PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Lawler (ranked 4458 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Steel (ranked 3527 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lawler
vs
Steel

199 cm
26
193 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

187 cm
25
185 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, John Lawler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mike Steel!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, David Hoff and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Steel drives through and clinches with Lawler against the cage.
Lawler jumps guard but Steel turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lawler has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Steel is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Lawler definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Steel holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Lawler jumps into guard, dragging Steel to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steel postures up in Lawler's guard and throws a big left but Lawler blocks it.
Steel trying to move into half guard but instead Lawler has managed to sweep!

Lawler thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lawler is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Steel manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Steel bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Lawler really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Lawler misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Despite the aggression on Steel's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Lawler. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Steel rushes Lawler and presses him up against the cage.
Steel misses with a knee to the head.
Steel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lawler is defending well for now.
Steel has Lawler pushed against the cage.
Lawler tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Steel smiles and moves away.
Lawler dives in and grabs Steel's left leg, looking for a takedown. Steel pushes down on Lawler's head and hops out.
Steel wants to counter with a clinch but Lawler pushes him away.
Lawler with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Steel to score with a decent uppercut.

Steel fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lawler, pushing him back against the cage.
Lawler is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Steel pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Steel is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Steel's coach down at Play House was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Steel's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Steel swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawler drops down looking for an ankle pick but Steel pulls his leg out and moves away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Lawler or perhaps it was just good defense by Steel, which made it look bad.

Lawler tries to keep at a distance but Steel has taken the fight into the clinch.
Steel missing with knees to the body.
Steel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lawler is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Steel lands a shoulder strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Steel just misses with a elbow thrown towards Lawler's brow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knees to the body from Steel.
Lawler has Steel pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Steel manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Steel tries to land knees in the clinch but Lawler avoids the damage to the body.
Lawler fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Steel.
Lawler takes an elbow to the temple.
Lawler drops down looking for an ankle pick but Steel pulls his leg out and moves away.

Steel fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lawler, pushing him back against the cage.
Steel connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lawler's face.
Steel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lawler is defending well for now.

Lawler ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Lawler no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Lawler is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Steel prevents Lawler from getting back to his feet.

Lawler has his foot on Steel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Steel works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawler is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Lawler looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lawler pulls Steel in to control the position.
Steel wants to control from the top but Lawler keeps moving.

Steel has gone for a leg lock! Lawler slips out almost immediately though and dives into Steel's guard.

Steel manages to escape and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Steel dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Steel stuffs the takedown attempt from Lawler. Lawler gets slowly back to his feet.
Lawler shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Steel looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Lawler throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Steel's waist but Steel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lawler off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Lawler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lawler has his takedown stuffed

and Steel counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Steel connects with a knee to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Steel throws an elbow but misses.
Steel stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Steel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Steel lands an elbow that stopped Lawler in his tracks for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawler 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 an elbow that stopped Lawler in his tracks for a moment.
Lawler wants to take the fight to the mat but Steel manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lawler avoids it.
Lawler managing to block the knees to the body from Steel.
A nice left hand lands by Steel.
Steel looking to throw knees to the head but Lawler is blocking nicely.
Steel has a couple of punches blocked by Lawler.
Lawler on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lawler dodges an elbow strike from Steel.
Steel stalling the fight.
Steel unloads a knee to the mid-section. Lawler lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Steel dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Come on Steel - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Steel manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Steel.
Steel trying to land knees to the body.
Steel stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Lawler is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Steel gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Lawler is working for takedown but Steel is calmly controlling the position for now.
Steel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lawler.

Lawler jumps guard.
Lawler trying to control the position here.
Steel in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawler keeping moving, preventing Steel from controlling successfully.
Steel being controlled here momentarily.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Steel controlling from the top position.
Steel looking to pass the guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Lawler takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Steel misses with a leg kick.
Lawler shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lawler shoots in but no luck this time.
Lawler tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Steel gets a clinch.
Lawler tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Steel just stands there and leans against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Steel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Steel. No joy for Lawler on that attempt.
Lawler darts in looking for a takedown but Steel gets double underhooks and turns Lawler into the cage.
Steel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lawler.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Lawler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lawler takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Steel gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lawler has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Steel is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Lawler tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Steel smiles and moves away.

Steel gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lawler tries to pull guard but Steel forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel taking a breather.
Mike Steel seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Lawler wants a takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lawler drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Steel gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Lawler drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawler is looking to take this one to the mat.
Steel gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Steel lands a nice elbow.
Steel lands a shoulder strike.
Lawler blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lawler on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Steel just misses with a elbow thrown towards Lawler's brow.
Steel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lawler avoids it.
Steel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lawler avoids it.
Steel throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawler takes a knee right on the jaw!
Lawler tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Steel just stands there and leans against the cage.
Lawler blocks the elbow strike.
Steel taking a breather.
Steel stalls.
Steel prevents a takedown attempt there.
Steel lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lawler backwards.
Steel stalling in the clinch.
Lawler drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Steel gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steel unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel pushes off an throws an elbow but Lawler leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Steel putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Lawler in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Lawler jumps guard but Steel turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lawler tries to score a body lock takedown but Steel shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Steel lands an elbow inside that Lawler shrugs off.
Steel trying to land knees to the body.
Steel is stalling here.
Steel holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Steel gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Steel looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lawler has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Steel avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Steel lands a nice elbow.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Steel just misses with a elbow thrown towards Lawler's brow.
Steel leaning against his opponent.
Steel lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Steel looking to throw knees to the head but Lawler is blocking nicely.
A nice left hand lands by Steel.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lawler is looking to take this one to the mat.
Lawler blocks the elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Steel just misses with a elbow thrown towards Lawler's brow.
Lawler avoiding damage as Steel throws knees to the body.
John Lawler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mike Steel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steel.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Steel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Steel winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight for Mike Steel!
Judge David Hoff scores the fight for Mike Steel!
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight for Mike Steel!

Mike Steel wins by unanimous decision!