PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Steven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Maclean (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steven comes to the ring accompanied by "Hip To Be Square," by Huey Lewis and the News. Juan Maclean told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Steven
vs
Maclean

185 cm
22
210 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Steven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Juan Maclean!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Seu Braga and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Steven shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Maclean is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Steven scores with a couple of nice shots.

It looks like Juan Maclean has been cut.
Maclean flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Steven is thwarting Maclean's attempts to control the position.
Maclean is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Maclean landing strikes from the bottom.
Maclean regains full guard. Nicely done.
Maclean looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Steven accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Maclean keeping moving, preventing Steven from controlling successfully.
Steven tries to free his leg and advance position but Maclean is retaining full guard.
Steven thows a big elbow that misses.
Steven throwing strikes but missing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Steven looks for a takedown but Maclean sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maclean misses with a body kick.

Maclean rushes Steven and presses him up against the ropes.

Steven gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Steven 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.
Maclean missing with punches from the bottom.
Maclean trying to control here.
Maclean is pressing down on Steven's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Steven drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Steven jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Maclean trying to control the position.
Maclean scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Maclean throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Steven advances to half guard.

Maclean makes his way to full guard, as Steven worked for a kimura.
Steven is breathing heavily.
Maclean throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steven trying to control the position from guard on top but Maclean is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maclean wants to sweep here but Steven controlling him for the moment.
Steven with a flurry of punches that miss.
Maclean is pulling down on Steven's head to control his posture.
Steven passes Maclean's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Maclean is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Steven uses his free foot to push down on Maclean's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Maclean.
Steven is landing with some decent strikes but Maclean is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Steven cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Steven fails to take his opponent's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maclean wants to control but Steven is having none of it.
Maclean should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Maclean is trying to escape the mount.
Steven blocks Maclean's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Steven can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Maclean is looking to escape.
Maclean is desperately trying to improve his position but Steven has a good base and remains in mount.
Maclean is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Steven moves to back control.

Steven is looking for the choke from the back position but Maclean is controlling his hands well.

Steven looking for the choke but no joy.

Steven working for a choke but Maclean is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Steven has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Maclean has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Steven is working for a rear naked choke. Maclean is not defending it well and Steven has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Maclean refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Maclean's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mike Steven!