PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Raylan Steele (ranked 1642 p4p, 180 weight class) and Juan Corona (ranked 4332 p4p, 383 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Steele
vs
Corona

175 cm
25
150 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

166 cm
20
155 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raylan Steele!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juan Corona!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Micheangelo Fripello and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Corona lunges at Steele with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Steele's hand.
Steele lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Corona backs up against the cage.
Corona throws a big shot that misses.
Steele misses with a straight left.
Corona misses the jab.
Steele ducks under a wild hook from Corona.
Corona ducks under a wild hook from Steele.
Steele throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A nice combination there by Steele.
Corona avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've been told by Steele's head coaches at Rabid Dog that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Steele throws a jab but it's blocked by Corona.
Corona works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Corona drops his hands momentarily and Steele takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Steele swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Corona counters with a stiff right hand.
No joy there for Steele, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Steele looks to land a combination. Corona sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Steele throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Corona swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Steele will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Corona throws a hook but Steele blocks it.
Steele throws a combination that misses

and Corona counters by moving into the clinch.
Steele controlling the action here for a moment.
Corona is trying to push Steele away but Steele has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Steele softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Corona tries a body shot but Steele blocks it.

Steele breaks the clinch.
Corona steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Steele.
Good standup being displayed there by Corona as he connects with a hook.
Steele throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Corona cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Corona throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Steele sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Steele blocks a jab.
Decent striking displayed by Corona there.

Steele is rocked!
Steele staying out of range there.
Oh Steele is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Corona moves out of range of the strikes.
Corona looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Steele seems to have got his legs back now.
Corona scores with the left hand. Steele knows he should have avoided that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steele clobbers Corona with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Steele ducks under a wild hook from Corona.
A swing and a miss from Corona.
Steele defending well as Corona loads up on a big left hand.
Steele seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Steele moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Steele throws a left and a right that both miss
and Corona counters with a straight right hand.
A jab from Corona misses.
Steele changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Corona takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Raylan Steele seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Corona blocks a jab.
Some wild striking there from Steele.
Nice defenses there by Corona.
A left lands for Steele.
Steele lands a two punch combo.
Steele throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Corona misses with a looping right.
Steele connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Steele is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Steele getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Steele throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Corona counters with a straight right hand.
Corona lands the left hand.

Corona sends Steele crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Corona is motioning to the referee to let Steele up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Corona throws a shot from downtown. Steele moves away and avoids it.
Nice straight punches there by Steele. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Steele.
Steele takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Corona knocks out Steele with a massive right hand! The ref tackles Corona before he can follow up with any more strikes and that's it everyone. Corona picks up the big W with a huge KO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:38 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Juan Corona!
Juan Corona is the new featherweight champion!
An out of breath Juan Corona thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.