PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kuai Lai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zacharia Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lai comes into the arena with CKY - Chinese Rap blaring out of the sound system. Steele has chosen Rock You Like A Hurricane as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lai
vs
Steele

195 cm
24
215 lbs
15 - 11 - 0

176 cm
27
182 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

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 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kuai Lai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zacharia Steele!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Luis Engracia and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lai shoots in looking for a takedown but Steele manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lai's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A leg kick checked by Lai.
Steele cracks the inside of Lai's front leg.
A solid leg kick lands there for Lai.
Steele lands a body shot.
Lai is looking to land body kicks.
Lai throws a front kick aimed at Steele's knee but Steele avoids it well.
Lai misses with a leg kick
and Steele counters with a left to the body.
Lai lands a head kick!
Steele shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Lai looks to land a body kick but Steele moved away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Steele.
Lai throws a nice inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steele fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Lai wants to clinch
and Steele makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Lai really felt that one!
Steele lands a nice hook to Lai's body. Lai takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Lai thows a leg kick but Steele checks it
and Steele counters with a nice body kick.

Steele rushes Lai and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nice elbow from Steele.

It looks like Kuai Lai has been cut.
Lai takes a knee to the side of the body.
Lai tries a knee to the head but Steele blocks it.
Lai is breathing heavily.
Knees to the body from Steele.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lai avoiding damage as Steele throws knees to the body.
Steele lands a nice elbow.
Lai blocks the elbow strike.
Steele unloads a knee to the mid-section. Lai lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Steele softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Steele landing knees to the body.
Steele tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lai avoids it.
Lai tries to land knees in the clinch but Steele avoids the damage to the body.
Steele lands with a light punch inside.
Steele missing with knees to the body.
Steele lands a body shot in the clinch.
Steele lands a nice elbow.
Steele lands an elbow just above Lai 's eye.
Steele lands a shoulder strike.
Lai avoids a wild elbow strike from Steele.
Steele stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Steele misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lai.
Steele dodges an elbow strike from Lai.
Steele creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Lai's defenses.

Kuai Lai's cut is getting worse.

Steele ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Steele no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Lai preventing the sweep.
Steele lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Lai!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele tries to control but Lai wriggling away.
Steele is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steele wants to control the pace but Lai is squirming around nicely.
Steele moves to back control.
Lai tries to escape but Steele has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Lai looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele keeps control of the position as Lai tries to break free.
Steele struggling to keep hold of the position.

Steele has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
I really don't envy Lai right now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lai is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Lai holding both Steele 's hands and preventing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Steele looking for the choke but no joy.

Steele tightening his grip on Lai, looking for the choke.
Steele controlling well, preventing Lai from escaping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zacharia Steele dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kuai Lai's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Steele dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lai. That did some damage!
Steele shoots in for a takedown but Lai shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Steele throws a leg kick that misses.
Lai with a lazy takedown attempt
and Steele counters with a leg kick.

Steele instigates a clinch.
Lai avoids the elbow strike from Steele, against the cage.
Lai looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Steele is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lai is defending well for now.
Lai avoids a wild elbow strike from Steele.
Lai looking to throw knees to the head but Steele is blocking nicely.
Steele missing with knees to the body.
Steele avoids a wild elbow strike from Lai.
Lai working Steele over with knees to the body.
Lai connects with a knee to the head.
Lai misses with a knee strike.
Steele throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Steele. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Lai is trying to push Steele away but Steele has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Steele lands an elbow that stopped Lai in his tracks for a moment.
Lai blocks an elbow strike from Steele.
Lai avoids the elbow strike from Steele, against the cage.
Steele lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Lai.
Steele lands an elbow inside that Lai shrugs off.
Lai throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lai avoiding damage as Steele throws knees to the body.
Steele takes a knee to the side of the body.
Lai avoiding damage as Steele throws knees to the body.
Lai misses with a knee to the head.
Steele lands a good knee to the midsection. Lai won't want to take too many of those.
Lai scores with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lai throws a knee to the head but misses.
Steele is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lai is defending well for now.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Lai.
Steele looks to throw an elbow but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Steele just misses with a elbow thrown towards Lai's brow.
Steele lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Lai blocks an elbow strike.
Steele lands a nice elbow.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lai throws an elbow but misses.
Lai blocks the elbow strike.
Steele managing to block the knees to the body from Lai.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lai.
A nice left hand lands by Steele.
Lai blocks an elbow strike from Steele.
Steele throws an elbow but it misses.
Steele tries to throw a body punch but Lai avoids it by throwing Steele back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele lands an elbow that stopped Lai in his tracks for a moment.

Steele drags the fight down to the ground.

Steele had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lai defends it easily.
Steele looking to control.
Lai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Steele swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lai wants to control from the top but Steele keeps moving.

Steele throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lai stopping the sweep attempt from Steele.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steele is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Steele keeping moving, preventing Lai from controlling successfully.
Lai passes into half guard.
Lai perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Lai wants to take a breather but Steele is having none of it.
Lai prevents Steele from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Steele is staying active underneath Lai, 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.
Steele wants to get back to full guard but Lai has passed into side control.
Steele working to try and regain half guard.
Lai will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Lai tries to control but Steele wriggling away.
Steele really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Lai tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Steele is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Zacharia Steele will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Kuai Lai's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Steele throws a leg kick but Lai sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Steele looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Steele swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lai with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Lai moves in looking to clinch but Steele pushes him off.
Lai throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Steele avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lai misses with a leg kick
and Steele counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lai throws a sloppy head kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A low kick from Lai is predictable there
and Steele counters with a slapping leg kick.
Lai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Steele fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Lai checks it well.
A clash of legs there as Lai blocks the low kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Steele. That's going to slow Lai down.
Lai feints and then cracks Steele's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Steele down.
Lai tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Steele manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Steele will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Lai throws a leg kick that is checked
and Steele counters with a nice low kick that buckles Lai's knee momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele just misses with a punch to the body.
Lai is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Lai shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lai throws a low kick, looking for Steele's leg but Steele calmly moves out of range.
Kuai Lai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lai scores with a head kick.
Lai wants to clinch but Steele slips to the side
and Steele counters with a slapping leg kick.
Steele throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A bone on bone clash there as Lai blocks the leg kick.
Lai throws a head kick that misses
and Steele counters with an outside leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Steele. That's going to slow Lai down.
Lai misses with a leg kick
and Steele counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Steele bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Steele lands a slapping body shot.
Steele is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Lai rather than just go for the knockout.
Steele fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Lai steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Steele. That one must have hurt.
Steele connects with an inside leg kick.
Steele throws a nice outside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lai takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Lai on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kuai Lai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Steele lands a right hook to the body.
Steele smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Lai gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Steele.

Lai gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Steele to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Steele drops back looking for a leg! Lai is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lai manages to kick Steele off! Steele jumps back into Lai's guard.
Steele content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Steele wants to pass the guard but Lai is keeping the position.
Steele wants to control from the top but Lai keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steele drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Lai manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Steele has Lai in his guard.
Steele wants to sweep but no luck.
Zacharia Steele is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Steele is trying to control the position but Lai postures up.
Steele keeping full guard, as Lai tries to pass.
Lai trying to control the position from guard on top but Steele is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Steele is looking for a triangle but Lai pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Steele wants to sweep here but Lai controlling him for the moment.
Steele pulls Lai in close to prevent any damage.
Lai looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Steele looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lai has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lai trying to control the position from guard on top but Steele is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Lai is looking to work some ground and pound but Steele has wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zacharia Steele comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Steele has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

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