PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brannigan Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bertram Adelhard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Adelhard has chosen Volbeat - Still Counting as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Steele
vs
Adelhard

178 cm
23
180 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

189 cm
23
178 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
Voodoo Nutrition

Aspire Nutrition

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brannigan Steele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bertram Adelhard!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steele takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Adelhard dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Adelhard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Steele.
Brannigan Steele seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steele avoids the body shot from Adelhard.
Steele throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Adelhard turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Adelhard manages to end up in side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Adelhard throws an elbow but Steele slips to the side and avoids it well.
Adelhard is looking to take a break and control but Steele is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steele is looking for a sweep.
Steele manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Adelhard seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steele is trying to get back to full guard.
My spies in River's Edge Gym inform me that Adelhard has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Steele gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Adelhard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Adelhard content to stall in guard here.
Adelhard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Steele wants to sweep here but Adelhard controlling him for the moment.
Steele seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Adelhard trying to control the position from guard on top but Steele is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Steele is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Adelhard is trying to control the position but Steele postures up.
Steele trying to control but Adelhard is working from the bottom.
Adelhard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Steele.
Steele postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Steele throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Adelhard wants to sweep but no luck.
Steele throwing strikes from guard but Adelhard blocks nicely.
Steele throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Adelhard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Steele postures up in Adelhard's guard and throws a big left but Adelhard blocks it.
Adelhard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Adelhard trying to keep a closed guard but Steele is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adelhard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Adelhard looking to control.

Steele avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Steele forces his way into half guard.
Adelhard controlling the position well.
Steele lands strikes from half guard.
Adelhard is looking for a sweep. Steele is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Steele working Adelhard over with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele working the head and body with strikes.
Steele is thwarting Adelhard's attempts to control the position.
Adelhard gets back to full guard.
Adelhard wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Steele postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Steele postures up in Adelhard's guard and throws a big left but Adelhard blocks it.
Steele throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Steele working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Adelhard's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steele throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Steele with a flurry of punches that miss.
Steele works over Adelhard with some ground and pound from guard.
Steele might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Adelhard is adopting a defensive guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Steele slips a jab from Adelhard.
Adelhard bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Steele on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Adelhard looks to score with a jab to the body but Steele is just out of range.
Adelhard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Steele.
Steele tries to clinch up.
Adelhard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Adelhard walks into a jab.
Adelhard swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Adelhard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Adelhard blocks a jab.
Steele throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Steele throws the left hand but Adelhard avoids the punch easily.
Steele jabs at Adelhard's body.
Adelhard fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Steele.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Adelhard is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Steele rather than just go for the knockout.
Steele misses with a looping right.
Steele avoids the head kick by Adelhard.
Adelhard on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Adelhard jabs at Steele's body.
Adelhard throws a leg kick but Steele checks it.
Steele chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Adelhard can pounce on him.
Steele misses with an uppercut.
Steele throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Adelhard connects with a crisp jab.
Steele cracks Adelhard with an open hand slap.
Adelhard dodges the punch combination from Steele.
Steele avoids a kick to the body.
Brannigan Steele is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Adelhard slips a straight right by Steele.
Steele misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Adelhard.
A telegraphed right hand from Steele misses the target.
Adelhard doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Steele thows a left - swing and a miss!
Adelhard looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Steele moves out of range as Adelhard throws a body kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by Steele or perhaps it was just good defense by Adelhard, which made it look bad.
A countering left hand to the body from Adelhard misses.
Adelhard shoots in for a takedown but Steele shows good takedown defense.
Steele keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Steele misses with an uppercut
and Adelhard counters with a nice body shot.
Adelhard needs to keep his hands up - Steele had a free shot at his head there.
Adelhard staying out of range there.
Steele throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Adelhard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Steele keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Steele feinted with a counter takedown.
Steele shoots in for a takedown but Adelhard shows good takedown defense.
Adelhard cracks Steele with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Steele drives through with a takedown into guard.
Adelhard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Steele.

Adelhard had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Steele defends it easily.
Steele scoring with punches to the head and body.
Adelhard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Steele throws a strike but Adelhard rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Steele is pulling down on Adelhard's head. It's preventing any offense from Adelhard, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Adelhard wants to control from the top but Steele keeps moving.
Steele looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Steele not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Steele keeping moving, preventing Adelhard from controlling successfully.
Steele is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Adelhard passes easily into side control. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brannigan Steele dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Steele looking to score a takedown here. Adelhard is defending well but Steele drives through and ends up in Adelhard's guard.

Adelhard throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Steele loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Adelhard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Steele is one step ahead there.
Brannigan Steele overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Steele avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steele throwing strikes but missing.
Adelhard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele throws a big elbow that misses.
Steele won't allow Adelhard to sweep him here.
Steele postures up in Adelhard's guard and throws a big left but Adelhard blocks it.
Steele loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Steele content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Steele preventing the sweep.
Adelhard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Steele.
Adelhard wants to sweep but no luck.
Adelhard pulls Steele in close to prevent any damage.
Steele working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Adelhard's head.
Steele has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Adelhard looking to control.
Brannigan Steele is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele content to stall in guard here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Steele stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Adelhard.
Steele looks to throw the jab but Adelhard is out of range.
Steele takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Steele blocks a low kick nicely.
Steele's corner calls for a 1-2. Steele obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Steele swings for the body but Adelhard moves out of range.
Steele changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Adelhard tries to clinch but Steele moves out of range.
Steele ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bertram Adelhard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steele changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Adelhard looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Steele trying to control the action but Adelhard is working from the bottom.
Adelhard tries to bench press Steele off him but Steele keeps the position.
Steele wants to lay and pray for a moment but Adelhard keeps working.
Adelhard can't do much from the bottom here.
Adelhard is trying to improve his position.
Steele tries to advance to mount but can't.
Steele remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Adelhard tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Steele wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Steele wants to control but Adelhard is keeping him busy.
Steele remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Adelhard tries to buck Steele off but Steele is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brannigan 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brannigan Steele!
Our winner, Brannigan Steele, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.