PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gerardo Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Laston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gerardo Steele has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Steele
vs
Laston

155 cm
24
178 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

192 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gerardo Steele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jake Laston!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Joseph Jones and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laston fails with a takedown attempt.
Steele throws a big counter combination but Laston scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Laston shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Steele kicks off Laston and gets to his feet.
Laston throws a head kick that misses.
Laston shoots in looking for a takedown but Steele manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Laston's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Laston.
Steele feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Gerardo Steele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Laston.
Steele leaves Laston with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Steele fires out a quick counter leg kick but Laston just manages to avoid it.
Laston shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Steele as he avoids it easily.
Steele tried to score with a low kick but Laston checks it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Laston closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Laston lands in his opponent's guard.
Laston must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Steele is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laston is in close to Steele's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Steele trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Laston throwing strikes from guard but Steele blocks nicely.
Steele is trying to keep Laston in close.
Steele keeping moving, preventing Laston from controlling successfully.

Steele escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Laston gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Steele looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Laston connects with a couple of short punches.
Steele controls Laston momentarily but Laston frees himself.
Steele trying to strike off his back.
Laston postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laston not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Steele throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Laston missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Steele looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Laston postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Steele looking to control.
Laston controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Steele keeping moving, preventing Laston from controlling successfully.
Steele is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Steele could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Steele is on top in guard.

Laston is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Steele might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laston is looking to stand back up but Steele counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Laston.
Steele missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Laston is trying to stand up here but Steele is controlling him well.
Laston scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Steele manages to mount him!
Laston squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Steele lands a couple of good shots and Laston has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Laston is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Laston shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Steele is trying to defend but Laston finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Laston is trying to control the action in half guard but Steele is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Steele regains full guard. Nicely done.
Steele is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Laston can do to turn this around?
Laston trying to control the position from guard on top but Steele is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steele has his hands on Laston's head, controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Laston's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steele looking to hit a scissor sweep but Laston is one step ahead there.
Laston wants to control from the top but Steele keeps moving.
Steele trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Laston is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Laston's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Laston is stalling in the full guard.
Steele has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Steele working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Laston doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Laston manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gerardo Steele overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Laston trying to control the position from guard on top but Steele is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steele trying to control the position.
Laston controls from within his opponent's guard.
Steele has his hands on Laston's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Laston seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Laston stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Steele swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Steele pulls Laston in close to his closed guard and prevents Laston from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Laston looks for a takedown but Steele sprawls well.
Steele blocks a head kick by Laston.
Laston shoots in for a takedown but Steele shows good takedown defense.

Laston looking to score a takedown here. Steele is defending well but Laston drives through and ends up in Steele's guard.
Steele seems keen to control Laston's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele looking to control.

Steele is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Laston is aware though and is defending well.
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.

Laston tries to kick Steele off but Steele keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Steele sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Laston defending well though.
Laston is trying to stand back up but Steele is controlling him
Laston scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Steele manages to mount him!
Laston is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele controlling the pace for now.
You get the feeling that Laston really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Steele throws some wild stikes that Laston manages to avoid easily.
Laston really wants to buck Steele off and get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Steele with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Steele won't let Laston get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Gerardo Steele will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

Laston goes for a double leg but Steele avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Steele continues to drive forward.
Steele is looking for a counter combo.
Jake Laston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laston fails to land the takedown.
Laston closes this distance looking for a takedown but Steele circles away.
Gerardo Steele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Laston.
Steele shoots in for a takedown but Laston shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Steele shoots in and gets a takedown into Laston's guard.
Laston is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Steele dives into side control.

Laston dodges the ground and pound from Steele.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Steele stands up and beckons Laston to his feet.
Steele defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Laston.
Laston attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Laston defends it nicely.
Laston dives in and grabs Steele's left leg, looking for a takedown. Steele pushes down on Laston's head and hops out.
Laston shoots in looking for a takedown but Steele manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Laston's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Laston takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Laston tries to score a power double leg takedown but Steele sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Laston somewhat.
Steele went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Laston goes for a double leg but Steele avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Steele continues to drive forward.
Laston with a poor takedown
and Steele counters with a series of strikes. Laston will be more careful next time no doubt.
Laston gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Steele counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Steele closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Laston quickly recovers to half guard.
Laston scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Steele manages to mount him!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Laston wants to get back to his feet.
Steele working Laston over with strikes here.
BOOM! Steele connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Steele is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Laston is surviving well by controlling Steele's body position as best he can.
Laston wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laston really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Steele. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Steele has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Laston is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Gerardo Steele!