PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tatus Muminka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Muminka comes to the cage accompanied by The Moomins music. Tatus Muminka has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Muminka
vs
Steele

191 cm
25
300 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

194 cm
23
290 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tatus Muminka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ben Steele!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Illya Tyunina and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Muminka fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Steele, pushing him back against the cage.
Steele tries to pull guard but Muminka won't allow it.
Steele tries to pull guard but Muminka holds him up against the cage and eventually Steele drops back down to his feet.
Muminka tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Muminka fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Muminka pulls Steele into guard.
Steele looking to pass the guard.
Muminka is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Steele stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Muminka swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Steele lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Steele prevents Muminka from getting back to his feet.
Steele is pushing down on Muminka's leg trying to pass to half guard. Muminka is fighting to maintain full guard but Steele has managed to sneak the leg through.
Steele is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Steele 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Muminka is squirming around, avoiding Steele's attempts to control the action.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Steele cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Muminka holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Steele tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Poor strikes thrown by Steele there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Steele with a couple of short strikes.
Muminka is trying desperately to improve position.
Muminka wants to hold on but Steele pushes him away.
Steele can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Muminka is looking to escape.
Muminka on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Muminka tries to get out of the position.
Steele throwing strikes here but Muminka is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muminka wants to control but Steele is having none of it.
Steele controlling the pace for now.
Muminka keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Steele landing strikes, looking to finish!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice elbow there by Steele.
Steele trying to control but Muminka is having none of it.
Steele controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muminka in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Steele connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Muminka tries to hold on but Steele pushes him away.
Muminka avoids a series of strikes thrown by Steele.
Muminka avoids a strike by Steele and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Steele's guard! Fantastic escape!

Steele has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Muminka is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Steele.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steele is trying to control Muminka's posture but Muminka avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muminka takes a little break here. Steele wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Steele is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Still in half guard, Muminka seems content to control.
Steele wants to get back to full guard.
Steele is pressing down on Muminka's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Steele has his foot on Muminka's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Muminka works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steele has momentary wrist control but Muminka slips an elbow through the middle.
Muminka wants to control from the top but Steele keeps moving.
Steele is trying to control the position but Muminka postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Steele dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Muminka shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Muminka showed some decent athleticism there.
Steele is looking for a sweep. Muminka is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Steele manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Steele trying to control the position.
Steele wants to sweep but no luck.
Steele has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Steele lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Muminka!
Steele lands a nice shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muminka tries to hold on but Steele pushes him away.
Steele lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Steele trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Muminka keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Steele looking to control but Muminka is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Muminka manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Muminka trying to control here.
Ben Steele has got the better of the ground game so far.
Steele throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Steele lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Muminka keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Steele stalling away here and it's allowed Muminka to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Steele throws and elbow that misses. Muminka uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Steele's guard. Nice move by Muminka!

Steele had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Muminka defends it easily.
Muminka trying to control the position from guard on top but Steele is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steele controls Muminka momentarily but Muminka frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muminka postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Muminka trying to control the position from guard on top but Steele is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steele wants to control the position but Muminka says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Steele is looking for a sweep. Muminka is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Muminka tries to stand but can't do so whilst Steele controls his leg.
Steele is pressing down on Muminka's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Steele manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Steele cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muminka wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Steele postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Muminka looks a forlorn figure.
Muminka is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Steele landing punches.
Muminka tries to hold on but Steele pushes him away.
Steele breaks from Muminka's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Steele scoring with strikes but Muminka is staying in there.
Steele lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Steele showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Steele with a lazy takedown attempt

and Muminka counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Muminka.

Steele escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Muminka gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Muminka trying to control but Steele is working from the bottom.
Steele is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Steele working a defensive guard but Muminka passes into half guard.
Steele is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Muminka jumps into side control!
Steele is trying to control Muminka's posture but Muminka avoids it.
A lull in the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Steele is looking to reverse the position.
Muminka is staying tight to Steele's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Muminka wants to control but Steele is keeping him busy.
Steele is looking for a sweep.
Muminka working away.
Muminka is looking to take a break and control but Steele is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tatus Muminka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Steele tries to get back to half guard but can't.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Steele doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Steele takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Ben Steele has been cut.
Steele takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Steele shoots and misses

and Muminka counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Muminka.
Tatus Muminka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Steele.
Muminka is trying to break the clinch but Steele is controlling him.
Muminka is trying to break free.
Steele tries to pull guard but Muminka holds him up against the cage and eventually Steele drops back down to his feet.
Muminka tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Muminka breaks the clinch.
Steele shoots and misses

and Muminka counters with a single leg into guard. Steele didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muminka showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Steele looking for a sweep. Not yet Steele, not yet.
Muminka controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Muminka wants to control from the top but Steele keeps moving.

Steele working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Muminka doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Muminka manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Muminka tries to free his leg and advance position but Steele is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Steele is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

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

Steele throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Muminka escapes and throws Steele's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Muminka just content to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Tatus Muminka showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Steele has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29

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