PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Helo Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Ross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Helo Stevens has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Stevens
vs
Ross

178 cm
19
168 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Helo Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rick Ross!
The judges for this bout are , and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens throws a jab when Ross was well out of range.
Stevens keeps the fight on the outside.

Ross closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nice strikes from Ross there.
Ross is tying to control. Stevens wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ross missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ross is thwarting Stevens's attempts to control the position.
Stevens gets back to full guard.
Ross has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Stevens is proving hard to escape from.

Stevens had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Ross is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Stevens Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Ross's back instead.

Stevens has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Ross has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross trying to control the action but Stevens just sinks the hooks in.
You can see the frustration on Ross's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Ross turns into Stevens and is now in his guard.
Ross controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ross postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ross postures up and lands a big shot to Stevens's brow.
Ross won't allow Stevens to get back to his feet.
Stevens keeping moving, preventing Ross from controlling successfully.
Ross pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stevens is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Stevens looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ross's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ross trying to control but Stevens is working from the bottom.
Ross wants to get up but he can't break Stevens's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ross looks gassed!
Ross wants to control from the top but Stevens keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ross moves forwards but Stevens connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Stevens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rick Ross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ross tries for a takedown but Stevens sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Stevens goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Rick Ross has been cut.
Stevens fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens stuffs the takedown attempt from Ross. Ross gets slowly back to his feet.
Stevens scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Stevens.
Stevens's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Stevens duly obliges.
Ross takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Stevens.
Stevens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Stevens looks to land a combination but Ross avoids it well.
Ross fails with the takedown.
Helo Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Ross.
Stevens scores with a sloppy right hand. Ross should have avoided that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens throws a series of punches but Ross avoids them all with ease.
Ross fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stevens takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Stevens lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Ross walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
No joy there for Stevens, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ross avoids the head kick by Stevens.
Nice takedown defense from Stevens. No joy for Ross on that attempt.
Stevens throws a leg kick but Ross sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Both fighters circling a little - Stevens finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helo Stevens dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rick Ross's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stevens scores with the left hand. Ross knows he should have avoided that one.
Stevens misses with a body shot.
Ross shoots in and drives through. Stevens sprawls well.
Stevens swinging wilding here.
Ross misses with a takedown attempt - Stevens sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ross avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ross pushes Stevens up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ross has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Stevens regains guard immediately.
Stevens is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Ross is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Ross trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stevens looking to control.
Stevens looking for a sweep. Not yet Stevens, not yet.
Stevens controls Ross momentarily but Ross frees himself.
Ross won't allow Stevens to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ross tries to clinch but Stevens moves out of range.
Ross looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stevens is fending him off so far but Ross persists. Nope, Stevens circles away and we're back to standing.
Helo Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Ross.
Stevens goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Stevens has closed the distance and engaged Ross in a clinch.
Ross lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Stevens wants to get back to striking at distance but Ross won't allow it.
Ross struggles to land a body shot inside as Stevens controls his hands.
Stevens is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Stevens manages to break the clinch.
Stevens misses with the combination.
Ross scores with a head kick.

Stevens closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross trying to land knees to the body.
Ross taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Ross has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stevens is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ross prevents Stevens from breaking the clinch.
Stevens wants to get back to striking at distance but Ross won't allow it.
Stevens is trying to break free.
Stevens is trying to break free.

Ross jumps guard.
Ross punching from the bottom - just letting Stevens know he's still in a fight.
Stevens working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ross lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Stevens!
Ross wants to control the pace but Stevens is squirming around nicely.
Stevens is desperately trying to improve his position but Ross has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Stevens wants to hold on but Ross pushes him away.
Ross looking to control but Stevens is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Stevens tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stevens swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ross dominating with strikes here.
Stevens is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ross lands with some strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ross wants to control the pace but Stevens is squirming around nicely.
Stevens tries to lock up and control but Ross gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rick Ross will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Rick Ross's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ross looks to clinch
and Stevens counters with a series of strikes. Ross will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ross tries for a takedown but Stevens circles away easily
and Ross takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ross fails with the takedown
and Stevens counters with a straight right hand.
Ross on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ross with a poor takedown
and Stevens connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Helo Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Ross.
Stevens lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stevens throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ross with a lazy takedown attempt
and Stevens counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Stevens bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ross's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens lands a jab to the nose.
Ross darts in trying to clinch
letting Stevens counter with a right hand.
Ross closes the distance but Stevens moves to the side
and Stevens counters with a slapping leg kick.
Ross moves in looking to clinch but Stevens pushes him off.
Stevens throws a right and a left that Ross avoids nicely.
Stevens scores with a nice head shot.
Ross closes the distance looking to clinch
and Stevens counters with a thumping low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ross fails with the takedown
and Stevens counters with a two punch combo.
Stevens fails to land with a series of punches.
Ross fails with the takedown
and Stevens counters with a series of strikes. Ross will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ross with a lazy takedown attempt
and Stevens counters with a slapping leg kick.
Ross fails with the takedown
and Stevens counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Stevens throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross wants to clinch
and Stevens counters with a nice body shot.
Ross tries to clinch but Stevens moves away
and Stevens cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stevens pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Helo Stevens is winning the standup battle so far.

Stevens gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ross connects with a couple of short punches.
Ross trying to control but Stevens is working from the bottom.
Stevens bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ross's guard.
Stevens thows a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens is looking to work some ground and pound but Ross has wrist control.
Stevens has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ross trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Stevens throwing strikes from guard but Ross blocks nicely.
Stevens lands a couple of digs.

Ross had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Stevens is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Ross Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Stevens's back instead.
Stevens trying to control the action but Ross just sinks the hooks in.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stevens can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Helo 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Helo Stevens!