PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lavern Haney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shaun Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Haney
vs
Stephens

165 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

179 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lavern Haney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Shaun Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stephens clinches with his opponent.
Haney is trying to maintain a safe position but Stephens gets an underhook and turns Haney into the cage.

Haney ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Haney no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Stephens controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stephens throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Haney works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stephens controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Stephens is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Haney is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Haney has escaped and now he's on top!

Haney drops back looking for a leg! Stephens is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Stephens manages to kick Haney off! Haney jumps back into Stephens's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haney slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haney wants to stand but Stephens has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Haney could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Stephens wants to sweep but no luck.

Stephens is working an open guard so Haney takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Stephens gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Stephens wants the takedown. Haney is fighting it off but Stephens persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Haney's guard against the cage.
Stephens stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Haney swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stephens is looking to pass into half guard but Haney pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Haney is in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stephens tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Stephens has his foot on Haney's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Haney works his way back into a safe position though.
Haney 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.
Haney has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Haney is in close to Stephens's body, working some short punches and elbows.
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.

Stephens is working an open guard so Haney takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Stephens gets a double leg takedown into Haney's guard.

Haney is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stephens defends well.
Stephens looking to sit in guard and control but Haney gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Haney got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stephens has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Haney has managed to get both his arms back between Stephens's legs - danger averted.
Haney working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haney won't allow Stephens to sweep him here.
Stephens looks winded!

Haney gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Haney enables Stephens to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Haney manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Haney trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Haney is adopting a defensive guard.
Stephens trying to control but Haney is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stephens looking to sit in guard and control but Haney gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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 Lavern Haney will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Stephens closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Haney did well to prevent Stephens getting side control.
Stephens is just content to waste time from the top position. Haney takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Haney might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Stephens wants to control from the top but Haney keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haney seems keen to control Stephens's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens wants to control from the top but Haney keeps moving.
Stephens looking to sit in guard and control but Haney gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lavern Haney overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stephens tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Haney landing some decent shots from guard.
Haney is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Haney keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stephens's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stephens is breathing heavily.

Haney decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Stephens has managed to clinch.

Haney manages to pull guard.
Haney wants to improve his position but instead Stephens has moved into half guard.
Stephens is looking to stall here but Haney recovers full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haney wants to sweep but no luck.
Haney keeping moving, preventing Stephens from controlling successfully.
Haney bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stephens's guard.

Stephens working for a triangle but Haney defends it easily.
Haney slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Haney 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.
Haney tries to stand but Stephens is controlling from the bottom.
Stephens striking off his back but it's not causing Haney any problems.
Haney throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stephens works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Haney postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Haney 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.
Haney preventing the sweep.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
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 Lavern Haney will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Haney has a takedown stuffed.

Stephens closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Haney quickly recovers to half guard.
Stephens throwing shots but Haney is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephens throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Haney is staying active underneath Stephens, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stephens is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Haney still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Haney has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Haney is staying tight to Stephens's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Stephens is trying to get back to half guard.

Haney is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Stephens is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens is trying to improve his position.
Stephens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stephens takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Haney slows the pace down.
Stephens sneaks back into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Haney is working for a submission of some sort.
Haney seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Haney seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Stephens for as long as he can get away with.
Haney prevents Stephens from improving his position.
Haney seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Haney performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Haney shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Haney looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Stephens!
Stephens is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Shaun Stephens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lavern Haney is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stephens seems a little lost for a moment, as Haney dominates the positioning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lavern Haney showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Haney, 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lavern Haney!
Shaun Stephens spoke after the fight, saying 'Good battle out there tonight, proud of myself for how far I have come but have a long way to go!'.