PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dariush Reinald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Reinald
vs
Steele

182 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dariush Reinald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Matt Steele!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Decent striking displayed by Reinald there.

Steele clinches up against the cage.

Steele has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Reinald clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Steele doesn't have the hooks in and Reinald manages to turn into his guard.
Reinald stops Steele from standing up.
Steele trying to control the position.
Steele has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Reinald has passed into side control.
Steele tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Reinald wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Steele wants to control but Reinald postures up.
Steele is looking for a sweep.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Reinald is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Steele knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele prevents Reinald from moving into mount.

Reinald looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Steele tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Reinald wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Steele wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Reinald decides to stand back up.
Reinald throws a lazy head kick
and Steele counters with a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Reinald clinches up with Steele and pushes him back against the cage.
Reinald is pushing Steele up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Reinald tries to break free but Steele pushes him back against the cage.
Steele has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Reinald avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Reinald has had enough of the clinch but Steele keeps him there for the moment.
Steele tries for a takedown. No joy.

Steele pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Reinald looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Steele is fending him off so far but Reinald persists. Nope, Steele circles away and we're back to standing.
Reinald has his takedown stuffed
and Steele counters with a head kick.
Reinald is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reinald will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dariush Reinald. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reinald fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Steele looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Steele is keen to just control but Reinald is a slippery customer.
Reinald is trying to control but can't.
Steele working Reinald over with strikes.
Steele not doing much here.
Reinald won't allow Steele to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Reinald's head.
Reinald pushes Steele off looking to stand but Steele dives back in and keeps control.
Steele working the head and body with strikes.
Reinald is not content to let Steele control the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Steele passes to side control.
Steele controlling the position from side mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Steele dominated that round.
That's time! Reinald's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Reinald tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steele swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Reinald fails with an attempt to clinch.

Steele closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Reinald to the mat! Reinald manages to get full guard.
Steele has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Reinald is proving hard to escape from.
Steele really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Reinald. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Steele wants to control from the top but Reinald keeps moving.
Reinald trying to keep a closed guard but Steele is proving a slippery customer.
Reinald keeping full guard, as Steele tries to pass.
Reinald is trying to keep Steele in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Steele manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Reinald on his heels. He'll look to pass Reinald's guard now, I'm sure.
Reinald looking for a sweep. Not yet Reinald, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Reinald trying to strike off his back.
Steele trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Steele trying to control the position from guard on top but Reinald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steele pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Reinald is keeping the position for now.
Steele must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Steele stopping the sweep attempt from Reinald.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele looking to sit in guard and control but Reinald gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Steele has a closed guard, preventing Reinald from standing up.
Steele is trying to keep Reinald in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matt Steele was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Reinald moves in looking to clinch but Steele pushes him off.
Steele tries to close the distance and clinch up but Reinald swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Steele changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Reinald tries to avoid it but Steele manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Reinald to the ground. Reinald escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Reinald stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Reinald wants it to stay on the feet.

Reinald forces Steele back against the cage and clinches.

Steele escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Reinald fails with the takedown.
Steele looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dariush Reinald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Steele.
Reinald moves in looking to clinch but Steele pushes him off.
Steele stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Steele wants it to stay on the feet.
Dariush Reinald is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reinald shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Steele as he jumps to the side.
Steele lands an overhand right.

Steele shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Reinald manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steele trying to control but Reinald is working from the bottom.
Steele working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Steele wants to control from the top but Reinald keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steele looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Steele showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Steele attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Steele moves in looking to clinch but Reinald pushes him off.
A jab from Reinald finds it's way through Steele's defenses.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Steele.
Steele trying to control the action but Reinald is working from the bottom.

Steele has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Reinald is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Steele fails with a takedown attempt.
Steele takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Steele as Reinald shoots in.
Reinald moves in looking to clinch but Steele pushes him off.
Reinald misses with a jab, cross combination.
Reinald looks for a takedown but Steele sprawls well.
Reinald misses with an uppercut.

Steele instigates a clinch.

Steele pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fighters circling - Reinald throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Steele shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Reinald as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele fails in his attempt to clinch.
Reinald tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Steele misses with a takedown attempt - Reinald sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Dariush Reinald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Steele.
Reinald throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Steele takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Steele gets caught napping as Reinald dives in and scores a takedown. Steele manages to retain guard.
Steele keeping moving, preventing Reinald from controlling successfully.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steele is trying to control the position but Reinald postures up.
Steele wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reinald won't allow Steele to get back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Steele can do anything to dispel that myth.
Steele manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Reinald manages to get himself to full guard.
Reinald bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Steele's guard.
Steele is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Steele not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Reinald passes Steele's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Reinald wants to control but Steele is keeping him busy.

Reinald decides to return to a standing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reinald will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Reinald keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Steele throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Reinald's waist but Reinald gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Steele off to one side.

Reinald moves into range and clinches up with Steele.
Steele wants to break free but Reinald has control.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Steele breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head kick misses from Reinald.
Reinald throws a nice looking combination but Steele bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Reinald stuffs the takedown.
Dariush Reinald has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matt Steele is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Reinald lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Steele backs up against the cage.

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 Dariush Reinald.
I think Steele has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

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