PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pietro Marchionni (ranked 1412 p4p, 2828 weight class) and Alex Steel Ii (ranked 219 p4p, 383 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Marchionni
vs
Steel Ii

175 cm
22
172
7 - 6 - 0

185 cm
22
179
6 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pietro Marchionni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Steel Ii!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Topper Green and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steel Ii throws a combination that misses

and Marchionni counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Steel Ii!
Marchionni is chipping away with strikes.
Steel Ii struggling a bit here.
Steel Ii might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Marchionni haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Steel Ii is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Steel Ii seems a little lost for a moment, as Marchionni dominates the positioning.
Steel Ii is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Marchionni's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Steel Ii is looking to control Marchionni's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Steel Ii avoid being mounted?
Steel Ii is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Marchionni lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel Ii is looking to control Marchionni's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Steel Ii avoid being mounted?
Marchionni missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Marchionni lands a nice short elbow.
Steel Ii is looking for a sweep. Marchionni is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Steel Ii told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Steel Ii is concentrating on defense, preventing Marchionni from advancing position.

Steel Ii kicks off Marchionni and gets to his feet.
Alex Steel Ii seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steel Ii throws a head kick that misses.

Steel Ii takes the fight into the clinch.
Marchionni avoiding damage.
Steel Ii scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel Ii swings wildly with an uppercut but Marchionni uses good head movement to avoid it.
Steel Ii tries to throw a body punch but Marchionni avoids it by throwing Steel Ii back against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Marchionni.
Steel Ii lands a hook that snaps the head of Marchionni backwards.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Marchionni is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Steel Ii to keep the fight standing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Marchionni is trying to stall.
Marchionni throws a head punch that misses.
Steel Ii prevents a body shot from Marchionni.
Marchionni tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Steel Ii just stands there and leans against the cage.

Marchionni jumps guard and drags Steel Ii to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Marchionni trying to control the position.

Marchionni throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marchionni looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marchionni keeping full guard, as Steel Ii tries to pass.
Marchionni pulls Steel Ii in close to prevent any damage.

Marchionni looking for a guillotine here but Steel Ii defends easily.
Steel Ii trying to control the position from guard on top but Marchionni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marchionni has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

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.
Steel Ii controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Marchionni thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Marchionni utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Steel Ii swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Marchionni throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Steel Ii sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Marchionni takes one to the chin there.
Steel Ii throws a looping overhand right but Marchionni ducks down to avoid it.
Steel Ii throws a lazy body kick
and Marchionni counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Steel Ii avoids the head kick by Marchionni.
Marchionni listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Steel Ii.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Pietro Marchionni will probably get the nod.
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.

Steel Ii moves into the clinch.
Marchionni throws a punch but it's blocked by Steel Ii.
Marchionni blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Steel Ii wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Marchionni has him pressed against the cage.
Steel Ii misses with some punches.
Marchionni is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Steel Ii breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Steel Ii fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Marchionni, pushing him back against the cage.
Steel Ii stalling.
Marchionni looking to slow down the pace here.
A frustrated look appears on Steel Ii's face as he tries to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel Ii prevents a body shot from Marchionni.
Marchionni jumps guard but Steel Ii stands there with Marchionni around his waist. Marchionni gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Marchionni controlling the action here for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marchionni controlling the action here for a moment.
Marchionni jumps guard but Steel Ii stands there with Marchionni around his waist. Marchionni gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Marchionni tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Steel Ii smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pietro Marchionni. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Left hook, right uppercut from Steel Ii.
Steel Ii looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Steel Ii lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Marchionni stuns Steel Ii with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Steel Ii tries to land a body kick

and Marchionni counters with a shoot takedown. Steel Ii fights it but they end up in guard.
Marchionni trying to control the position from guard on top but Steel Ii is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marchionni controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Marchionni working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Steel Ii's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steel Ii is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Marchionni accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Marchionni prevents Steel Ii from getting back to his feet.
Marchionni keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Steel Ii's head.
Marchionni won't allow Steel Ii to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel Ii is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Marchionni trying to control but Steel Ii is working from the bottom.
Marchionni scoring with punches to the head and body.
Steel Ii is looking to stand up but Marchionni isn't so interested in that idea.
Marchionni trying to control but Steel Ii is working from the bottom.
Marchionni is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Marchionni connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Steel Ii throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marchionni uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Steel Ii.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marchionni ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Steel Ii moves away.
The fighters circling - Marchionni throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Marchionni throws a series of punches but Steel Ii moves out of range.
Steel Ii connects with the punch.
Marchionni gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Steel Ii.
Marchionni misses with an uppercut.
Steel Ii misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Marchionni feinted with a counter takedown.
Steel Ii lands a big head kick that sends Marchionni to the canvas! Steel Ii follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alex Steel Ii!