PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between James Steve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Borussia Dortmund (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Borussia Dortmund will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Steve
vs
Dortmund

170 cm
21
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
22
130 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Steve !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Borussia Dortmund!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dortmund fails with the takedown.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Steve turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Steve manages to end up in side control.

Steve has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Steve wants to clinch.

Steve instigates a clinch.

Steve jumps guard.
Steve is looking to stand up but Dortmund isn't so interested in that idea.

Dortmund 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dortmund prevents Steve from getting back to his feet.

Dortmund drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dortmund jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Dortmund looks gassed!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Steve clinches with his opponent.

Steve turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Dortmund is looking for a sweep.

Steve stands up and beckons Dortmund to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dortmund keeps the fight on the outside.
Dortmund swats away the attempt to clinch by Steve .
Dortmund fails with the takedown.
Dortmund fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
James Steve has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund circles away from the clinch attempt.

Steve darts in and clinches Dortmund up against the cage.
Steve prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve lands a nice knee to the body.

Steve has hold of one of Dortmund's legs. Dortmund is fighting the takedown attempt but Steve gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Steve gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Dortmund shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Steve pinned against the cage. Steve gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Steve gets a clinch.

Steve successfully pulls guard.
Dortmund is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Steve wants to get back to his feet but Dortmund is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Steve pushes Dortmund off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Dortmund shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Steve pinned against the cage. Steve gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Dortmund looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Steve wants to clinch.

Steve rushes Dortmund and presses him up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Steve dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Steve pushes Dortmund up against the cage in a clinch.
Steve is leaning against Dortmund and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Dortmund changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Steve fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dortmund.

Steve clinches up with Dortmund and pushes him back against the cage.

Steve jumps into guard, dragging Dortmund to the mat.
Steve might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Steve manages to escape and get back to his feet.
James Steve seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steve tries to close the distance and clinch but Dortmund swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dortmund is breathing heavily.
Steve tries to clinch but Dortmund moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dortmund fails to land the takedown.
James Steve has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Borussia Dortmund.

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

Steve turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Steve decides to stand back up. Steve steps back and let's Dortmund get back to his feet.
Steve tries to clinch but Dortmund is having none of it.
Dortmund swats away the attempt to clinch by Steve .
Dortmund circles away from the clinch attempt.
Steve tries to clinch but Dortmund is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dortmund keeps the fight on the outside.
Steve is looking to clinch.
Steve tries to clinch up.
Steve is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dortmund fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Steve has managed to clinch.
Steve gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Dortmund.

Steve has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Dortmund uses from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dortmund is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Steve is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Steve has escaped and now he's on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steve tries to stand but Dortmund is controlling from the bottom.

Steve stands up and waves to Dortmund to follow him.
James Steve is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dortmund avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dortmund shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Steve as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Steve darts in and clinches Dortmund up against the cage.

Steve jumps guard.
Steve wants to stand up but Dortmund is controlling him.
Dortmund pushing down on Steve 's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Steve is trying to stand.

Dortmund is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Steve doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dortmund.

Dortmund is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Steve dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Steve wants to clinch.
Steve tries to clinch up.
Steve is looking to clinch.
Steve tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dortmund swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Dortmund with that takedown attempt.
Dortmund shoots in but no luck this time.
Dortmund takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Steve is looking to clinch.
Borussia Dortmund is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dortmund avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Steve wants to clinch up but Dortmund keeps it at a distance.

Steve pushes Dortmund up against the cage in a clinch.

Steve has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Dortmund is trying to keep an underhook but Steve manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Steve stands up out of the half guard.
Steve tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dortmund swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Steve fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dortmund swats away the attempt to clinch by Steve .
Dortmund shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Steve as he avoids it easily.
James Steve has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Borussia Dortmund.

Steve clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dortmund avoiding damage as Steve throws knees to the body.
Dortmund tries for a takedown but Steve manages to get underhooks.

Steve has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Dortmund uses from the top position.
Steve wants to stand up but Dortmund is controlling him.

Dortmund thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Steve is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dortmund drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dortmund jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Steve is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Steve tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dortmund swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dortmund looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dortmund looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Steve is fending him off so far but Dortmund persists. Nope, Steve circles away and we're back to standing.
Dortmund circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dortmund shoots in for a double leg but Steve sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Steve tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dortmund paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four 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.
Steve tries to clinch but Dortmund is having none of it.
Steve doesn't manage to clinch there - Dortmund circles away.
Steve tries to clinch up.
Dortmund misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Steve tries to clinch up but Dortmund circles away and keeps his distance.
Dortmund looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steve is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Borussia Dortmund has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Steve is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Steve uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dortmund.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Steve showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Steve has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:26
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Steve !