PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Luke Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Clay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Steele
vs
Clay

190 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
18
183 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Luke Steele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Andrew Clay!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clay shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Steele pinned against the cage. Steele gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Steele lands a really nice looking cross but Clay seems unphased.
Decent striking displayed by Steele there.
Steele shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Clay as he avoids it easily.
Clay wants to clinch.
Clay doesn't manage to clinch there - Steele circles away.
Clay is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Steele misses with a double jab.

Steele clinches with his opponent.
Clay misses with an elbow over the top.

Steele escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick misses from Clay.
Steele lands with a hook. Clay tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Steele closes the distance and clinches.
Clay tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Steele decides to pull guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steele is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Clay throws a big right hand that misses.
Steele keeping full guard, as Clay tries to pass.
Steele looking for a sweep. Not yet Steele, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clay in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Clay wants to pass the guard but Steele is keeping the position.
Steele trying to keep a closed guard but Clay is proving a slippery customer.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Clay looks to land a combination but Steele avoids it well.
Clay lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Steele drops Clay with a left right combo! Steele follows him down to the ground into side control.

Clay is rocked!

Steele tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Clay is still in real trouble! Can Steele finish him?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steele works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steele working the ground and pound.
Clay seems to have recovered his senses.
Steele knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Clay on the ground.
Clay tries to buck Steele off but Steele is having none of it.
Clay gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Clay looks gassed!
Clay is trying to get back to full guard.
Steele is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steele is working for a submission of some sort.
Steele content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Clay is trying to stand back up but Steele is controlling him
Steele looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Steele lands a nice short elbow.

Steele seems to be looking for submissions.
Steele thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clay is refusing to be controlled, as Steele sits in half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Steele clinches.
Clay misses with a knee to the head.

Clay breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Clay tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steele swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Steele closes this distance looking for a takedown but Clay circles away.

Steele forces Clay back against the cage and clinches.
Clay can't break the clinch.
Clay working aggressively here.
Clay with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Clay stops a takedown attempt from Steele.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Steele. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clay throws an elbow that misses.
Clay lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Clay blocks the elbow strike.

Steele gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Steele tries to stand but can't do so whilst Clay controls his leg.
Steele wants to control but Clay is keeping him busy.
Clay regains full guard. Nicely done.
Clay wants to sweep but no luck.

Clay pushes Steele off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Steele has closed the distance and engaged Clay in a clinch.
Clay misses with an elbow over the top.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Steele.

Steele breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Clay darts in trying to clinch

and Steele counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Clay's guard now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steele won't allow Clay to get back to his feet.
Steele won't allow Clay to sweep him here.
Steele sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Clay manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Steele manages to get himself to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steele looking to hit a scissor sweep but Clay is one step ahead there.
Clay loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Steele dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Clay has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Steele finds it's way round the side to connect with Clay's head.
No joy there for Clay, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Steele takes the fight into the clinch.
Clay misses with a punch on the inside.

Steele is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Clay can't fight it off and eventually Steele manages to take the fight to the floor. Clay looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Clay striking off his back but it's not causing Steele any problems.
Steele wanted to stand there but Clay had control of the position.
Steele tries to free his leg and advance position but Clay is retaining full guard.
Steele prevents Clay from getting back to his feet.
Steele looking to pass the guard.
Steele prevents Clay from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Steele stands up from Clay's guard - Steele perhaps looking for a knockout.
Clay tries to clinch but Steele moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele thuds a left hand into Clay's body.

Steele gets the takedown into side control.
Clay is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Clay manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Clay is staying active underneath Steele, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Clay makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Steele takes the fight into the clinch.
Clay lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Steele breaks the clinch.
Luke Steele is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Steele instigates a clinch.
Clay lands an elbow just above Steele 's eye.

Steele breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Steele fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Clay looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Steele will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nice shot by Clay.
Steele swats away the attempt to clinch by Clay.
Clay misses with a wild combination.
Andrew Clay seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steele drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Steele scoring with punches from side control.
Steele wants to lay and pray for a moment but Clay keeps working.
Steele misses with the ground and pound.
Steele is looking to take a break and control but Clay is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Steele postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele trying to control the position but Clay is working away.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Clay looks to clinch
and Steele cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Steele moves in looking to clinch but Clay pushes him off.
A telegraphed right hand from Steele misses the target.
Steele misses with a low kick as Clay jumps back.
Steele takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Clay throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Clay clobbers Steele with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Clay closes the distance but Steele moves to the side

and Steele holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Clay tries to break the clinch but Steele is controlling the position.
Clay wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Steele throws an elbow that misses.
Clay tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Steele manages to pull guard.
Clay with a flurry of punches that miss.
Clay wants to stand but Steele is controlling his posture from full guard.
Steele is controlling Clay's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele keeping full guard, as Clay tries to pass.
Steele wants to get back to his feet but Clay is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Steele is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Steele is keen to just control but Clay is a slippery customer.
Clay tries to kick Steele off but Steele keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Clay missing with punches from the bottom.
Steele not doing much here.
Clay taking some punishment here, with Steele in his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Steele 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!

Clay scores with a head kick.
Steele closes this distance looking for a takedown but Clay circles away.
Clay moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Clay looks to clinch

and Steele moves into the clinch.
Steele looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Clay landing knees to the body.
Steele blocks the elbow strike.
Clay gets underhooks to prevent Steele's takedown attempt.
Steele wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Clay has him pressed against the cage.
Clay misses with a short punch on the inside.
Clay lands an elbow inside.
Clay throws an elbow but it misses.
Steele is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Clay is keeping busy.

Clay has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Steele off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Steele is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Clay is looking to clinch.
Clay tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Steele paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Steele.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Steele.
Steele trying to control the position but Clay is working away.
Clay taking a bit of punishment here - Steele scoring with strikes.
Clay wants to get back to his feet.
Clay takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Clay is not content to let Steele control the position.
Steele takes a little break here. Clay wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Clay sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Andrew Clay has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clay wants to improve his position but Steele is controlling well.
Clay wants to get back to his feet.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Steele connects with a nice short shot to Clay's temple.
Steele scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Clay looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Clay on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A slow jab from Clay misses its intended target.

Steele has managed to clinch.

Steele breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Steele gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steele.

Steele escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Steele misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Steele. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clay keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele avoids the head kick by Clay.

Steele moves into the clinch successfully.
Steele lands a body shot in the clinch.
Steele lands a body punch in the clinch.
Steele wants to break free but Clay has control.
Steele blocks the elbow strike.
Clay fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Steele breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Steele scores with a body shot.

Steele clinches with his opponent.
Clay digs a right hand underneath Steele's ribcage. Steele let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Steele wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Steele breaks the clinch.
Steele swats away the attempt to clinch by Clay.
Steele fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Steele closes the distance and clinches up with Clay, looking for a takedown. Steele pushes Clay against the cage but Clay circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Clay tries to clinch

and Steele counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Steele has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Clay wants to stand but Steele is controlling the position.
Steele forces his way into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Steele wants to lay and pray for a moment but Clay keeps working.
Clay is trying to stand up here but Steele is controlling him well.
Luke Steele overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Clay is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Steele's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Steele's back!
Steele tries to break free.
Clay struggling to land strikes to the head as Steele covers up.
I really don't envy Steele right now.
Clay missing with punches from the back.
Steele tries to break free.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steele covering up well and avoiding damage.
Steele manages to reverse the position and now he's in Clay's guard. Nice work there by Steele.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luke Steele showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Steele 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

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