PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fletcher Bowen (ranked 25296 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Steel (ranked 8876 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bowen
vs
Steel

166 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

195 cm
22
250 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fletcher Bowen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chris Steel!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steel shoots in looking for a takedown. Bowen tries to sprawl out of it but Steel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bowen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Bowen has Steel up against the cage in a clinch.
Bowen stops a takedown attempt from Steel.
Bowen is trying to break free.
Bowen wants to break free but Steel has control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bowen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Steel is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Bowen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Steel is trying to push Bowen away but Bowen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Bowen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Bowen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Bowen.
Bowen struggles to land a body shot inside as Steel controls his hands.
Bowen could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Bowen breaks the clinch.
Bowen blocks a head kick by Steel.

Steel has closed the distance and engaged Bowen in a clinch.
Bowen tries to pull guard but Steel holds him up against the cage and eventually Bowen drops back down to his feet.
Steel cracks Bowen with a nice body shot.
Bowen is trying to break the clinch but Steel has him pressed against the cage.

Bowen manages to break the clinch.
Bowen tries for a takedown but Steel circles away easily
and Steel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Fletcher Bowen has been cut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fletcher Bowen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bowen with a poor takedown

and Steel counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bowen can't break the clinch.
Steel lands a body punch.
Bowen is breathing heavily.
Steel has Bowen pushed against the cage.
Bowen is trying to break the clinch but Steel is controlling him.

Steel gets control of Bowen's arms and successfully pulls guard. Steel will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Steel has his foot on Bowen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bowen works his way back into a safe position though.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Steel is on top in guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Steel throwing strikes but missing.
Steel controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel throws a big right hand that misses.
Steel controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Steel advances to half guard.

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.
Steel is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Bowen pushes Steel off looking to stand but Steel dives back in and keeps control.
Bowen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Steel.
Steel is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Steel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Steel dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Fletcher Bowen's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Steel looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
As Steel tries to get set, Bowen tries to push him back and clinch up but Steel manages to avoid the attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Steel.
Steel looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Bowen slaps away a takedown attempt from Steel, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Steel fails with the takedown.
Fletcher Bowen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Steel.
Bowen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Steel swivels and escapes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bowen darts in looking for a takedown but Steel gets double underhooks and turns Bowen into the cage.
No luck for Steel with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Steel has Bowen up against the cage in a clinch.
Steel is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Steel is breathing heavily.
Bowen tries to work over Steel's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Steel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bowen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Steel. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Bowen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Steels head.
Bowen working aggressively here.
Bowen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Bowen breaks the clinch.

Steel fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bowen, pushing him back against the cage.
Steel's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Bowen lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowen is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Steel to keep the fight standing.

Steel jumps guard and drags Bowen to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Steel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Steel has control of Bowen's left arm, preventing Bowen from doing any damage.

Steel looking for a guillotine here but Bowen defends easily.

Steel has his feet on Bowen's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowen shoots in but Steel avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bowen fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Bowen with that takedown attempt.
Steel shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bowen pinned against the cage. Bowen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Steel goes for a double leg but Bowen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bowen continues to drive forward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Steel is defended easily by Bowen.
Chris Steel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bowen shoots in looking for a takedown. Steel tries to sprawl out of it but Bowen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Steel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Steel.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Steel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Steel. Bowen does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Steel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Fletcher Bowen's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bowen shoots in looking for a takedown. Steel tries to sprawl out of it but Bowen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Steel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Steel clinches up with Bowen and pushes him back against the cage.
Bowen is trying to pull guard but Steel turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Steel breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel goes for a double leg but Bowen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bowen continues to drive forward.
Bowen drops down looking for a counter takedown but Steel sprawls and moves away.
Nice takedown defense from Steel. No joy for Bowen on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fletcher Bowen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Steel shoots in for a takedown but Bowen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Steel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Steel. No joy for Bowen on that attempt.
Steel flicks out a counter leg kick but Bowen steps away.
Steel has a takedown stuffed.
Steel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bowen attempts a counter takedown but Steel avoids it well and moves away.
Steel shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bowen as he jumps to the side.
Bowen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Steel misses with a takedown attempt

and Bowen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Bowen tries a body shot but Steel blocks it.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowen shoots for a double leg takedown but Steel sprawls well. He's pushed Bowen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bowen leaves Steel with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bowen half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Bowen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Steel but Steel pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Steel swats away the attempt to clinch by Bowen.
Steel jabs Bowen right on the nose. Bowen blinks but takes it well.
Bowen moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steel clinches with his opponent.
Bowen stalls.
Bowen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bowen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Bowen manages to break the clinch.
Bowen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Steel fails to land the takedown.
Bowen avoids the head kick by Steel.
Bowen dives in for a single leg takedown but Steel sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bowen circles away.
Bowen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Steel misses with a two punch combination.
Steel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Fletcher Bowen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Bowen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Bowen content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Bowen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Steel swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Bowen tries to counter with a takedown but Steel is quick to defend against it.
Bowen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Steel pinned against the cage. Steel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Steel drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Bowen defends it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Steel!