PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gareth McCall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francois Van Steyne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McCall's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Bobby Darin - Mack The Knife. Van Steyne has chosen When Angels Cry as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

McCall
vs
Van Steyne

185 cm
24
195 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

187 cm
24
195 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conquer

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gareth McCall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Francois Van Steyne!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Steyne pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McCall avoids the head kick by Van Steyne.
McCall lands a right hook to the body.
Van Steyne tries a head kick but it misses.
McCall blocks a head kick by Van Steyne.
Van Steyne scores with a head kick.
Van Steyne takes one on the chin but seems OK.
McCall lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McCall tries to clinch but Van Steyne is having none of it.
McCall ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Van Steyne moves away.
McCall wants to clinch up but Van Steyne keeps it at a distance.
Van Steyne misses with a head kick.
McCall tries to clinch there but Van Steyne circles away.

McCall drives through and clinches with Van Steyne against the cage.
Van Steyne has had enough of the clinch but McCall keeps him there for the moment.
McCall misses with a knee to the head.
Van Steyne holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Van Steyne softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Steyne is trying to break free.
McCall with an attempt at a knee that misses.
McCall lands a damaging elbow.
Van Steyne blocks an elbow strike from McCall.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, McCall just misses with a elbow thrown towards Van Steyne's brow.
Van Steyne just leaning against McCall, taking a breather.
Van Steyne wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Van Steyne avoids a wild elbow strike from McCall.
Van Steyne wants to get back to striking at distance but McCall won't allow it.
McCall gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Francois Van Steyne has been cut.
Van Steyne is looking to break free of the clinch but McCall has double underhooks.
McCall lands an elbow just above Van Steyne 's eye.
McCall misses with an elbow strike.
McCall tries to land a knee to the head but Van Steyne blocks with his arms.
Van Steyne blocks the elbow strike.
McCall misses with an elbow strike.
McCall taking a breather.
Van Steyne avoids the elbow strike from McCall, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Steyne avoids a wild elbow strike from McCall.
McCall throws an elbow that misses.
McCall misses with a knee strike.

Van Steyne manages to break the clinch.

McCall pushes Van Steyne up against the cage in a clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Van Steyne blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Van Steyne is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
McCall pushes off an throws an elbow but Van Steyne leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Van Steyne blocks the elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, McCall just misses with a elbow thrown towards Van Steyne's brow.
Van Steyne dodges an elbow strike from McCall.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Van Steyne dodges an elbow strike from McCall.
Van Steyne is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
McCall trying to land knees to the body.
Van Steyne wants to get back to striking at distance but McCall won't allow it.
Van Steyne throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCall pushes off an throws an elbow but Van Steyne leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
McCall lands an elbow inside.
McCall creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Van Steyne tries to break free but McCall pushes him back against the cage.
Van Steyne has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Van Steyne has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
McCall missing with knees to the body.
Van Steyne avoids a wild elbow strike from McCall.

Van Steyne manages to break the clinch.
Van Steyne throws a sloppy head kick and McCall moves out of range easily.

Van Steyne tries to keep at a distance but McCall has taken the fight into the clinch.

Van Steyne's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Van Steyne throws a quick head kick that skims the top of McCall's head.
McCall lands a really nice looking cross but Van Steyne seems unphased.
McCall tries to clinch there but Van Steyne circles away.
Van Steyne throws a head kick that McCall semi-blocks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Van Steyne throws a head kick but McCall moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Steyne throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Van Steyne staying out of range there.
McCall tries to clinch up.
McCall fails in his attempt to clinch.
Van Steyne pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Van Steyne misses with a head kick.
Van Steyne tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McCall is looking to clinch but Van Steyne is avoiding it.
McCall throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
McCall is looking to clinch but Van Steyne is avoiding it.
McCall tries to clinch there but Van Steyne circles away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McCall rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Van Steyne moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Van Steyne circles away from the clinch attempt.
McCall tries to clinch up.
McCall lands a really nice looking cross but Van Steyne seems unphased.
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 Gareth McCall will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Francois Van Steyne's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

McCall wants to clinch.
McCall avoids the head kick by Van Steyne.

McCall rushes Van Steyne and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Van Steyne blocks an elbow strike from McCall.
Gareth McCall has scored more points in the clinch so far.
McCall throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Van Steyne breaks the clinch.
Gareth McCall seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCall with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
McCall throws a body punch but Van Steyne moves out of range.
McCall is looking to clinch.
McCall defending well as Van Steyne loads up on a big left hand.
A punch combination from McCall misses.
A head kick misses from Van Steyne.
Van Steyne smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
McCall wants to clinch.
Van Steyne defending well as McCall loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCall tries to close the distance and clinch up but Van Steyne swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Van Steyne throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Van Steyne blocks a head kick by McCall.
Van Steyne pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Van Steyne closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
McCall misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Van Steyne.
McCall throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Van Steyne blocks it with crossed arms.
Van Steyne is trying to push McCall away but McCall has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
With the fighters up against the cage, McCall throws an elbow but misses.

Van Steyne's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Van Steyne connects with a looping right hand.

McCall moves into the clinch successfully.
Van Steyne avoids the elbow strike from McCall, against the cage.
McCall tries to land knees in the clinch but Van Steyne avoids the damage to the body.
McCall has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCall with an attempt at a knee that misses.
McCall creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Van Steyne misses with a hook to the ribs.
Van Steyne is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Van Steyne is trying to break the clinch but McCall has him pressed against the cage.
Van Steyne is trying to break free.
Van Steyne is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Van Steyne avoids a wild elbow strike from McCall.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McCall creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
McCall misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Van Steyne.
McCall looking to throw knees to the head but Van Steyne is blocking nicely.
McCall lands a damaging elbow.
McCall is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Van Steyne is defending well for now.
Van Steyne tries to circle away but McCall has him pinned against the cage.
McCall tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Van Steyne is trying to break the clinch but McCall has him pressed against the cage.
McCall throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Van Steyne blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Steyne throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
McCall tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Van Steyne misses with some punches.
McCall tries to land knees in the clinch but Van Steyne avoids the damage to the body.
McCall throws a knee to the head but misses.
Van Steyne blocks the elbow strike.
Van Steyne has McCall pressed against the cage.

Van Steyne pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Van Steyne pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McCall tries to clinch up but Van Steyne circles away and keeps his distance.
Van Steyne throws a sloppy head kick
and McCall counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McCall tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McCall takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Van Steyne lands a head kick!
McCall looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McCall has managed to clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
With the two fighters working up against the cage, McCall just misses with a elbow thrown towards Van Steyne's brow.
McCall tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
McCall trying to land knees to the body.
Van Steyne avoids a wild elbow strike from McCall.
McCall is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Van Steyne is defending well for now.

Van Steyne breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McCall is looking to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McCall tries to clinch but Van Steyne moves out of range.
Van Steyne thows a body kick. McCall tries to catch it but that hurt him.
McCall tries to close the distance and clinch up but Van Steyne swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Van Steyne tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Francois Van Steyne will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Francois Van Steyne's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

McCall looks to score with a jab to the body but Van Steyne is just out of range.
McCall fails in his attempt to clinch.
McCall tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Van Steyne manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Van Steyne throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Van Steyne lands with a slapping head kick.
McCall slips a jab from Van Steyne.
Van Steyne throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McCall sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McCall tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Van Steyne manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McCall just misses with a punch to the body.

McCall moves into the clinch.
Van Steyne pushes McCall back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
McCall throws an elbow but it misses.
Van Steyne avoids the elbow strike from McCall, against the cage.
Van Steyne has had enough of the clinch but McCall keeps him there for the moment.
McCall throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Van Steyne blocks the elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCall throws an elbow that misses.

Van Steyne breaks the clinch.
McCall tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Van Steyne counters with a nice uppercut.
Van Steyne lands with a slapping head kick.
Van Steyne avoids a punch combination nicely.
McCall moves in looking to clinch but Van Steyne pushes him off.
McCall throws a body kick that misses.
Van Steyne avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Van Steyne throws a head kick but McCall moves out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McCall moves in looking to clinch but Van Steyne pushes him off.
McCall tries a head kick but it misses.
Van Steyne misses with a head kick.
Van Steyne tries a head kick but it misses.
McCall avoids the head kick by Van Steyne.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by McCall.

McCall instigates a clinch.
McCall misses with an elbow over the top.
McCall creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Van Steyne's defenses.
Van Steyne blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
McCall has Van Steyne pressed against the cage, preventing Van Steyne from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
McCall has Van Steyne pressed against the cage, preventing Van Steyne from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
McCall throws a knee to the head but misses.
McCall looking to throw knees to the head but Van Steyne is blocking nicely.
McCall throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
McCall tries to land a knee to the head but Van Steyne blocks with his arms.
A short right from Van Steyne.
Van Steyne blocks an elbow strike.
Van Steyne takes an elbow to the forehead.
A short left from Van Steyne.
McCall tries to land knees in the clinch but Van Steyne avoids the damage to the body.
Van Steyne can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Steyne can't break the clinch.
Van Steyne throws a punch but it's blocked by McCall.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, McCall just misses with a elbow thrown towards Van Steyne's brow.
McCall creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A frustrated look appears on Van Steyne's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Van Steyne avoids a wild elbow strike from McCall.

Van Steyne escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McCall blocks a head kick by Van Steyne.
McCall moves in looking to clinch but Van Steyne pushes him off.
Van Steyne misses with a head kick.

McCall moves into range and clinches up with Van Steyne.
McCall lands an elbow that stopped Van Steyne in his tracks for a moment.
A frustrated look appears on Van Steyne's face as he tries to break the clinch.
McCall lands a knee to the body.
Van Steyne takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, McCall just misses with a elbow thrown towards Van Steyne's brow.
McCall missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCall pushes off an throws an elbow but Van Steyne leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
McCall throws an elbow but it's blocked.
McCall misses with a knee strike.
Van Steyne tries to break free but McCall pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
With the fighters up against the cage, McCall throws an elbow but misses.
McCall throws an elbow but it misses.
Van Steyne is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Van Steyne working hard to break the clinch.
McCall looking to throw knees to the head but Van Steyne is blocking nicely.
Van Steyne lands a hook to the side of the head.
Van Steyne lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McCall tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Van Steyne looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Van Steyne avoids a wild elbow strike from McCall.
McCall prevents Van Steyne from breaking the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Francois Van Steyne.
I think Van Steyne 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Gareth McCall!
Gareth McCall spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.