PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Oliver Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Denis Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stevenson comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Biggie Hypnotize kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Thompson
vs
Stevenson

183 cm
20
196 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
26
185 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Oliver Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Denis Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, David Schapiro and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevenson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thompson swivels and escapes.
Thompson throws a big counter combination but Stevenson scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Stevenson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Thompson works Stevenson's body with a nice hook.
Stevenson fails to land the takedown.

Thompson takes the fight into the clinch.

Thompson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Thompson sprawls well. Thompson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stevenson gets slowly back to his feet.
Oliver Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Denis Stevenson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Stevenson or perhaps it was just good defense by Thompson, which made it look bad.
Thompson throwing a counter right hand but Stevenson manages to avoid it.
Thompson moves to clinch but Stevenson breaks away

and Stevenson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Thompson is concentrating on defense, preventing Stevenson from advancing position.
Stevenson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Thompson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Stevenson on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson tries to get to full guard but Stevenson has control of the leg.
Stevenson is thwarting Thompson's attempts to control the position.
Thompson has his hands clasped together around Stevenson's back. He's all about the action.
Thompson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

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.

Stevenson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Thompson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Stevenson.
Thompson keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Stevenson is trying to work for a kimura but Thompson is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson wants to take a breather but Thompson is having none of it.

Stevenson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Thompson is just riding it out for now. Stevenson eventually gives up the hold.
Thompson wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stevenson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Stevenson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevenson prevents Thompson from improving his position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Oliver Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Thompson has closed the distance and engaged Stevenson in a clinch.

Thompson breaks the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Donk. Thompson catches Stevenson right on the button with a cross.
Stevenson takes one to the side of the head.
Stevenson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown but Thompson shows good takedown defense.
Thompson seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oliver Thompson dominated that round.
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.

Stevenson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thompson swivels and escapes.
Thompson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Stevenson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thompson.
Thompson scores with the left hand. Stevenson knows he should have avoided that one.
Thompson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stevenson moves forwards but Thompson connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Thompson lands with a straight right. Stevenson didn't see that one coming.
Thompson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Thompson lands an overhand right.
Thompson jabs at Stevenson's body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thompson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stevenson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thompson lands a jab to Stevenson's midsection.
Thompson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thompson bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Stevenson's head.
Thompson is looking to clinch but Stevenson is avoiding it.
And Stevenson tries to counter it with a takedown but Thompson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Thompson works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Thompson wants to clinch

and Stevenson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Thompson's guard.

Stevenson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Thompson, up you get!
It looks like Thompson has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Thompson tries to clinch up.
Stevenson feints the counter takedown.
Thompson dips to his left and cracks Stevenson with an uppercut!
Thompson lands with a right hand.
Nice shot lands for Thompson.
Oliver Thompson is winning the standup battle so far.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thompson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Denis Stevenson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thompson is looking to clinch but Stevenson is avoiding it.
Thompson doesn't manage to clinch there - Stevenson circles away.
Thompson looks to land a combination but Stevenson avoids it well.
Thompson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thompson slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Stevenson shoots for a double leg takedown but Thompson sprawls well. He's pushed Stevenson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Oliver Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Denis Stevenson.
Thompson lands a jab to Stevenson's midsection.
Crunch! Thompson slams his shin into Stevenson's torso.
Stevenson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Thompson pinned against the cage. Thompson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Stevenson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Stevenson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A decent looking cross lands there for Thompson.
Thompson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stevenson.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Thompson sprawls well. Thompson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stevenson gets slowly back to his feet.
Oliver Thompson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A shot to the liver by Thompson. Beautiful body shot.
Stevenson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Thompson moves in looking to clinch but Stevenson pushes him off.
Stevenson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Thompson scores with a jab to the head.
Stevenson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Thompson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Thompson!
Thompson darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thompson lunges at Stevenson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Stevenson's hand.
Nice uppercut lands for Thompson. That snapped Stevenson's head back.
Thompson stuffs the takedown.
Stevenson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stevenson is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson fails to land the takedown.
Stevenson fails with a takedown attempt.
Stevenson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Thompson works the jab nicely.
Jab by Thompson.
Thompson dips to his left and cracks Stevenson with an uppercut!
Stevenson on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thompson scores with a hook.
Stevenson swats away the attempt to clinch by Thompson.
Thompson tries to close the distance and clinch but Stevenson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oliver Thompson dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Good leg kick by Thompson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Decent striking displayed by Thompson there.
Thompson misses with a two punch combination.
And Stevenson tries to counter it with a takedown but Thompson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Thompson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Stevenson.

Stevenson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Thompson on his heels. He'll look to pass Thompson's guard now, I'm sure.
Thompson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Stevenson puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Thompson is looking to control Stevenson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Thompson avoid being mounted?
Thompson gets full guard.
Stevenson trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thompson working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson keeping full guard, as Stevenson tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevenson is fighting to break Thompson's control of his arms but Thompson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Thompson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stevenson can do to turn this around?
Thompson pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Stevenson back to the cage. Thompson follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to clinch.
Thompson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stevenson was well out of range. Poor timing from Thompson.
A shot to the liver by Thompson. Beautiful body shot.
Stevenson needs to keep his hands up - Thompson had a free shot at his head there.
Thompson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The fighters circling - Stevenson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Stevenson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Thompson is looking to clinch.
Thompson scores with a three punch combo!
Thompson connects with a looping right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jab, jab by Thompson - just one landing.
Stevenson tries for a takedown but Thompson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Thompson misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Thompson does no damage.
Nice takedown defense from Thompson. No joy for Stevenson on that attempt.
Oliver Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Denis Stevenson.
Thompson cracks Stevenson with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Stevenson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Thompson takes the fight into the clinch.

Thompson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stevenson keeps the fight on the outside.
Thompson stuffs the takedown.

Stevenson gets a double leg takedown into Thompson's guard.
Stevenson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thompson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Thompson wants to improve his position but instead Stevenson has moved into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is staying active underneath Stevenson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Thompson is controlling Stevenson's trapped leg to prevent Stevenson from advancing to side control.
Oliver Thompson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Stevenson wants to work for an arm triangle but Thompson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Thompson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Denis Stevenson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Stevenson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Thompson defends it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Oliver Thompson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thompson, 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oliver Thompson!