PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Serrano Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Obrien (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Steele
vs
Obrien

188 cm
20
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

189 cm
24
195 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Serrano Steele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Obrien!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Russell Pearce and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Obrien throws a one two combo.

It looks like Serrano Steele has been cut.
Obrien misses with a few strikes there.
Obrien throws a head kick that misses.
Steele leaves Obrien with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Steele misses with a head kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Steele. Obrien does a little dance to reset his feet.

Steele shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Steele postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Obrien wants to stand but Steele is controlling the position.
Steele stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Obrien swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Steele looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Obrien really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Steele. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obrien keeping moving, preventing Steele from controlling successfully.
Steele forces his way into half guard.
Obrien is staying active underneath Steele, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Obrien tries to get to full guard but Steele has control of the leg.
Steele wants to lay and pray for a moment but Obrien keeps working.

Steele looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Obrien trying to control but Steele postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Steele moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Steele fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Obrien, pushing him back against the cage.
Steele tries a body shot but Obrien blocks it.
Steele scores a nice knee to the body.
Obrien looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Obrien tries to score a body lock takedown but Steele shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Steele stalling in the clinch.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Steele digs a right hand into Obrien's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Obrien's gas tank.
Steele will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Obrien up against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Serrano Steele.
Steele misses with a few strikes there.
Obrien blocks a head kick by Steele.
Steele slips a jab and a cross from Obrien.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Steele, right into the meat.
Steele chopping away at his opponent's legs.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Obrien blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Steele is struggling to control the position.
Nice body punch from Steele - that landed with a thud.
Steele lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Steele unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Steele slowing the pace effectively.
Obrien tries to break the clinch but Steele is controlling the position.
Steele looking to throw knees to the head but Obrien is blocking nicely.
Steele taking a breather.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A short left from Steele.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serrano Steele dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Serrano Steele's cut.
That's time! Steele's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Obrien keeps the fight on the outside.
Obrien dodges the punch combination from Steele.
A punch combination from Obrien misses.
Steele tries to clinch but Obrien is having none of it.
Obrien shoots in but Steele avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Steele scores with a jab. Obrien acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Obrien scores with a jab.
Obrien throws a shot from downtown. Steele moves away and avoids it.
Obrien fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Steele misses with a hook. Obrien ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Obrien throws a series of punches but Steele moves out of range.

Steele darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Steele takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Obrien can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obrien tries to roll over but Steele keeps him under control.
Obrien has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Steele is working away from the top position though.
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.
Steele with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Obrien trying to control but Steele postures up.
Ground and pound from Steele.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Steele seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Obrien keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Obrien wants to improve his position but Steele is controlling well.
Steele wants to control but Obrien is keeping him busy.
Steele uses his free foot to push down on Obrien's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Obrien.
Obrien is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Steele putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Steele is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Obrien has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Obrien!
Steele trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele has a closed guard, preventing Obrien from standing up.
Steele is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Obrien pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Steele is keeping the position for now.
Obrien trying to stand up but can't free himself from Steele's guard.

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

Obrien gets to his feet - Steele follows without any prompting.
Obrien fails in his attempt to clinch.
Obrien misses with a wild combination.
Obrien shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Steele pinned against the cage. Steele gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Serrano Steele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Obrien.
Obrien tries to clinch but Steele is having none of it.
Obrien misses with a looping right.
Some wild striking there from Steele.
Steele connects with a solid leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serrano Steele dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Serrano Steele's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Steele throws a series of punches but Obrien moves out of range.
Steele misses with a few strikes there.
Serrano Steele is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Steele fails with an attempt to clinch.
A head kick misses from Obrien.
No joy there for Obrien, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Steele tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Steele closes the distance and clinches.
Steele stalling in the clinch.
Steele has a couple of punches blocked by Obrien.
Obrien lands a body punch in the clinch.
Steele has a couple of punches blocked by Obrien.

Obrien manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steele throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Obrien.
Obrien falls off balance throwing a combination

and Steele moves into the clinch.
Steele misses with a hook from the clinch.
Steele trying to land knees to the body.
Steele scores with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obrien scores with a shot to the side of Steele's head.
A bit of stalling here from Steele.
A hook to the body from Obrien.
Steele trying to control the position but instead, Obrien has worked for underhooks and has pushed Steele into the cage.

Obrien manages to break the clinch.
Obrien throws a right and a left that Steele avoids nicely.
Steele takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Steele stalks Obrien and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Obrien's face. Obrien staggers backwards, shaken.
Obrien lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Steele circles away quickly and effectively.
Obrien throws a right hand that Steele ducks under and follows up with a left that Steele also avoids with ease.
Steele stuffs the takedown attempt from Obrien. Obrien gets slowly back to his feet.

Steele scores with a takedown into Obrien's guard.
Steele stopping the sweep attempt from Obrien.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Obrien pushes Steele off and gets back to his feet.

Steele drives through with a takedown into guard.

Obrien had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Steele defends it easily.
Steele is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Obrien has control of Steele's left arm, preventing Steele from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obrien is looking to stand up but Steele isn't so interested in that idea.
Steele stays in close to Obrien's body and controls the position.
Obrien is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Obrien decides to return to a standing position.
Steele shoots in looking for a takedown. Obrien tries to sprawl out of it but Steele keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Obrien manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Obrien lands a nice shot that snaps Steele's head back.
Nice shot by Obrien.
A jab lands there for Steele.
Obrien keeps the fight on the outside.
Steele throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Obrien's waist but Obrien gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Steele off to one side.
Obrien scores with a one two! Steele had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Obrien looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Obrien closes this distance looking for a takedown but Steele circles away.
Obrien doesn't manage to clinch there - Steele circles away.

Steele gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Serrano Steele is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Steele slows down the pace here.
Mike Obrien has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice body punch from Obrien.

And that's the end of the fight!
Serrano Steele showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Steele has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27

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