PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Maximo Steele (ranked 6032 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Zeal (ranked 8481 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Steele
vs
Zeal

189 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Maximo Steele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Robert Zeal!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Dillan Fox and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steele just misses with a punch to the body.

Zeal shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Zeal was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Steele is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Zeal's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Steele is trying to stand.
Steele is trying to maintain the position but Zeal is very close to passing his half guard.
Steele is pressing down on Zeal's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Zeal wants to control from the top but Steele keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zeal trying to stand up but can't free himself from Steele's guard.
Zeal trying to control but Steele is working from the bottom.
Steele keeping full guard, as Zeal tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele is looking to stand up but Zeal isn't so interested in that idea.
Steele is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Zeal tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Steele has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Zeal is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Steele landing strikes from the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele looking to control but Zeal is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zeal tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zeal is bucking up trying to escape but Steele cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeal tries to lock up and control but Steele gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Steele wants to finish this one by submission but Zeal is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Steele.
Steele lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Steele lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Zeal wants to hold on but Steele pushes him away.
Zeal trying desperately to get to his feet.
Zeal tries to hold on but Steele postures up.
Steele controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zeal tries to hold on but Steele pushes him away.
Steele takes Zeal's back.
Steele keeps control of the position easily here as Zeal tries to buck him off.
You can see the frustration on Zeal's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steele is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Zeal up.
Steele scores with punches to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximo Steele dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zeal closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Steele quickly recovers to half guard.

Steele has one foot on Zeal's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Steele finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Zeal throws a body kick that misses.
Steele misses with a low kick.

Zeal instigates a clinch.

Zeal is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Steele can't fight it off and eventually Zeal manages to take the fight to the floor. Steele looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zeal is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Zeal looking to sit in guard and control but Steele gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeal is trying to keep Steele in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Steele gets to his feet - Zeal follows without any prompting.
Steele swings for the body but Zeal moves out of range.
Robert Zeal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Zeal clinches with his opponent.

Steele breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Zeal drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Steele is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Zeal's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Steele keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele trying to hold on to Zeal's head to control him but Zeal postures up.
Steele throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Zeal not doing much here.
Steele wants to control but Zeal is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Maximo Steele overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Steele wants to get back to his feet.
Steele trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Zeal seems to be working for a kimura but Steele defends the submission attempt.
Zeal missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeal throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Steele misses with a head kick.
Zeal unleashes a big counter combination but Steele bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Zeal clinches.
Zeal has had enough of the clinch but Steele keeps him there for the moment.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Steele.

Zeal pulls guard successfully.
Steele really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Zeal throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Zeal is trying to control the position but Steele postures up.
Steele is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zeal can do to turn this around?
Zeal has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Steele has passed into side control.
Zeal 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Steele seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Zeal struggling a bit here.
Zeal is looking for a sweep.

Steele is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Zeal has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Maximo Steele will probably get the nod.
That's time! Steele's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Zeal shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Steele is trying to defend but Zeal finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Zeal wants to work for an arm triangle but Steele is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Zeal is looking to take a break and control but Steele is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Steele is trying to maintain the position but Zeal is very close to passing his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steele regains full guard. Nicely done.
Zeal prevents Steele from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Zeal working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Steele will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Zeal is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Steele tries to strike from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Zeal scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Steele sneaks back into half guard.
Steele moves into full guard.
Zeal takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Steele uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Zeal rushes Steele and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zeal is trying to break the clinch but Steele is controlling him.

Steele pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zeal has Steele pressed against the cage, preventing Steele from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Steele has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Steele has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A frustrated look appears on Steele's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Steele manages to break the clinch.

Zeal fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Steele, pushing him back against the cage.

Steele successfully pulls guard.
Zeal pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Steele is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Steele is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Steele working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zeal doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zeal manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Zeal's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Zeal trying to control but Steele is working from the bottom.
Zeal would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Zeal really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Steele. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zeal wants to control from the top but Steele keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Steele looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Zeal moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Zeal moves into the clinch successfully.
Zeal tries to circle away but Steele has him pinned against the cage.

Zeal jumps guard.
Zeal trying to keep a closed guard but Steele is proving a slippery customer.
Steele makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zeal wants to sweep here but Steele controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Robert Zeal.
I think Steele has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maximo Steele!