PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Freddy Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Mangold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mangold has chosen Dead Prez as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Steel
vs
Mangold

195 cm
37
282 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

190 cm
39
235 lbs
21 - 12 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Spartan Nutrition
Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Spartan Nutrition
GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Freddy Steel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Danny Mangold!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Jeff Smith and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mangold tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Steel tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mangold was well out of range. Poor timing from Steel.
Mangold uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Steel.

Steel gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mangold to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Mangold wants to pass the guard but Steel is keeping the position.
Mangold trying to control but Steel is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mangold throws an elbow that misses. Steel uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mangold's guard. Nice move by Steel!

Mangold wants to stand up but Steel is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mangold not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Steel controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Steel got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mangold has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Steel has managed to get both his arms back between Mangold's legs - danger averted.

Steel stands and steps away. Mangold gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Steel thuds his shin into the meat of Mangold's side.
Mangold shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Danny Mangold seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mangold looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Horrible takedown attempt by Mangold or perhaps it was just good defense by Steel, which made it look bad.
Steel feinted with a counter takedown.
Mangold shoots for a double leg takedown but Steel sprawls well. He's pushed Mangold's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Freddy Steel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Mangold.
Mangold changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Steel tries to avoid it but Mangold manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Steel to the ground. Steel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Steel throws a body punch but Mangold moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mangold slips under a jab.
Mangold is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Mangold wants to clinch up but Steel keeps it at a distance.
Steel feinted with a counter takedown.

Mangold shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Mangold showed some decent athleticism there.
Mangold with the ground and pound but Steel uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Mangold stops Steel from standing up.
Mangold postures up in Steel's guard and throws a big left but Steel blocks it.
Mangold throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mangold working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mangold with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mangold has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mangold is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Mangold with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mangold in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mangold shoots in looking for a takedown. Steel tries to sprawl out of it but Mangold keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Steel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mangold looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Steel is fending him off so far but Mangold persists. Nope, Steel circles away and we're back to standing.
Mangold changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Steel tries to avoid it but Mangold manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Steel to the ground. Steel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Steel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mangold fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Steel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mangold.
Steel falls off balance throwing a combination
and Steel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mangold with a poor takedown

and Steel counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Steel.
Steel wants to stand but Mangold has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Steel stands and steps away. Mangold gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Steel stuffs the takedown attempt from Mangold. Mangold gets slowly back to his feet.
Freddy Steel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Steel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mangold.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A head kick by Steel misses
and Mangold counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Steel keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Steel is looking to counter the offense by Mangold and move into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Steel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Freddy Steel is winning the standup battle so far.
Mangold shoots in for a takedown but Steel shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Steel misses with a head kick.
Steel throws a body shot but no joy.
Mangold swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Steel swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mangold smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Mangold tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Steel defends well and Mangold ends up having to push Steel into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Steel doesn't manage to clinch there - Mangold circles away.
Steel wants to clinch.
Steel is looking to wear down Mangold with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Steel.
Mangold shoots for a double leg takedown but Steel sprawls well. He's pushed Mangold's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Freddy Steel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Mangold.
Steel tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mangold shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Steel as he jumps to the side.
Mangold tries to clinch but Steel moves out of range.

Mangold closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Steel tries to get to full guard but Mangold has control of the leg.
Mangold sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Steel defending well though.
Mangold is looking to take a break and control but Steel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Steel regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Mangold.
Steel has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Mangold is looking to work some ground and pound but Steel has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mangold throws a big elbow that misses.
Mangold postures up in Steel's guard and throws a big left but Steel blocks it.
Mangold loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mangold lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mangold prevents Steel from getting back to his feet.
Mangold throws an elbow that misses. Steel uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mangold's guard. Nice move by Steel!

Mangold wants to control but Steel passes easily into half guard.
Steel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mangold can do to turn this around?
Mangold is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel not doing much here.
Steel uses his free foot to push down on Mangold's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Mangold.
Mangold looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Steel controls the action.
Mangold rolls, trying to escape but Steel keeps control of the position.
Mangold is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Mangold is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Steel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mangold is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Mangold just trying to survive but Steel is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Steel controls the action.
Mangold tries to break free.
Freddy Steel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mangold is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steel gets his hands free as Mangold looks to control.
Steel trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freddy Steel 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!

Some wild striking there from Mangold.
Steel stuffs the takedown.
Steel leaves Mangold with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mangold shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Steel as he jumps to the side.
Freddy Steel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Mangold.
Steel lands a nice looking kick to the body. Mangold takes a step back to recover.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel is looking to clinch but Mangold is avoiding it.
Mangold shoots in for a double leg but Steel sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mangold takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Mangold scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Mangold fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mangold goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Steel has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Mangold but great work by Steel.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Steel decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Mangold shoots for a takedown but Steel saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mangold shoots for a double leg takedown but Steel sprawls well. He's pushed Mangold's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Steel throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mangold shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Steel but Steel pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mangold has a takedown stuffed.
Steel is looking to counter the offense by Mangold and move into the clinch.
Mangold takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

It looks like Danny Mangold has been cut.
Steel takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Steel rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mangold moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
It seemed like Mangold was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Freddy Steel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steel gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mangold to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mangold loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mangold stops Steel from standing up.
Mangold with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mangold chips away with some ground and pound.
Steel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mangold throws a big right hand that misses.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mangold throws a strike but Steel rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Steel trying to control but Mangold is working from the bottom.

Mangold is looking for a triangle but Steel pushes his legs off easily.

Steel stands up and waves to Mangold to follow him.
A right-left combo lands from Steel.
Mangold fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Steel throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nice cross by Mangold.
Steel leaves Mangold with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mangold fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Steel wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Mangold fails to land the takedown.
Mangold shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Steel counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Steel.
Mangold blocks an uppercut.
Steel gets underhooks to prevent Mangold's takedown attempt.
Danny Mangold has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steel is defending well against a takedown attempt.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mangold.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Steel manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Freddy Steel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Steel, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Freddy Steel!
Freddy Steel was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
Danny Mangold was interviewed post fight and said 'I have fallen this once, but I promise to pick myself up again. I will never ever disappoint the millions of my fans again. The road to success is long, but I am a fighter, and I will persevere. '.