PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Free Side (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Steele
vs
Side

185 cm
18
195 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Matt Steele!
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, Free Side!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Side keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Side throws a nice looking combination but Steele bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A head kick misses from Side.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Steele.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Steele.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Steele. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Side tries a head kick but it misses.

Steele scores with a takedown into Side's guard.
Steele trying to control but Side is working from the bottom.
Side is controlling Steele's posture.
Side looking to hit a scissor sweep but Steele is one step ahead there.
Steele throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Side works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele content to stall in guard here.
Steele passes Side's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Side trying to control from the bottom.
Steele trying to control the action but Side is working from the bottom.
Side trying to hold on to Steele's head to control him but Steele postures up.
Steele knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Side on the ground.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Free Side.
Steele throws a right hand that Side ducks under and follows up with a left that Side also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Side as he avoids it easily.
Steele throws a one two combo.
Side is trying hard to land a takedown here. Steele sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Side dives in and grabs Steele's left leg, looking for a takedown. Steele pushes down on Side's head and hops out.
Steele shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Side defends it nicely.

Steele decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Steele is breathing heavily.
Steele trying to control from half guard but Side is working away.
Steele missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Steele wants to take a breather but Side is having none of it.
Steele wants to pass to mount but Side is defending the position.
Steele not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Steele not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Side tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Side looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Steele is trying to control. Side wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Steele prevents Side from standing back up.
Steele stalling.
Steele is looking to take a break and control but Side is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Steele tries to pass to full mount but Side defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Side actively working from the bottom here.
Steele drops an elbow to the side of Side's head.
Side is staying active underneath Steele, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Steele not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Side tries to get to full guard but Steele has control of the leg.
Steele trying to control the action but Side is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Side keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Steele trying to control from half guard but Side is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Steele dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Side lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Side.
Steele punishes Side's body with a nice straight punch.
Steele misses with a combination
and Side counters with a nice body shot.

Steele looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Side!

Steele has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Steele throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Steele.
Side cracks Steele with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Side misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Side shoots for a double leg takedown but Steele sprawls well. He's pushed Side's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Side tries to score a power double leg takedown but Steele sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Side somewhat.

Steele closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Steele works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Steele trying to control the position but Side is working away.
Steele wants to stand but Side is controlling his arm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele trying to control the action but Side is working from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matt Steele wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Side tries to clinch up but Steele circles away and keeps his distance.
Steele misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Steele tries to close the distance and clinch but Side swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Side fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Matt Steele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Free Side.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Side dives in and grabs Steele's left leg, looking for a takedown. Steele pushes down on Side's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Side with that takedown attempt.
Matt Steele is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Steele wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Steele looks for a takedown but Side sprawls well.
Side shoots in but no luck this time.

Steele drives through with a takedown into Side's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Steele trying to control the position from guard on top but Side is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steele is pushing down on Side's leg trying to pass to half guard. Side is fighting to maintain full guard but Steele has managed to sneak the leg through.
Side taking some punishment here, with Steele in his half guard.
Side avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Steele.
Matt Steele overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Steele sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Side defending well though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Steele is working for a kimura but Side is defending it quite comfortably.

Side is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Steele pulls his head out easily.
Steele looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steele is looking to advance position but Side won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Steele dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Steele looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Side fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Side will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Steele shoots in looking for a takedown but Side manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Steele's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Side shoots for a takedown but Steele saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Matt Steele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Free Side.
Steele shoots in but Side avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Steele stuffs the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Side enables Steele to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Side manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Side keeping moving, preventing Steele from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele looking to sit in guard and control but Side gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Steele working a defensive guard here.
Steele keeping moving, preventing Side from controlling successfully.
Side looking to sit in guard and control but Steele gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Side is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Steele throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Side works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Side can't keep his opponent in guard - Steele advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Steele is working for a submission of some sort.
Steele is trying to control the action in half guard but Side is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Side defending well though.
Steele wants to control but Side is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steele is really struggling to control Side but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Steele is pressing down on Side's thigh, looking to free his foot. Side is holding on for now.
Side is trying is best to control the position here.

Matt Steele has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Side gets caught flat footed, as Steele shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Steele missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Steele's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Side pulls Steele in close to prevent any damage.
Steele is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Side can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Steele trying to control the position from guard on top but Side is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Matt Steele just wasn't active enough.
Side shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steele closes this distance looking for a takedown but Side circles away.
Side shoots in for a takedown but Steele shows good takedown defense.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Side keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Steele shoots in and drives through. Side sprawls well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt 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... Matt Steele!