PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lleyton Stiels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lleyton Stiels has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Stiels
vs
Steele

172 cm
23
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lleyton Stiels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Steele!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Cecil Peabody and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steele takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Steele closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Stiels to the mat! Stiels manages to get full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Stiels trying to keep a closed guard but Steele is proving a slippery customer.
Stiels controlling Steele's posture.
Steele wants to pass the guard but Stiels is keeping the position.
Stiels keeping moving, preventing Steele from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stiels trying to keep a closed guard but Steele is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Lleyton Stiels.
Steele shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Steele drives through and clinches with Stiels against the cage.

Stiels pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stiels shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Steele as he avoids it easily.
Steele fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stiels fails with a takedown attempt.
Stiels with a lazy takedown attempt

and Steele moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lleyton Stiels. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stiels misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Stiels breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stiels.
Steele looks for a takedown but Stiels sprawls well.
Steele looks gassed!
Horrible takedown by Stiels or perhaps it was just good defense by Steele which made him look bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Stiels.
Stiels throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Steele throws a head kick but Stiels moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stiels is defended easily by Steele.

Steele shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Stiels manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steele trying to control but Stiels is working from the bottom.
Steele missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele wants to control from the top but Stiels keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stiels is on top in guard.
Stiels is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Stiels pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Steele is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele working a defensive guard here.
Stiels stays in close to Steele's body and controls the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stiels tries to clinch but Steele moves out of range.
Steele tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
No joy there for Steele, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stiels closes this distance looking for a takedown but Steele circles away.
Stiels tries to clinch but Steele moves out of range.
Steele misses with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lleyton Stiels will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Stiels is looking to clinch but Steele is avoiding it.
Steele misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stiels 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 throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stiels misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Steele circles away from the clinch attempt.

Steele bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Steele working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Steele wants to control but Stiels is keeping him busy.
Steele avoids the strikes from the bottom by Stiels.
Stiels can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele is breathing heavily.
Stiels gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Stiels works his way to full guard. Good work.
Steele pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stiels is keeping the position for now.
Stiels wants to stand but Steele is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stiels bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Steele's guard.
Stiels advances to half guard.
Stiels perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Steele trying to control here.
Stiels slows the pace down in half guard.
Steele is staying active underneath Stiels, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele gets back to full guard.
Stiels controls from within his opponent's guard.
Stiels will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Lleyton Stiels just wasn't active enough.
Stiels fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Steele avoids it really well and circles away.
Steele takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Steele shoots in for a takedown but Stiels shows good takedown defense.
Stiels fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lleyton Stiels is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele fails with a takedown attempt.
Stiels lands with a slapping head kick.
Steele is looking to clinch but Stiels is avoiding it.
Steele shoots in looking for a takedown but Stiels manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Steele's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lleyton Stiels has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Steele.
Steele avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steele defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stiels.
Steele tries to clinch up.

Stiels instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lleyton Stiels dominated that second round.
That's time! Stiels's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Steele shoots in and drives through. Stiels sprawls well.
Stiels lands a jab-cross combination.
Stiels tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Steele decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Stiels's guard.
Stiels controlling the position.

Stiels manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Stiels stuffs the takedown attempt from Steele. Steele gets slowly back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stiels misses with a takedown attempt - Steele sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stiels fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Steele misses with a wild body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stiels swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stiels tries to score a power double leg takedown but Steele sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stiels somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lleyton Stiels. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Steele wants to clinch up but Stiels keeps it at a distance.
Steele swats away the attempt to clinch by Stiels.
Steele will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Stiels closes the distance and clinches.
Stiels landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stiels escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Steele throws a head kick but Stiels moves out of range.

Stiels darts in and clinches Steele up against the cage.
Steele prevents a takedown attempt there.

Stiels breaks the clinch.
Steele misses with a double jab.
Stiels changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Steele tries to avoid it but Stiels manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Steele to the ground. Steele escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Stiels shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Steele as he avoids it easily.

Steele rushes Stiels and presses him up against the cage.
Steele tries to throw a body punch but Stiels avoids it by throwing Steele back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Stiels has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Steele uses from the top position.

Stiels pushes Steele off and scrambles back to his feet.

Steele looking to score a takedown here. Stiels is defending well but Steele drives through and ends up in Stiels's guard.
Stiels is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Steele wants to stand but Stiels has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Stiels looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele passes Stiels's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Stiels makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steele closes the distance and clinches up with Stiels, looking for a takedown. Steele pushes Stiels against the cage but Stiels circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Steele takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Steele keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Horrible takedown by Steele or perhaps it was just good defense by Stiels which made him look bad.
Chris Steele has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lleyton Stiels is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Stiels has Steele up against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Lleyton Stiels.
Well Stiels 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Lleyton Stiels!