PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kostya Tszyu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Austin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tszyu comes to the cage accompanied by Badstreet Atlanta Ga. Austin has chosen Stone Cold Steve Austin's entrance music 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.

Tszyu
vs
Austin

178 cm
29
163 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

185 cm
29
160 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kostya Tszyu!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Steve Austin!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Shirou Masuda and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Austin avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Austin finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Austin throws a good cross that connects.
Tszyu throws a combination that misses
and Austin counters with a thumping low kick.
Austin jabs at Tszyu's body.
Tszyu looks to throw the jab but Austin is out of range.
Tszyu misses with a lunging right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Austin checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Austin lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Austin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tszyu moves out of range of the body kick.
Austin wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Tszyu listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Tszyu takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Tszyu throws a hook but Austin blocks it.
Tszyu lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Austin circles away quickly and effectively.
Tszyu missing with a left hand there. Austin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Austin fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice body kick there by Austin.
Kostya Tszyu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tszyu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Austin.
Tszyu throws a right and a left that Austin avoids nicely.
Nice jab there from Austin.
Austin fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Austin works Tszyu's body with a nice hook.
Tszyu is breathing heavily.
Austin lands a really nice looking cross but Tszyu seems unphased.
Austin fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Austin is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Tszyu rather than just go for the knockout.
Tszyu checks a low kick from Austin.
That kick from Austin tenderised Tszyu's leg. Tszyu is trying to keep his angry face on.
The fighters circle momentarily. Austin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Tszyu shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Tszyu misses with an uppercut
and Austin counters with a right hand to the body.
Tszyu is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Austin's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Tszyu takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Austin closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Austin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Austin seems to be working for a kimura but Tszyu defends the submission attempt.
Austin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Austin works his way into full mount!
Austin connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
A nice elbow there by Austin.
Tszyu wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Austin controlling his opponent.
Tszyu is trying to stand up.
Austin is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Tszyu can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Austin landing shots from mount.
Austin landing strikes from the mount.
Tszyu really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tszyu is trying to stand up.
Austin with a couple of short strikes.

Tszyu defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Austin.
Austin controlling from mount.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Austin connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Austin avoids the attempt from Tszyu to control.

Austin has control of Tszyu's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Tszyu regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Tszyu is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Austin locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Tszyu is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Steve Austin!
Steve Austin is the new lightweight champion!