PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Spackman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Spackman's entrance music is Forgot about Dre. A fine choice. Steel has chosen Sugar Ray - Mean Machine as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. John Spackman had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 186.1lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Mike Steel has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Spackman
vs
Steel

194 cm
24
195 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

191 cm
23
183 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, John Spackman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Steel!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Chris Edwards and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spackman stuffs the takedown attempt from Steel. Steel gets slowly back to his feet.

Spackman closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
An elbow from Spackman crashes against the mat.
Spackman working the ground and pound but Steel is defending the strikes.
You can see the frustration on Steel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steel is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Spackman is controlling him well.

Spackman tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Spackman has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Spackman working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Steel is trying to buck Spackman off.
Spackman 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.
Steel looks gassed!

Spackman wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Steel, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spackman working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Spackman is working Steel over with some ground and pound from side control.
Steel wants to get back to his feet.
Steel is looking to regain half guard here but Spackman keeps moving and retains side control.
Spackman wants to control but Steel is keeping him busy.
Steel is trying to control Spackman's posture but Spackman avoids it.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Spackman is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Steel has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Steel is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Steel trying to control but Spackman postures up.
Still in half guard, Spackman seems content to control.

Steel is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Spackman pulls his head out easily.
Steel is controlling Spackman's trapped leg to prevent Spackman from advancing to side control.

Spackman is looking for a kimura here.
Steel is looking to control Spackman's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Steel avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steel makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Spackman shoots in but Steel avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Steel doesn't manage to clinch there - Spackman circles away.
Steel fails with the takedown

and Spackman counters with a nice double leg into side control. Steel won't be happy with that.
Steel tries to bench press Spackman off him but Spackman keeps the position.

Spackman tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Steel is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Spackman has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Spackman is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Steel has escaped the position, nice work there.
Steel wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Spackman working away.
Steel is trying to get back to half guard.

Spackman is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Steel has escaped the position, nice work there.
Steel is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Spackman's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Spackman is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Steel sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Spackman dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A head kick misses from Steel.
Spackman blocks a low kick nicely.

Spackman shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Steel is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Steel is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

Spackman looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Spackman has hold of Steel's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Steel manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Spackman is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Steel has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Steel is looking to improve his position but Spackman isn't that keen on the idea.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spackman has control of Steel's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Steel regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Steel gets back to half guard.

Steel makes his way to full guard, as Spackman worked for a kimura.
Spackman looking to sit in guard and control but Steel gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Steel chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steel drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Spackman manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Steel has Spackman in his guard.
Spackman wants to control from the top but Steel keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spackman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Spackman looking to pass the guard.
Spackman won't allow Steel to sweep him here.

Spackman drops back looking for a leg! Steel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Steel manages to kick Spackman off! Spackman jumps back into Steel's guard.
Steel is trying to keep Spackman in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spackman drops back looking for a leg! Steel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Steel manages to kick Spackman off! Spackman jumps back into Steel's guard.

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

and Spackman counters with a shoot takedown. Steel fights it but they end up in guard.
Steel is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Spackman drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Steel dives on top into guard.
Steel throwing strikes but missing.
Steel throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel throws and elbow that misses. Spackman uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Steel's guard. Nice move by Spackman!

Steel working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Spackman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Spackman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Spackman cracks Steel with a solid left hand.
Steel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Spackman manages to get himself to full guard.
Steel throws a big right hand that misses.
Spackman keeping moving, preventing Steel from controlling successfully.
Spackman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Spackman dominated that second round.
That's time! Spackman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Steel with a lazy takedown attempt

and Spackman counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Spackman maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Steel could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Spackman has cracked it and Steel is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Spackman!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). John Spackman!