PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Keegan Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by Cant be touched . Steel has chosen Sugar Ray - Mean Machine as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Steel

195 cm
20
193 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

191 cm
24
183 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Keegan Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Steel!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Colin Fotheringham and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith scores with a three punch combo!
A left and a right from Smith both land. Nice combination.

Steel gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A short uppercut from Smith.
A frustrated look appears on Smith's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Steel tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Smith smiles and moves away.

Smith gets a clinch.
Steel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Steel jumps guard but Smith stands there with Steel around his waist. Steel gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Steel jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Smith walks away with a smile on his face. Steel gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Keegan Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Steel.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Smith!
A head kick misses from Steel.
Steel closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.

Smith forces Steel back against the cage and clinches.

Smith breaks from the clinch.

Smith gets a clinch.
Smith lands an elbow inside that Steel shrugs off.
Steel avoids a wild elbow strike from Smith.
Steel wants to break the clinch but can't.
Smith avoiding damage.
Smith scores with a nice hook to the head.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Smith rushes Steel and presses him up against the cage.
Steel takes an elbow to the forehead.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Smith lands an elbow that stopped Steel in his tracks for a moment.
A nice left hand lands by Smith.
Smith lands an elbow just above Steel 's eye.
Smith prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Steel's defenses.

Smith breaks from the clinch.

Smith moves into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Smith.
Steel is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.
Smith misses with an elbow strike.
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Steel tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Smith smiles and moves away.

Steel scores a takedown into full mount!
Steel looks gassed!
Smith wants to try and get back to his feet.
Smith blocking the ground and pound.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Poor strikes thrown by Steel there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Steel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Steel misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Smith trying desperately to get to his feet.
Smith wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Steel.

Steel goes for an armbar but Smith turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Smith.
Smith wants to stand but Steel is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Smith gets to his feet - Steel follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Steel tries to clinch

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Smith.
Steel working hard to break the clinch.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Steel tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily

and Smith moves into the clinch.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Smith lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Smith scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Smith gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Danga de danga de dang - Smith scores with a four punch combination!

Smith clinches with his opponent.
Smith scores with a shoulder strike.
Smith lands a nice elbow.
Smith lands a right hand.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Smith has closed the distance and engaged Steel in a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Smith!

Smith clinches with his opponent.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Smith gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Smith misses with an elbow over the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keegan Smith dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Jab, jab by Smith - just one landing.
Steel closes the distance but Smith moves to the side
and Smith counters with a left and a right that stings Steel.
Smith avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Mike Steel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steel doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Smith counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Smith stalks Steel and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Steel's face. Steel staggers backwards, shaken.

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

Smith breaks the clinch.
Smith throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Smith clinches up with Steel and pushes him back against the cage.
Smith makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Steel jumps guard.
Smith preventing the sweep.

Smith decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Steel, up you get!
Smith scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Steel is breathing heavily.

Smith has managed to clinch.
Smith softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Smith instigates a clinch.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but Steel blocks with his arms.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Smith.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith throws a right hand that Steel ducks under and follows up with a left that Steel also avoids with ease.

Smith has closed the distance and engaged Steel in a clinch.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith scores with a three punch combo!
Left hook, right uppercut from Smith.

Smith rushes Steel and presses him up against the cage.
Smith working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Smith lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Smith forces Steel back against the cage and clinches.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Smith throws a low kick but Steel avoids it.
Smith misses with a series of wild punches.

Smith has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a hook to the side of the head.
Steel prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Smith lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Steel looking to slow down the pace here.
Smith lands a right hand.
Nice elbow from Smith.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Steel tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Steel is trying to stall.
Steel's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.
Smith has Steel pressed against the cage, preventing Steel from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Smith lands with a short shot to the head.
Smith holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith lands a two punch combo.
Keegan Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Smith forces Steel back against the cage and clinches.
Smith lands a hook to the side of the head.
Smith lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Smith breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Smith scores with a four punch combination!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Smith gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Smith throws an elbow that misses.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Smith drives through and clinches with Steel against the cage.
Steel looking to throw knees to the head but Smith is blocking nicely.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Smith lands a jab-cross combination.

Smith forces Steel back against the cage and clinches.
Smith lands a left hand.
A nice right hand lands inside from Smith.
Smith is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Steel can do to turn this around?
Smith with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Smith manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Steel tries for a takedown but Smith manages to get underhooks.
Smith scores with a shoulder strike.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A combination from Smith does no damage.
Steel takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Smith connects with a solid leg kick.
Keegan Smith is winning the standup battle so far.

Smith moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Steel up against the cage.
Smith lands a nice elbow.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Steel wants to clinch

and Smith counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Steel tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.
Keegan Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Steel.
Smith pushes Steel back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Steel with a poor takedown

and Smith moves into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith blocks an elbow strike.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Smith forces Steel back against the cage and clinches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Smith.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Smith.
Smith lands a left hand that snaps the head of Steel backwards.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Smith gets a clinch.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Smith drives through and clinches with Steel against the cage.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keegan Smith dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Smith rushes Steel and presses him up against the cage.
Steel letting Smith take a breather here.
Smith gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.

Smith breaks the clinch.

Smith gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Smith pushes Steel off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Steel tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily
and Smith counters with a series of strikes. Steel will be more careful next time no doubt.

Smith pushes Steel up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Smith displaying some good clinch control by pressing Steel up against the cage.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Smith gets a clinch.
Steel tries to break free but Smith pushes him back against the cage.
Steel has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Smith avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Smith lands an elbow that stopped Steel in his tracks for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Smith.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Smith creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Steel avoids the elbow strike from Smith, against the cage.

Smith breaks the clinch.
Keegan Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Left hook, right uppercut from Smith.
Smith scores with a three punch combo!
A left and a right from Smith both land. Nice combination.
Steel has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Smith lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Smith closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Smith darts in and clinches Steel up against the cage.

Steel breaks from the clinch.
Smith lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Smith displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
A left and a right from Smith both land. Nice combination.

Smith closes the distance and pushes Steel back into the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Smith just misses with a elbow thrown towards Steel's brow.
Smith lands a nice elbow.
Smith working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith gets through Steel's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Smith misses with a knee to the head.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Smith drives through and clinches with Steel against the cage.
Steel blocks an elbow strike.
Smith lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Smith gets through Steel's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Steel takes an elbow to the temple.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A punch combination from Smith misses.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Smith is pressed up against the cage. Steel has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Smith down to the mat. Smith avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Keegan Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Steel.

Smith gets a clinch.
Smith lands with a short shot to the head.
Smith lands a hook that snaps the head of Steel backwards.
Smith looking to throw knees to the head but Steel is blocking nicely.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Danga de danga de dang - Smith scores with a four punch combination!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Steel tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Smith counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Nice shot lands for Smith.
Smith lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Smith forces Steel back against the cage and clinches.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Steel circles away quickly and effectively.
Smith lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Smith darts in and clinches Steel up against the cage.
Smith prevents a takedown attempt there.
Smith taking a breather.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith lands a jab-cross combination.

Smith gets a clinch.
Smith scores with a nice hook to the head.
Steel is working for takedown but Smith is calmly controlling the position for now.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Steel shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Smith moves into the clinch.
Smith lands an uppercut.
Smith throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Steels head.
Steel dodges an elbow strike from Smith.
Steel looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Keegan Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smith misses with an elbow over the top.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A nice combination there by Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a right hand that Steel ducks under and follows up with a left that Steel also avoids with ease.

Smith gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Steel looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Smith makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Steel tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.
Steel looking for a takedown.
Smith lands an elbow just above Steel 's eye.

Smith breaks the clinch.
Mike Steel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Smith lands a two punch combo.
Smith scores with a three punch combo!

Smith drives through and clinches with Steel against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Smith takes the fight into the clinch.
Smith throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Steel tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A short left from Smith.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keegan Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Smith, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight for Keegan Smith!
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Keegan Smith!
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for Keegan Smith!

Keegan Smith wins by unanimous decision!