PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cedric Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esteban Delgado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steele comes into the arena with Ironman blaring out of the sound system. 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.

Steele
vs
Delgado

170 cm
25
157 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

168 cm
21
158 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Milwaukee's Best 160 -$150 SALE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Milwaukee's Best 160 -$150 SALE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cedric Steele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Esteban Delgado!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Reed Andrews and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steele moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Delgado misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Delgado fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Delgado throws a shot from downtown. Steele moves away and avoids it.

Delgado looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Delgado trying to control but Steele is working from the bottom.

Steele escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Delgado gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Delgado stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Steele swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Steele manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Delgado manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delgado keeping moving, preventing Steele from controlling successfully.
Delgado is pulling down on Steele's head to control his posture.
Delgado wants to sweep here but Steele controlling him for the moment.

Steele drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Steele jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Delgado has Steele pulled in close to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steele thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Delgado is pulling down on Steele's head. It's preventing any offense from Steele, at least for the moment.
Delgado wants to sweep here but Steele controlling him for the moment.
Delgado 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.
Steele being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delgado looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Steele stands and throws Delgado's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Steele working away.
Delgado tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Delgado is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Delgado wants to get back to full guard but Steele has mounted him!
Steele is looking to stand but Steele has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Delgado sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Steele is looking to advance position but Delgado won't allow it.
Steele prevents Delgado from improving his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steele is keen to just control but Delgado is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esteban Delgado dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Delgado shoots in for a takedown but Steele shows good takedown defense.

Delgado looking to score a takedown here. Steele is defending well but Delgado drives through and ends up in Steele's guard.
Delgado is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Steele is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Delgado pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Steele is keeping the position for now.
Delgado looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Delgado trying to control the position from guard on top but Steele is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Esteban Delgado has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delgado stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Steele swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Delgado showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Esteban Delgado wasn't active enough on the ground.
Steele throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Delgado stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Delgado throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Steele tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Delgado is in Steele's guard.
Delgado wants to pass the guard but Steele is keeping the position.
Steele tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Delgado scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Delgado is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Delgado must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Delgado throws an elbow that misses. Steele uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Delgado's guard. Nice move by Steele!
Steele trying to control the position from guard on top but Delgado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele throws an elbow that misses. Delgado uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Steele's guard. Nice move by Delgado!

Delgado avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Delgado trying to control but Steele is working from the bottom.
Delgado throwing strikes from guard but Steele blocks nicely.
Delgado engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Delgado advances to half guard.
Delgado sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Steele gets back to full guard.
Delgado postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Steele wants to sweep here but Delgado controlling him for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Delgado is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esteban Delgado showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Delgado closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Steele quickly recovers to half guard.
Steele wants to get back to full guard.
Delgado winds up and cracks Steele with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Delgado content to control rather than advance.
Steele has hold of Delgado's hands but Delgado slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Steele tries to get to full guard but Delgado has control of the leg.
Delgado tries to pass to full mount but Steele defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delgado controlling the action here.
Delgado looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Steele trying to control from the bottom.
Delgado missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Delgado slows the pace down in half guard.
Delgado trying to mount his opponent but Steele defends it.
Steele blocking the ground and pound attempt from Delgado.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steele looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Steele taking some punishment here, with Delgado in his half guard.
Delgado seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Steele moves into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Steele working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Delgado doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Delgado manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Delgado postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delgado wants to pass the guard but Steele is keeping the position.
Delgado looking to sit in guard and control but Steele gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Delgado is controlling Steele's posture.
Cedric Steele has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Steele stands and steps away. Delgado gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Steele swings away with a body shot that misses

and Delgado counters with a takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele is not content to let Delgado control the position.
Delgado controls the position.
Steele on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Delgado lands some shots froms side control.
Steele seems a little lost for a moment, as Delgado dominates the positioning.
Delgado wants to lay and pray for a moment but Steele keeps working.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Delgado advances to mount.
Delgado scoring with strikes but Steele is staying in there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Esteban Delgado comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Delgado winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esteban Delgado!
Esteban Delgado took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Milwaukee's Best 160 -$150 SALE!!!!!!!!!!!! for their support in the buildup to the fight.