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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Butch Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Junior Brandon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brandon comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Life Is Beautiful kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.
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| 176 cm
28
192 lbs
11 - 6 - 0 |
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178 cm
40
215 lbs
19 - 20 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible |
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Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Butch Steel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
19 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Junior Brandon!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Richard Clark and James Ackerman.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steel lands with a right hand.
Steel moves out of range of the body kick from Brandon.
Steel throws a body shot but no joy.
Steel drives through and clinches with Brandon against the cage.
Brandon blocks a body shot from Steel.
Brandon is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Steel can't fight it off and eventually Brandon manages to take the fight to the floor. Steel looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Brandon pushes down on Steel's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Brandon performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brandon missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Brandon looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Steel makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Steel.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel controlling the position.
Steel continues to stall.
Steel keeping moving, preventing Brandon from controlling successfully.
Steel is trying to keep Brandon in close.
Brandon looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Brandon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Brandon is stalling in the full guard.
Steel is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
My spies in Death Valley Training Facility inform me that Brandon has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Brandon tries to free his leg and advance position but Steel is retaining full guard.
Steel is controlling Brandon's posture.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Brandon working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Brandon misses with a straight right.
Brandon misses with a two punch combination.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Steel, right into the meat.
Horrible takedown attempt by Brandon or perhaps it was just good defense by Steel, which made it look bad.
Brandon is trying hard to land a takedown here. Steel sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Steel misses.
And Brandon responds with a good body kick, but Steel manages to step out the way in time.
Good standup being displayed there by Steel as he connects with a hook.
Steel misses with an uppercut. Brandon saw that one coming.
Brandon misses with a low kick.
Steel looks to land a combination. Brandon sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
It looks like Junior Brandon has been cut.
Steel scores with a nice strike.
Brandon ducks right into an uppercut from Steel.
Brandon misses with a hook. Steel ducked under it nicely.
Steel is looking for a counter combo.
Brandon gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Brandon avoids the head kick by Steel.
Steel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Brandon slips a jab from Steel.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel punishes Brandon's body with a nice straight punch.
Butch Steel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Steel's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Steel duly obliges.
Steel drops Brandon with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Brandon looks back up at him and smiles so Steel waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
Brandon is rocked!
Steel looks to land a left hand but Brandon moved out of range nicely.
Brandon clinches.
Brandon wants a takedown.
Butch Steel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Junior Brandon.
Steel throws a punch but it's blocked by Brandon.
Steel leaning against his opponent.
Brandon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Brandon shoots for a double leg takedown but Steel sprawls well. He's pushed Brandon's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Brandon tries to close the distance and clinch but Steel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Steel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Butch Steel dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Junior Brandon's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Steel lands an overhand right.
Steel moves out of range of the body kick.
Steel closes the distance and clinches.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Steel stalling the fight.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Steel here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Steel just leaning against Brandon, taking a breather.
Brandon has had enough of the clinch but Steel keeps him there for the moment.
Brandon pulls guard effortlessly.
Brandon keeping moving, preventing Steel from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brandon is adopting a defensive guard.
Steel postures up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Brandon not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Steel keeps the fight on the outside.
Steel feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Brandon fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Steel works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Steel throws a looping overhand right but Brandon ducks down to avoid it.
Brandon fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Steel sprawls well initially but Brandon persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Steel moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Brandon thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Steel is on top in guard.
Steel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Brandon is keeping the position for now.
Brandon looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Brandon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Steel wants to stand but Brandon has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Steel's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brandon pulls Steel in close to his closed guard and prevents Steel from doing any damage or advancing position.
Brandon looking for a sweep. Not yet Brandon, not yet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Steel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Brandon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Junior Brandon has got the better of the ground game so far.
Steel controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Steel is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Steel scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Brandon doesn't seem bothered though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Butch Steel dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Junior Brandon's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!
Brandon tries to clinch but Steel moves out of range.
Brandon uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Steel.
Steel is looking to clinch.
Steel tests Brandon's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Steel swings widly with a right hand
and Brandon counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nice body kick from Steel.
The fight stays on the outside here - Brandon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel digs a good hook to Brandon's body.
We've been told by Steel's head coaches at LOD London Top Tier that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Brandon shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Steel defends it nicely.
As Brandon backs away, Steel returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel swats away the attempt to clinch by Brandon.
Steel throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Steel gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Brandon tries to score a body lock takedown but Steel shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Steel lands a left hand that snaps the head of Brandon backwards.
A left hand lands to the body for Steel.
Brandon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Brandon blocks an uppercut.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Steel dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Steel lands a right hand.
Steel stalling the fight.
Brandon jumps guard but Steel stands there with Brandon around his waist. Brandon gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Butch Steel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Junior Brandon.
Steel working aggressively here.
A short uppercut from Steel.
Steel lands with a right to the head.
Steel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Brandon can do to turn this around?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steel swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Brandon goes for a takedown in the clinch but Steel prevents it.
Butch Steel has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Steel pressing his opponent against the cage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Steel.
Steel just leaning against Brandon, taking a breather.
A right hook to the body lands for Steel.
Brandon is looking for a takedown.
Butch Steel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Steel stalling.
Steel will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Brandon up against the cage.
Steel gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Steel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Steel lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Brandon backwards.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel lands with a left to the head.
Steel gets underhooks to prevent Brandon's takedown attempt.
Junior Brandon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steel lands a hook to the side of the head.
Brandon is trying to drag Steel to the mat but Steel just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Steel lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Brandon's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Brandon's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Steel lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Brandon backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steel makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
And that's the end of the fight!
Butch 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:26
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:26
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:26
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Butch Steel!
In his post fight interview, Butch Steel started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
40% |
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