PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joaquim Branco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raylan Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steele has chosen "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Branco
vs
Steele

172 cm
19
145 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

175 cm
20
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joaquim Branco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raylan Steele!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Branco. Steele does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice straight punches there by Steele. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Steele.

Branco moves into range and clinches up with Steele.
Branco can't get the takedown.
Steele doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Branco fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Branco misses with a short punch on the inside.
Branco gets through Steele's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Steele is trying to maintain a safe position but Branco gets an underhook and turns Steele into the cage.
Branco is looking for a takedown.
Steele is looking to control Branco's arms but Branco gets an underhook and turns him. Now Steele has his back to the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Steele is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Branco has denied him.
Steele scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Branco has Steele pressed against the cage.
A short right from Branco.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Branco struggles to land a body shot inside as Steele controls his hands.
Branco lands an uppercut.
Branco working aggressively here.
Still in the clinch, Branco scores with a nice short uppercut.
Steele wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Branco has him pressed against the cage.
Branco lands a left hand.
Branco lands with a short shot to the head.
A short left from Branco.
Steele blocks a body shot from Branco.
Branco throws a head punch that misses.
Branco manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A right hook to the body lands for Branco.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branco tries for a takedown but Steele manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joaquim Branco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Branco.
Branco has a couple of punches blocked by Steele.
Branco swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Branco misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Branco fails to land.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Branco takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Branco lands with a short punch from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steele being controlled against the cage.
Branco stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branco fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Branco stalling against the cage.
Steele is trying to break the clinch but Branco is controlling him.
A head punch on the inside from Branco fails to land.
Steele is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Branco lands with a light punch inside.
Steele is trying to break the clinch but Branco is controlling him.
Steele is looking to control Branco's arms but Branco gets an underhook and turns him. Now Steele has his back to the cage.
Branco fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Branco is struggling to control the position.
Steele blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branco scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Branco tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Steele's elbow.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Branco as Steele tries to tie him up.
Steele is trying to break the clinch but Branco is controlling him.
Branco struggles to land a body shot inside as Steele controls his hands.
Branco misses with a knee to the head.
Steele blocks a body shot from Branco.
Branco working aggressively here.
Branco swings wildly with an uppercut but Steele uses good head movement to avoid it.
Steele is trying to force a seperation but Branco has the dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Steele takes a shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joaquim Branco dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Branco on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Branco shoots in for a takedown but Steele shows good takedown defense.
Steele clobbers Branco with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Steele fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Branco is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Steele can do to turn this around?
Branco tries to score a power double leg takedown but Steele sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Branco somewhat.

Branco gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Steele wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Branco pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Come on Branco - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Branco tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Branco scores with a hook to the body.
Branco lands with a light punch inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branco misses with a hook from the clinch.
Branco goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Joaquim Branco has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Branco misses with some punches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Branco swings wildly with an uppercut but Steele uses good head movement to avoid it.
Branco tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Branco.
Branco can't find room to land a body shot as Steele controls the action.
Branco misses with some punches.
Branco misses with a punch on the inside.
Branco lands a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Steele is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Branco fails to land.
Branco working aggressively here.
Branco tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Branco swings wildly with an uppercut but Steele uses good head movement to avoid it.
Branco prevents Steele from breaking the clinch.
Branco throws a head punch that misses.
Branco tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Steele's elbow.
Stalling in the clinch from Branco.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branco misses with a short punch on the inside.
Branco misses with a punch on the inside.
Branco slows down the pace here.
Branco has a couple of punches blocked by Steele.
Steele blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Steele tries to stall but Branco uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Branco drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joaquim Branco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Branco swings wildly with an uppercut but Steele uses good head movement to avoid it.
Branco misses with a punch on the inside.
Branco stalling the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branco doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Steele stalling in the clinch but Branco improves position.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Branco throws a punch but it's blocked by Steele.
Steele is looking to control Branco's arms but Branco gets an underhook and turns him. Now Steele has his back to the cage.
Branco fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Branco lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Steele backwards.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Steele is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Branco holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Steele prevents a takedown attempt there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joaquim Branco dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Branco takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Branco misses with a looping right.
Branco takes one to the chin there.
Steele scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Steele changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Branco swings widly with a right hand
letting Steele counter with a right hand.
Steele throws a shot to the body.
Steele ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Steele digs a good body shot into Branco's ribs.
Branco on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steele scores with the left hand. Branco knows he should have avoided that one.
Steele scores with a body shot.
Steele has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

Branco rushes Steele and presses him up against the cage.
Steele blocks an uppercut.
Steele is trying to force a seperation but Branco has the dominant position.
Branco lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branco tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Branco throws a punch but it's blocked by Steele.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Steele blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Branco.
Branco taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Branco trying to land knees to the body.
Steele prevents a body shot from Branco.
Steele content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steele.
Branco content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branco lands with a light punch inside.
Branco tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Branco lands with a light punch inside.
Branco lands a right hand that snaps the head of Steele backwards.
Steele is trying to break the clinch but Branco is controlling him.
Steele looking to slow down the pace here.
Branco misses with a hook from the clinch.
Branco doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Branco lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Steele trying to control the position but instead, Branco has worked for underhooks and has pushed Steele into the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Branco - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branco lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Steele backwards.
Branco lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Branco taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Branco leaning his opponent against the cage.
Branco seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Branco can't find room to land a body shot as Steele controls the action.
Branco leaning his opponent against the cage.
Branco tries for a takedown. No joy.
Steele stalling in the clinch but Branco improves position.
Raylan Steele has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branco misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steele.
Branco fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Branco lands with a short shot to the head.
Branco works on Steele's body with a couple of short punches.
Branco misses with a body punch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Branco just misses with a elbow thrown towards Steele's brow.
Steele is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Branco working aggressively here.

Steele escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Branco throws a hook but Steele blocks it.
Steele catches Branco with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Joaquim Branco is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

It looks like Joaquim Branco has been cut.
Branco tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Steele paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Steele looks like he wants to counter punch here.

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 Joaquim Branco.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Branco, 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joaquim Branco!
A very excited looking Joaquim Branco made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.