but Saapas has him pinned against the cage.
Stevenson is breathing heavily.

Saapas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Saapas takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Saapas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Saapas clinches with his opponent.
Saapas dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Stevenson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Saapas misses with a punch to the body.
Saapas is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Saapas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Saapas instigates a clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Saapas lands with a short head shot on the inside.

It looks like Jake Stevenson has been cut.

Saapas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stevenson throws a body shot but no joy.
Stevenson throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Saapas misses with a series of wild punches.
Stevenson cracks the inside of Saapas's front leg.

Saapas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Saapas tries to land knees in the clinch but Stevenson avoids the damage to the body.
Saapas leaning against his opponent.
Stevenson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Stevenson just misses with a elbow thrown towards Saapas's brow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saapas missing with knees to the body.

Saapas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Saapas is looking to clinch.
Saapas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Saapas throws an overhand right that lands on Stevenson's shoulder, as Stevenson tries to avoid the shot.
Stevenson throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stevenson. Saapas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Saapas moves in looking to clinch but Stevenson pushes him off.
Stevenson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Saapas stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Stevenson lands a nice hook to Saapas's body. Saapas takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Stevenson misses with a few strikes there.
The fighters circling - Stevenson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Saapas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Saapas drives through and clinches with Stevenson against the cage.
Saapas prevents Stevenson from breaking the clinch.

Saapas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stevenson lands a jab to Saapas's midsection.
Stevenson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Stevenson with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jake Stevenson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jake Stevenson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Saapas avoids a kick to the body.
Jake Stevenson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stevenson lands a nice looking body kick.
Saapas takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

Saapas gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Saapas - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Saapas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stevenson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A chopping leg kick lands by Stevenson.

Saapas closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Saapas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A slapping leg kick lands for Stevenson.
Saapas takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Saapas darts in and clinches Stevenson up against the cage.
Stevenson looking to throw knees to the head but Saapas is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Saapas manages to break the clinch.
Saapas tries to clinch but Stevenson moves out of range.
Saapas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stevenson misses with a body kick.
Saapas throws a right and a left that both miss.
Stevenson scores with a hook to the body. Saapas takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Saapas tries to clinch up but Stevenson circles away and keeps his distance.

Saapas pushes Stevenson up against the cage in a clinch.
Stevenson misses with a knee strike.
Saapas's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Saapas misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stevenson.

Saapas breaks the clinch.
Stevenson keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Stevenson.
Saapas takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Stevenson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Stevenson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Jake Stevenson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saapas tries to clinch there but Stevenson circles away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stevenson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Stevenson swats away the attempt to clinch by Saapas.
Saapas throws a sloppy head kick and Stevenson moves out of range easily.
Stevenson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saapas manages to avoid it.
Saapas throws a head kick but Stevenson moves out of range.
Saapas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stevenson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saapas.
Stevenson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson misses with a two punch combination.
Saapas is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Stevenson.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stevenson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Saapas moves out of range as Stevenson strikes.
Saapas staying out of range there.
Saapas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Saapas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stevenson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stevenson misses with a head kick.
Stevenson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Saapas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stevenson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Saapas moves into the clinch.
Stevenson throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson throws an elbow that misses.
Saapas displaying some good clinch control by pressing Stevenson up against the cage.
Saapas blocks the elbow strike.
Saapas tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Saapas slowing the pace effectively.

Saapas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jake Stevenson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Saapas.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saapas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stevenson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Saapas blocks a head kick by Stevenson.
A slapping leg kick lands for Stevenson.
Saapas lands a nice leg kick that just misses Stevenson's sensitive parts.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson throws a nice outside leg kick.
That kick from Stevenson tenderised Saapas's leg. Saapas is trying to keep his angry face on.
Saapas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Saapas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stevenson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Saapas rushes Stevenson and presses him up against the cage.
Stevenson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Saapas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Saapas walks into a stiff left hand from Stevenson.
Stevenson keeps the fight on the outside.
Stevenson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stevenson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Saapas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Saapas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Saapas avoiding damage as Stevenson throws knees to the body.
Stevenson pushes off an throws an elbow but Saapas leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stevenson trying to land knees to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Saapas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Saapas tries to clinch but Stevenson moves out of range.
Saapas tries to close the distance and clinch but Stevenson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Saapas has closed the distance and engaged Stevenson in a clinch.
Stevenson is looking to break free of the clinch but Saapas has double underhooks.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Saapas keeps control of Stevenson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Saapas manages to break the clinch.
Saapas thows a left - swing and a miss!
Saapas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stevenson lands with a nice body punch.
A head kick misses from Stevenson.
Saapas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stevenson throws a nice looking combination but Saapas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Saapas closes the distance and clinches.
Saapas pressing his opponent against the cage.
Saapas continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson has had enough of the clinch but Saapas keeps him there for the moment.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Saapas creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Stevenson missing with knees to the body.
Tyhma Saapas seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Saapas breaks the clinch.
Stevenson scoring well with a low kick there.
Stevenson tries to land a body kick
letting Saapas counter with a right hand.

Saapas closes the distance and clinches.

Saapas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saapas takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Saapas throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Saapas misses with a head kick.
Stevenson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Stevenson just misses with a punch to the body.
Saapas fails in his attempt to clinch.

Saapas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Saapas pressing his opponent against the cage.
Stevenson trying to land knees to the body.
Saapas tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stevenson avoids it.
Saapas avoids a wild elbow strike from Stevenson.

Saapas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stevenson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Some wild striking there from Stevenson.

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 Jake Stevenson.
I think Stevenson 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight for Jake Stevenson!
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight as a draw!

The fight ends as a draw!