PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Steve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Armond Hill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Hill's choice of entrance music: Rage against The machene - The Ghost of Tom Joad. Daniel Steve had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Steve
vs
Hill

180 cm
25
210 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

194 cm
26
215 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Sully's Bar & Grill

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daniel Steve!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Armond Hill!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Sam Margolis and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Steve gets tackled into the cage by Hill. Hill maintains the clinch.
Hill lands an uppercut.
Hill throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Steve stops a takedown attempt from Hill.
Hill lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Hill doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hill fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Steve definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Hill tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hill lands a hook that snaps the head of Steve backwards.
A short uppercut from Hill.

Hill wants the takedown. Steve is fighting it off but Hill persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Steve's guard against the cage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Steve is on top in guard.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steve trying to control the position from guard on top but Hill is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hill is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hill can do anything to dispel that myth.
Steve trying to control but Hill is working from the bottom.
Hill really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Steve. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Steve drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hill dives on top into guard.

Steve is looking for a triangle here but Hill uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steve tries to bench press Hill off him but Hill keeps the position.
Hill tries to stand but Steve is controlling his head.
Hill controlling the position.
I wouldn't like to be where Steve is right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hill working away.
Hill controls the position from side control.
Steve might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hill wants to stand but Steve has his arm trapped.
You can see the frustration on Steve's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hill slows the pace down.
Steve is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill controlling the position from side mount.
Steve tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Steve struggling a bit here.
Steve tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hill wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hill is looking to take a break and control but Steve is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hill, as that shot connected.

It looks like Daniel Steve has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hill just misses with a punch to the body.
A shot to the body from Steve misses

and Hill counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hill.
A short right from Hill on the inside.
Hill lands a hook that snaps the head of Steve backwards.
Steve prevents a body shot from Hill.
Steve fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hill scores with a nice hook to the head.
Steve letting Hill take a breather here.
Steve fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hill misses with some punches.
Hill can't find room to land a body shot as Steve controls the action.
Steve tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Steve. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Steve manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hill won't allow Steve to sweep him here.

Steve working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hill doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hill manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armond Hill dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Daniel Steve's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jab, jab by Hill - just one landing.
Hill throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Steve counters with a stiff right hand.
A swing and a miss from Hill.
Steve tries to clinch there but Hill circles away.
Hill lands a right hook to the body.
Steve throws a body punch but Hill moves out of range.
Steve takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steve throws a right hand that Hill ducks under and follows up with a left that Hill also avoids with ease.
Hill tries to counter by closing the distance.
Hill fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Steve is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Hill misses with a straight right.
Steve is looking to counter punch.
Hill scores with a shot to the body.

Hill closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hill.
Steve is trying to pull guard but Hill turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hill lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A short right from Hill.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steve.
Steve fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Steve jumps guard but Hill turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Steve. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Steve prevents the takedown attempt.
Steve blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hill has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hill goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hill.
Hill throws a head punch that misses.
Steve tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hill doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Steve tries to pull guard but Hill forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hill pushes Steve back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Hill working aggressively here.
Steve blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hill.
A right hook to the body lands for Hill.
Hill lands a hook that snaps the head of Steve backwards.
Steve blocking some punches.
Steve tries to pull guard but Hill won't allow it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hill scores with a shoulder strike.
A hook to the body from Hill.
Hill scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hill lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Steve.
Hill tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Steve jumps guard but Hill stands there with Steve around his waist. Steve gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hill creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hill working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Steve blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hill lands with a right to the head.
Steve jumps guard but Hill turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hill softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill lands with a light punch inside.
We've been informed that Hill has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Hill lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Steve takes a shot to the head.
Steve fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Stalling in the clinch from Hill.
Hill lands a left hand that snaps the head of Steve backwards.

Hill works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Hill engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Steve working a defensive guard here.
Steve can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hill controls the pace.
Hill passes into half guard.
Steve tries to get to full guard but Hill has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hill wants to pass the guard but Steve is defending well.
Hill sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Steve is trying to get back to full guard.
Hill not doing much here.
Hill prevents Steve from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armond Hill showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Daniel Steve'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!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hill.
Steve is trying to get back to half guard.
Hill working away.
Steve is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steve being controlled for a moment.
Steve is trying to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steve is trying to escape the position but Hill is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hill working away.
Hill 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.
Steve struggling a bit here.
Armond Hill has got the better of the ground game so far.
Steve is trying to improve his position.
Hill trying to control the position but Steve is working away.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Daniel Steve has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Steve manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Steve looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Steve wants to control but Hill is keeping him busy.
Hill controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Hill is trying to control but can't.
Hill is not content to let Steve control the position.
Hill tries to roll over but Steve keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Steve trying to pass the guard but Hill defending well.
Hill is refusing to be controlled, as Steve sits in half guard.

Steve wants to work for an arm triangle but Hill is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Armond Hill is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Steve not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Steve is trying to control the action in half guard but Hill is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Steve trying to pass the guard but Hill defending well.

Steve wants to work for an arm triangle but Hill is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Steve looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hill holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Hill has Steve up against the cage in a clinch.
Hill lands a nice shot to the body.
Steve tries to pull guard but Hill holds him up against the cage and eventually Steve drops back down to his feet.
Hill can't find room to land a body shot as Steve controls the action.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hill misses with a hook from the clinch.
Steve misses with a punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Armond Hill comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hill has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Armond Hill!