PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rap Reiplinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Reiplinger
vs
Steel

199 cm
21
247 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

195 cm
23
270 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Balco Boys - Hilo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rap Reiplinger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Steel!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Wagner Zegers and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reiplinger avoids the body shot from Steel.
Nice jab there from Reiplinger.
Reiplinger scores with a hook.
Reiplinger slips under a jab from Steel.
Reiplinger cracks Steel with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Steel pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Steel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Reiplinger.
Reiplinger moves out of range of the strikes.
Reiplinger throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Reiplinger slips under a jab.
A lazy left from Reiplinger finds it's target.
Steel throws a hook but Reiplinger avoids it easily.
Steel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Reiplinger.
Reiplinger misses with a jab, cross combination.

Reiplinger rushes Steel and presses him up against the cage.
Reiplinger throws an elbow but it misses.
Reiplinger leaning his opponent against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Reiplinger.
Reiplinger stalling.

Reiplinger has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Steel regains guard immediately.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reiplinger throwing strikes from guard but Steel blocks nicely.
Reiplinger wants to control from the top but Steel keeps moving.
Steel really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Reiplinger. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Reiplinger is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Steel is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Steel tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two 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.
Reiplinger pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Steel is keeping the position for now.
Reiplinger throwing strikes from guard but Steel blocks nicely.
Reiplinger throwing strikes from guard but Steel blocks nicely.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Reiplinger slips under a jab.
Steel just misses with a punch to the body.
A punch combination from Reiplinger misses.
Reiplinger avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Steel misses the shot to the body.
Reiplinger throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Good standup being displayed there by Reiplinger as he connects with a hook.
Steel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Reiplinger.
Steel missing with a left hand there. Reiplinger was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel looks to land a right hand but Reiplinger moved out of range.
John Steel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Steel throws a lazy right hand but Reiplinger sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Reiplinger bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Steel prevents Reiplinger from improving position.

Reiplinger is trying to get an arm triangle but Steel is defending well.

Reiplinger is trying to get an arm triangle but Steel is defending well.
Reiplinger misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Steel managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Reiplinger.

Reiplinger tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Steel wants to control but Reiplinger postures up.
Steel might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Reiplinger kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Steel prevents Reiplinger from improving position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rap Reiplinger dominated that 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.

Steel stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Steel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Reiplinger.
Reiplinger scores with a crisp jab that stopped Steel in his tracks.
Reiplinger throws a series of punches but Steel avoids them all with ease.

Reiplinger moves into the clinch.

Steel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Reiplinger ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Steel thows a left - swing and a miss!
Steel takes a jab right on the kisser.
John Steel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Reiplinger moves into the clinch.
Steel wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Steel is trying to break free.
Reiplinger working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Steel is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Reiplinger decides to pull guard.

Reiplinger looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reiplinger controlling Steel's posture.
Steel is stalling in the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Steel avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Reiplinger is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Reiplinger looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Steel being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel wants to control from the top but Reiplinger keeps moving.

Steel got a little sloppy there for a moment and Reiplinger has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Steel has managed to get both his arms back between Reiplinger's legs - danger averted.
Steel is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Reiplinger wants to sweep here but Steel controlling him for the moment.

Reiplinger looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Steel passes into side control.
Steel remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rap Reiplinger will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Reiplinger uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Steel.
A telegraphed right hand from Steel misses the target.
Steel misses with a straight right.
Steel swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Reiplinger counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Steel is staying active underneath Reiplinger, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Steel won't allow Reiplinger to pass to mount.
Reiplinger is looking to take a break and control but Steel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Reiplinger takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Reiplinger passes to full mount!
Reiplinger wants to control the pace but Steel is squirming around nicely.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Reiplinger here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel avoids a series of strikes thrown by Reiplinger.
Reiplinger fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Steel can do anything to dispel that myth.
Steel is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Reiplinger throws a strike there. Steel manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.
Reiplinger wants to lay and pray for a moment but Steel keeps working.
Reiplinger thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reiplinger 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.
Reiplinger is looking to stall here but Steel recovers full guard.
Reiplinger is fighting to break Steel's control of his arms but Steel is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reiplinger connects with a couple of short punches.
Rap Reiplinger overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Steel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Reiplinger throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Reiplinger drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Steel dives on top into guard.
Steel trying to control the position from guard on top but Reiplinger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reiplinger throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
John Steel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Reiplinger seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Rap Reiplinger is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Reiplinger wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rap Reiplinger showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Reiplinger 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rap Reiplinger!