PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Steve Austin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keygo Atobe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Austin
vs
Atobe

190 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

210 cm
19
134 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Austin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Keygo Atobe!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Stewart Dunkirk and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Austin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Austin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Austin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Austin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Atobe defending well though.
Austin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Atobe is staying active underneath Austin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Austin controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Steve Austin wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Atobe tries for a takedown but Austin circles away easily

and Austin counters with a nice double leg into side control. Atobe won't be happy with that.
Austin in side control, throwing shots but Atobe defends.
Atobe struggling a bit here.

Austin decides to stand back up.
Austin thows a body shot but no joy.
Austin fails to land with a series of punches.

Atobe shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Austin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Atobe wants to control from the top but Austin keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atobe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Austin is keeping the position for now.

Atobe drops back looking for a leg! Austin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Austin manages to kick Atobe off! Atobe jumps back into Austin's guard.
Atobe preventing the sweep.
Austin wants to improve his position but instead Atobe has moved into half guard.
Austin manages to get to full guard.
Atobe wants to control from the top but Austin keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atobe preventing the sweep.
Austin keeping moving, preventing Atobe from controlling successfully.
Atobe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Austin trying to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Austin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Atobe counters with a nice double leg into side control. Austin won't be happy with that.
Austin is not content to let Atobe control the position.

Atobe is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Austin is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atobe working away.
Austin is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Atobe is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Atobe goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Austin has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Atobe but great work by Austin.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Atobe is looking for a sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Atobe is trying to control Austin's posture but Austin avoids it.

Austin goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Atobe has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Austin but great work by Atobe.
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 Steve Austin will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Austin gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Austin pulls guard.
Atobe wants to control from the top but Austin keeps moving.
Atobe preventing the sweep.
Austin working a defensive guard here.
Atobe trying to control but Austin is working from the bottom.
Austin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Atobe wants to control from the top but Austin keeps moving.

We're going to have a standup here because Steve Austin wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Austin looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Atobe!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Austin working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Austin sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Austin lands a heavy elbow.

Austin jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Atobe is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Atobe and Austin has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Atobe can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atobe sneaks back into half guard.

Austin stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Atobe shoots in and gets a takedown into Austin's guard.
Austin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Austin wants to stand up but Atobe is controlling him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Atobeis looking to pass into half guard but Austin pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Austin is in guard.
Atobe wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atobe keeping moving, preventing Austin from controlling successfully.
Austin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Atobe controls Austin momentarily but Austin frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Steve Austin wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Austin gets a double leg takedown into Atobe's guard.
Atobe keeping moving, preventing Austin from controlling successfully.
Atobe is trying to control the position but Austin postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atobe keeping moving, preventing Austin from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Steve Austin wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Horrible takedown by Atobe or perhaps it was just good defense by Austin which made him look bad.
Atobe with a poor takedown

and Austin counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Atobe regains half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Atobe is refusing to be controlled, as Austin sits in half guard.
Austin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Austin dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Austin slaps away a takedown attempt from Atobe, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Austin dives in and scores a takedown into Atobe's guard.
Austin trying to control the position from guard on top but Atobe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Austin looking to pass the guard.
Atobe keeping moving, preventing Austin from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Atobe looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Austin passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Austin wants to control but Atobe is keeping him busy.
Atobe trying to control but Austin postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Steve Austin.

Atobe gets the takedown into side control.
Austin stops Atobe from passing to mount.

Atobe tries for a kimura but Austin is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atobe blocks the strikes from Austin.
Atobe tries to advance to mount but Austin denies him.

Atobe looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Atobe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Atobe working away.
Austin tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Atobe wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Austin, who protects the arm well.
Austin struggling a bit here.
Austin is not content to let Atobe control the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Austin is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atobe tries to advance to mount but can't.

Atobe looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Austin regains half guard.
Austin is trying to maintain the position but Atobe is very close to passing his half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

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 Steve Austin.
Well Austin 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Steve Austin!