PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Davey Steeves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cameron Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Davey Steeves could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Cameron Thomas's chin.

Steeves
vs
Thomas

195 cm
19
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
23
218 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

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 Tokyo, Davey Steeves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cameron Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Shimada and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steeves fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Thomas missing with a left hand there. Steeves was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Thomas leaves Steeves with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Steeves shoots in but Thomas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Davey Steeves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Steeves shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Thomas sprawls well. Thomas wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Steeves gets slowly back to his feet.

Steeves looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Thomas!
Thomas tries to hold on but Steeves pushes him away.
Thomas regains half guard.
Steeves seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Thomas does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Steeves is really struggling to control Thomas but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Thomas is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steeves is looking to take a break and control but Thomas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thomas trying to hold on to Steeves's head to control him but Steeves postures up.
Steeves wants to take a breather but Thomas is having none of it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thomas. Steeves does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thomas stuffs the takedown.
Steeves shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thomas as he avoids it easily.
Steeves tries for a takedown but Thomas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Steeves tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thomas swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Thomas takes a swing at Steeves's ribcage but misses.
Steeves uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thomas.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Steeves.
Thomas stuffs the takedown attempt from Steeves. Steeves gets slowly back to his feet.
Steeves avoids the body shot from Thomas.
Davey Steeves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steeves closes the distance and clinches up with Thomas, looking for a takedown. Steeves pushes Thomas against the cage but Thomas circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Thomas defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Steeves.
Thomas looks to land a right hand but Steeves moved out of range.
Steeves tries to score a power double leg takedown but Thomas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Steeves somewhat.
Steeves shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thomas as he avoids it easily.
Steeves changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thomas tries to avoid it but Steeves manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thomas to the ground. Thomas escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Steeves fails with a takedown attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thomas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands some shots froms side control.
The referee asks Thomas politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Thomas prefers to stall for the moment though.
Thomas is looking to take a break and control but Steeves is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Steeves tries to improve position but can't.
Thomas scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Steeves to see if he's OK.
Steeves tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thomas wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Steeves dodges the ground and pound from Thomas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Steeves is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Steeves looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Thomas thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Steeves to regain full guard.
Steeves keeping full guard, as Thomas tries to pass.
Thomas with a nice head shot there.

Steeves working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Thomas doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Thomas manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Steeves keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cameron Thomas dominated that round.
That's time! Steeves's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Thomas works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Steeves with a poor takedown

and Thomas counters with a single leg into guard. Steeves didn't expect that.
Steeves trying to control the position.

Steeves working for a triangle but Thomas defends it easily.
Thomas trying to move into half guard but instead Steeves has managed to sweep!
Steeves content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Thomas can do anything to dispel that myth.
Steeves wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Steeves wants to pass the guard but Thomas is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steeves stops Thomas from standing up.
Steeves throwing strikes but missing.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Steeves from controlling successfully.
Steeves looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Steeves fails with the takedown
enabling Thomas to counter with a crisp jab.
Steeves misses with a takedown

and Thomas counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Davey Steeves. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is pressing down on Steeves's thigh, looking to free his foot. Steeves is holding on for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steeves works his way to full guard. Good work.
Thomas slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Thomas throwing strikes but missing.

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

Thomas got a little sloppy there for a moment and Steeves has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thomas has managed to get both his arms back between Steeves's legs - danger averted.
Thomas with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas won't allow Steeves to sweep him here.

Steeves is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thomas defends well.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Thomas's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Steeves tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Steeves has his foot on Thomas's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thomas works his way back into a safe position though.
Thomas chips away with some ground and pound.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Steeves keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas postures up.
Steeves bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thomas's guard.
Steeves working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Thomas pushes Steeves off and gets back to his feet.
Steeves fails with the takedown

and Thomas counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A lull in the action here.
Steeves manages to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cameron Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Steeves tries for a takedown but Thomas circles away easily
letting Thomas counter with a right hand.
Steeves with a lazy takedown attempt

and Thomas counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Thomas with a nice head shot there.
Steeves controls Thomas momentarily but Thomas frees himself.

Thomas throws a sloppy strike and Steeves has hooked up an armbar on the loose arm! He's turned and extended fully! Thomas is forced to tap! Great BJJ from Steeves!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Davey Steeves!