PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steven Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Dangelo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Stevenson
vs
Dangelo

182 cm
20
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Steven Stevenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Joao Dangelo!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Ackerman and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Stevenson.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dangelo but Dangelo pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Dangelo drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Dangelo wants to control from the top but Stevenson keeps moving.
Dangelo tries to free his leg and advance position but Stevenson is retaining full guard.
Dangelo wants to control from the top but Stevenson keeps moving.
Stevenson trying to keep a closed guard but Dangelo is proving a slippery customer.
Dangelo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stevenson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dangelo trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevenson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Stevenson is looking for a triangle but Dangelo pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Dangelo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Dangelo is trying to move to mount but Stevenson reverses beautifully and ends up in Dangelo's guard.
Stevenson wants to control from the top but Dangelo keeps moving.
Dangelo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Stevenson wants to control from the top but Dangelo keeps moving.
Stevenson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dangelo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson looking to pass the guard.
Dangelo looking for a sweep. Not yet Dangelo, not yet.

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

Dangelo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Dangelo looks gassed!
Dangelo is stalling in the full guard.

Stevenson is looking for a triangle but Dangelo pushes his legs off easily.

Stevenson working for a triangle but Dangelo defends it easily.

Stevenson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dangelo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Dangelo is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Stevenson.
Dangelo working the ground and pound.
Stevenson is trying to control Dangelo's posture but Dangelo avoids it.
Dangelo scoring with punches from side control.
Stevenson is trying to control Dangelo's posture but Dangelo avoids it.
Dangelo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stevenson keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Stevenson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Stevenson moves into full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stevenson is on top in guard.
Dangelo keeping moving, preventing Stevenson from controlling successfully.
Stevenson is pushing down on Dangelo's leg trying to pass to half guard. Dangelo is fighting to maintain full guard but Stevenson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Dangelo is trying to get back to full guard.
Stevenson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dangelo keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Dangelo dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stevenson doesn't manage to clinch there - Dangelo circles away.
Stevenson throws a shot from downtown. Dangelo moves away and avoids it.
Steven Stevenson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stevenson throws a sloppy head kick and Dangelo moves out of range easily.
Dangelo doesn't manage to clinch there - Stevenson circles away.

Dangelo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Stevenson sprawls well initially but Dangelo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Dangelo trying to control from half guard but Stevenson is working away.
Dangelo landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dangelo is thwarting Stevenson's attempts to control the position.

Stevenson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Stevenson wants to control but Dangelo is keeping busy.
Stevenson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson is looking to control Dangelo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stevenson avoid being mounted?
Dangelo is tying to control. Stevenson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A right-left combo lands from Stevenson.
Stevenson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Dangelo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Stevenson 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.

Stevenson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Dangelo dives on top into guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dangelo is really stuck here.
Stevenson trying to control momentarily.
Stevenson gets his hands free as Dangelo looks to control.
Dangelo manages to reverse the position and now he's in Stevenson's guard. Nice work there by Dangelo.
Dangelo preventing the sweep.
Stevenson looking to control.

Stevenson has his foot on Dangelo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dangelo works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dangelo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Stevenson looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Dangelo has picked Stevenson up and slammed him! Stevenson can't keep hold of the triangle and Dangelo manages to pass to side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Stevenson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Stevenson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Dangelo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Stevenson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Stevenson gets full guard.
Stevenson controls Dangelo momentarily but Dangelo frees himself.
Stevenson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson working for submissions but it's allowed Dangelo to get to half guard.
Stevenson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dangelo is working away from the top position though.
Dangelo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stevenson wants to control but Dangelo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stevenson keeping hold of Dangelo's head, controlling as best he can.
Dangelo trying to control the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Stevenson 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!

Dangelo avoids the head kick by Stevenson.
Stevenson is looking to clinch.
Stevenson throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Joao Dangelo has been cut.
Stevenson could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Stevenson looks to land a right hand but Dangelo moved out of range.
Dangelo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stevenson swivels and escapes.
Stevenson misses with a head kick.
Stevenson tries to clinch up.
Stevenson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Dangelo's head.
Stevenson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stevenson clinches but Dangelo breaks the clinch

and Dangelo counters with a single leg into guard. Stevenson didn't expect that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stevenson trying to control the position.

Stevenson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dangelo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dangelo stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Stevenson tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Dangelo holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stevenson lands a head kick!
Stevenson tries a head kick but it misses.
Stevenson pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Dangelo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Stevenson breaks from the clinch.
Stevenson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stevenson throws a head kick that misses

and Dangelo holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Dangelo has Stevenson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stevenson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Dangelo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Steven Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joao Dangelo.
Stevenson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Dangelo is keeping busy.
Stevenson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Dangelo has him pressed against the cage.
Stevenson wants to break the clinch but can't.

Stevenson manages to pull guard.

Dangelo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Dangelo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dangelo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Stevenson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Dangelo trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevenson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson has his foot on Dangelo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dangelo works his way back into a safe position though.

Stevenson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Stevenson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dangelo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Stevenson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Dangelo wants to control from the top but Stevenson keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dangelo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Stevenson has his foot on Dangelo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dangelo works his way back into a safe position though.
Dangelo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stevenson is controlling Dangelo's posture.
Stevenson working a defensive guard here.
Joao Dangelo has got the better of the ground game so far.

Stevenson working for a triangle but Dangelo defends it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Stevenson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Dangelo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Dangelo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Stevenson showed his dominance in that final round.
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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Stevenson!