PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jack Nigal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cedric Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nigal's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Cannibal Corpse - Death Walking Terror. Steele has chosen Ironman as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Nigal
vs
Steele

179 cm
19
150 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

170 cm
19
157 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Rivers Edge Nutrition
Deadly Clothing

Rivers Edge Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jack Nigal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cedric Steele!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Eddie Farnsworth and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steele connects with a nice looking jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nigal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nigal tries to clinch up but Steele circles away and keeps his distance.
Steele lands a slapping body shot.
Steele tries a head kick but it misses.
Steele throws a body kick that misses.

Nigal pushes Steele up against the cage in a clinch.

Nigal successfully pulls guard.
Steele scoring with punches to the head and body.
Steele loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Nigal had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Steele defends it easily.

Nigal has his foot on Steele's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Steele works his way back into a safe position though.
Steele postures up in Nigal's guard and throws a big left but Nigal blocks it.

Nigal is looking for a triangle here but Steele uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Steele throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Steele is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nigal has escaped the position, nice work there.
Steele lands an elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steele working the head with strikes.
Nigal is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nigal gets back to half guard.

Nigal looking for submissions off his back.
Nigal tries to roll over but Steele keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele is keen to just control but Nigal is a slippery customer.
Nigal wants to get back to full guard.
Steele looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Nigal looking for submissions off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Steele throws out a powerful jab.
Cedric Steele seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steele looks to land a combination but Nigal avoids it well.
Steele misses with a jab, cross combination.
Steele lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Steele scores with a nice strike.
Steele swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Steele throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nigal moves out of range of the strikes.
Steele avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nigal.
Steele jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Nigal wants to clinch up but Steele keeps it at a distance.
Steele goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Steele lands a glancing blow to the side of Nigal's head.
Steele lunges at Nigal with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Nigal's hand.
Steele swinging wilding here.
Nigal shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Steele as he jumps to the side.

Nigal fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Steele, pushing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nigal jumps guard and drags Steele to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Nigal had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Steele defends it easily.
Nigal looking to hit a scissor sweep but Steele is one step ahead there.
Steele passes Nigal's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Nigal actively working from the bottom here.
Nigal is breathing heavily.
Steele lands strikes from half guard.

Nigal looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Steele 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.
Nigal wants to improve his position but Steele is controlling well.

Nigal looking for subs from the bottom but Steele mounts him!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cedric Steele dominated that round.
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.

Steele rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nigal moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Steele cracks Nigal with a good jab.
Steele lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
An inside leg kick from Steele misses.
Nigal gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Steele.
Steele catches Nigal with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
The fighters circle momentarily. Steele darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Steele connects with a looping right hand.
Nigal looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Steele scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Steele might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Steele misses with a two punch combination.
Steele defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nigal.
Nigal avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice straight punches there by Steele. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Steele.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Steele scores with a nice head shot.
Nigal walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Nigal is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Steele misses with a two punch combination.
Cedric Steele is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Steele throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Nigal instigates a clinch.
Steele tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nigal's elbow.
Nigal crunches a lovely knee into Steele's ribcage.
Steele misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nigal keeps control of Steele as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nigal tries to score a body lock takedown but Steele shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Nigal misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Steele.
Nigal goes for a takedown attempt but Steele pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Nigal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Steele connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nigal gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nigal is trying to drag Steele to the mat but Steele just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Good body shot from Steele.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nigal is trying to drag Steele to the mat but Steele just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Nigal blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nigal fails to pull guard.
Still in the clinch, Steele scores with a nice short uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Steele.
Steele throws a head punch that misses.
Steele tries to break the clinch but Nigal is controlling the position.
Steele gets through Nigal's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nigal blocks a body shot from Steele.
Nigal missing with knees to the body.
Steele lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Nigal.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Steele throws a punch but it's blocked by Nigal.
Steele fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nigal prevents Steele from breaking the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Steele.
Steele has a couple of punches blocked by Nigal.
Steele lands a hook that snaps the head of Nigal backwards.
Steele softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Steele misses with the head strike.
Steele misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steele manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nigal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Steele lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Nigal backs up against the cage.
Steele fails to land with a series of punches.
Nigal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nigal takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Nigal tries to score a power double leg takedown but Steele sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nigal somewhat.
Steele moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Steele lands with an overhand left.
Nigal is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Steele lands a jab to the nose.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Steele.
Nigal checks the leg kick nicely there.
Steele misses with a jab, cross combination.

Nigal looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Nigal postures up in Steele's guard and throws a big left but Steele blocks it.

Steele had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nigal defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steele bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nigal's guard.
Steele with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steele trying to control but Nigal is working from the bottom.

Nigal is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Steele pushing down on Nigal's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cedric Steele showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Steele misses with the combination.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Steele!
Steele avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Steele digs a good hook to Nigal's body.
Nigal dodges the punch combination from Steele.
Steele looks to land a body kick but Nigal moved away.
Nice shot by Steele.
Nigal blocks a head kick by Steele.
Nigal dodges the punch combination from Steele.
Nigal takes one to the chin there.
Nigal needs to keep his hands up - Steele had a free shot at his head there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nigal tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steele swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nigal ducks under a wild hook from Steele.
Steele lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Steele throws a shot from downtown. Nigal moves away and avoids it.
Steele misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nigal tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steele swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cedric Steele seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Nigal clinches with his opponent.

Nigal pulls guard.
Steele trying to control but Nigal is working from the bottom.
Steele is looking to work some ground and pound but Nigal has wrist control.
Steele missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nigal is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Steele thows a big elbow that misses.
Nigal trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele wants to control from the top but Nigal keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nigal tries to clinch but Steele moves out of range.
Steele swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Steele changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A left lands for Steele.
Steele tries to land a front kick but Nigal steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Steele misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nigal uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Steele.
Steele throws a right and a left that Nigal avoids nicely.

Nigal closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nigal landing knees to the body.
Steele takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Steele gets underhooks to prevent Nigal's takedown attempt.
Steele doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele misses with a punch to the body.

Nigal has hold of one of Steele's legs. Steele is fighting the takedown attempt but Nigal gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Steele is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nigal working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nigal throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Steele works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nigal wants to control from the top but Steele keeps moving.
Steele utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Steele escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nigal gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nigal is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Nigal landing some decent shots from guard.
Steele bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nigal's guard.

Nigal looking for a guillotine here but Steele defends easily.
Cedric Steele is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cedric Steele has got the better of the ground game so far.

Steele avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele is stalling in the full guard.

Nigal is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Steele is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Jack Nigal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Cedric Steele.
Well Steele has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cedric Steele!