PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Steel Iii (ranked 2069 p4p, 2135 weight class) and Nikora Tama (ranked 122 p4p, 118 weight class). Tama has chosen Haka War Dance as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Steel Iii
vs
Tama

190 cm
26
280
9 - 7 - 0

195 cm
24
255
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Steel Iii!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nikora Tama!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Daniel Blasius and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tama swings widly with a right hand
and Steel Iii connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Nikora Tama has been cut.
Alex Steel Iii seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steel Iii tries to bum rush Tama with a series of wild strikes but Tama uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tama doesn't manage to clinch there - Steel Iii circles away.
Steel Iii is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tama.

Tama closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Steel Iii quickly recovers to half guard.
Steel Iii is positioning himself well to prevent Tama advancing to mount.
Steel Iii continues to stall.
Tama sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Steel Iii defending well though.
Steel Iii is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Kalashnikov ELITE MMA Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Steel Iii is trying to get back to full guard.
Tama wants to lay and pray for a moment but Steel Iii keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel Iii is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tama working Steel Iii over with strikes.
Steel Iii is looking to improve his position.
Steel Iii is working hard here to advance position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tama lands a nice short elbow.
Tama missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tama has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ground and pound from Tama.
Tama is trying to control. Steel Iii wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Steel Iii tries to roll over but Tama keeps him under control.
Steel Iii is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tama scores with a couple of nice shots.
Tama wants to lay and pray for a moment but Steel Iii keeps working.
Steel Iii wants to control but Tama is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tama not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Tama is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Steel Iii is just riding it out for now. Tama eventually gives up the hold.
Steel Iii trying to control here.
Steel Iii wants to get back to full guard.
Tama is nestled in close to Steel Iii, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Steel Iii trying to control here.
Tama prevents Steel Iii from improving his position.
Tama working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Tama wants to lay and pray for a moment but Steel Iii keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel Iii trying to hold on to Tama's head to control him but Tama postures up.
My spies in Final Mile inform me that Tama has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Tama lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Tama is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Steel Iii is just riding it out for now. Tama eventually gives up the hold.
Steel Iii wants to get back to full guard.
Tama wants to control but Steel Iii is keeping him busy.
Tama with the ground and pound but Steel Iii uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Tama's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Steel Iii looking for a sweep. Not yet Steel Iii, not yet.
Steel Iii keeping full guard, as Tama tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tama works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Steel Iii works his way to full guard. Good work.
Steel Iii looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steel Iii is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Steel Iii takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Steel Iii working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Tama is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Steel Iii's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Steel Iii's back!
Tama controlling well, preventing Steel Iii from escaping the position.
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!
Steel Iii looking very determined here, making life difficult for Tama.
Steel Iii rolls, trying to escape but Tama keeps control of the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nikora Tama dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nikora Tama's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tama tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steel Iii swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Steel Iii throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tama.

Steel Iii closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Steel Iii lands in his opponent's guard.
Steel Iii lands a couple of digs.

Tama looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Tama looking for a guillotine here but Steel Iii defends easily.

Tama looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Steel Iii avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Tama looking for a guillotine here but Steel Iii defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel Iii lands a couple of digs.

Tama throws his legs up looking for a submission but Steel Iii uses it to pass to side control.
Steel Iii in side control lands a decent elbow.
Steel Iii working the body and head with strikes.
Tama taking punishment in the form of punches.
Tama is looking to reverse the position.
Steel Iii is looking to take a break and control but Tama is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tama is looking to regain half guard here but Steel Iii keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Steel Iii politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Steel Iii prefers to stall for the moment though.
Steel Iii is looking to take a break and control but Tama is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Steel Iii is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Tama is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Tama is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Steel Iii's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Steel Iii trying to control the action but Tama is working from the bottom.
Nikora Tama has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tama wants to control but Steel Iii is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Tama is trying to control but Steel Iii passes into side control!
Tama tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Steel Iii wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tama is working to avoid the ground and pound but Steel Iii connects with a decent elbow.

That has opened up Nikora Tama's cut even more.
Tama tries to improve position but can't.
Tama is letting Steel Iii control him for a moment.
Steel Iii is looking to take a break and control but Tama is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tama is looking for a sweep.
Steel Iii cracks Tama with a big elbow.

The cut above Nikora Tama's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Tama is looking to reverse the position.
Steel Iii working the ground and pound.

Tama is rocked!
Steel Iii cracks Tama with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Tama is still in real trouble! Can Steel Iii finish him?
Steel Iii in side control here. He's dropped a big elbow there and Tama looks hurt! Oh, he is hurt! Steel Iii turns on the heat and pounds him out for a TKO victory! Good killer instinct there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alex Steel Iii!