PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Vigorio Gonzalez (ranked 1874 p4p, 197 weight class) and Raylan Steele (ranked 5536 p4p, 419 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!

Gonzalez
vs
Steele

167 cm
25
154 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

175 cm
27
150 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sportivité
Velocity Fightwear

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 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vigorio Gonzalez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raylan Steele!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gonzalez throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Steele stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
We've been informed that Steele has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Gonzalez throws a hook but Steele avoids it easily.
Gonzalez jabs Steele right on the nose. Steele blinks but takes it well.
Steele tries to clinch there but Gonzalez circles away.
Steele wants to clinch.
Gonzalez walks into a stiff left hand from Steele.
Gonzalez throws the left hand but Steele avoids the punch easily.
Steele misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Steele just misses with a punch to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Gonzalez misses the target.
Steele throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gonzalez throws a hook to the side of Steele's head but Steele sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gonzalez connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Steele momentarily.
Steele walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Gonzalez misses with a hook.
Steele ducks under a wild hook from Gonzalez.
Steele cracks the inside of Gonzalez's front leg.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Gonzalez clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gonzalez's elbow.
Gonzalez throws a punch but it's blocked by Steele.
Gonzalez misses with a punch on the inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Gonzalez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gonzalez misses with the head strike.

Gonzalez manages to break the clinch.
Steele takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gonzalez with a jab.
Steele tries for a takedown but Gonzalez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Gonzalez lands with a good body shot.
Gonzalez clobbers Steele with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Gonzalez rushes Steele and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Steele is looking to break free of the clinch but Gonzalez has double underhooks.
Gonzalez lands a hook that snaps the head of Steele backwards.
Gonzalez lands an uppercut.

Gonzalez breaks the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steele fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A big right from Gonzalez misses.
Gonzalez throws a shot from downtown. Steele moves away and avoids it.
Steele is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez throws a lazy right hand but Steele sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gonzalez throws a right hand that misses
enabling Steele to counter with a crisp jab.
Gonzalez missing with a left hand there. Steele was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Steele throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gonzalez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Steele.
Vigorio Gonzalez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raylan Steele.
Gonzalez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Steele.
The fight stays on the outside here - Steele looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Steele clinches up with Gonzalez and pushes him back against the cage.
Gonzalez struggles to land a body shot inside as Steele controls his hands.
Steele goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gonzalez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Steele just leaning against Gonzalez, taking a breather.
Gonzalez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Steele misses with a body punch.
A body shot lands from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez working aggressively here.
Steele is trying to break the clinch but Gonzalez has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Steele is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Steele is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gonzalez is keeping busy.
Gonzalez lands a nice uppercut.
Steele tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Steele lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Gonzalez throws a punch but it's blocked by Steele.
Steele scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Steele scores with a shot to the side of Gonzalez's head.
Steele taking a breather.
Gonzalez misses with some punches.
Steele is trying to break the clinch but Gonzalez is controlling him.
Gonzalez throws a punch but it's blocked by Steele.
Steele pressing his opponent against the cage.
Steele wants to break free but Gonzalez has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele lands with a light punch inside.

Gonzalez breaks from the clinch.
Steele scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
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!
Gonzalez moves away from the strike by Steele.

Gonzalez drives through and clinches with Steele against the cage.
Steele lands a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gonzalez.
Come on Steele - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Steele has Gonzalez pushed against the cage.
Steele is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Steele's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Steele lands a body shot in the clinch.
Gonzalez keeps control of Steele as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gonzalez.
Steele is working Gonzalez over against the cage.
Steele blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vigorio Gonzalez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Steele scores with a hook.
Gonzalez punishes Steele's body with a nice straight punch.
Gonzalez misses with a wild body shot.
Steele throws a leg kick but Gonzalez checks it.
Gonzalez scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Steele pushes Gonzalez up against the cage in a clinch.

Steele's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Steele is looking to clinch but Gonzalez is avoiding it.
Steele tries to move into range but Gonzalez moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Raylan Steele is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A looping hook to the body misses from Steele. Gonzalez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gonzalez was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Steele fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gonzalez, pushing him back against the cage.
Gonzalez can't find room to land a body shot as Steele controls the action.
Gonzalez lands a nice shot to the body.
Gonzalez throws a punch but it's blocked by Steele.
Steele lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Steele manages to break the clinch.
Steele fails to land with a series of punches.
A shot to the liver by Gonzalez. Beautiful body shot.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Steele!
Steele changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele throws a big shot that misses.
Gonzalez slips under a jab from Steele.
Gonzalez takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Steele uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gonzalez.
Steele scores with a one two! Gonzalez had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Vigorio Gonzalez is winning the standup battle so far.
No joy there for Steele, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gonzalez on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Gonzalez checks a low kick from Steele.
An attempted straight right counter from Gonzalez misses the target.
Jab from Gonzalez.
A jab from Gonzalez finds it's way through Steele's defenses.
Gonzalez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Steele paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Steele lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gonzalez circles away quickly and effectively.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gonzalez stuffs the takedown.
Gonzalez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Steele manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A jab from Gonzalez misses.
Steele looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gonzalez takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gonzalez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Steele swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Steele takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Steele misses with the combination.

Gonzalez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gonzalez has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Steele breaks from the clinch.
Steele keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gonzalez.
Steele fails with an attempt to clinch.
Steele shoots in for a takedown but Gonzalez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Vigorio Gonzalez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raylan Steele.
Gonzalez throws a hook but Steele blocks it.
Gonzalez swats away the attempt to clinch by Steele.
Gonzalez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Steele was well out of range. Poor timing from Gonzalez.

Gonzalez closes the distance and clinches.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Steele takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Gonzalez lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele is pushing Gonzalez up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A short right from Gonzalez on the inside.
Steele can't find room to land a body shot as Gonzalez controls the action.
Steele tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gonzalez misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gonzalez.
Vigorio Gonzalez has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Gonzalez pushes Steele back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gonzalez throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Steeles head.
Steele goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Steele blocking some punches.
Gonzalez tries a body shot but Steele blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steele.

Gonzalez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Steele has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Gonzalez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gonzalez connects with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele moves away from the strike by Gonzalez.
Gonzalez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Steele throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Steele cracks a nice hook into Gonzalez's ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gonzalez tests Steele's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gonzalez misses with a low kick.
Gonzalez throws a body punch but Steele moves out of range.
Steele tries to counter by closing the distance.
Steele misses with a looping right.
Sloppy strikes from Steele. Those never looked like landing.
Gonzalez misses the shot to the body.
Gonzalez lands a nice hook to Steele's body. Steele takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
The fighters circle momentarily. Gonzalez darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Steele throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gonzalez on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Horrible takedown attempt by Steele or perhaps it was just good defense by Gonzalez, which made it look bad.
Steele throws a right hand that Gonzalez ducks under and follows up with a left that Gonzalez also avoids with ease.
Gonzalez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Steele throws out the jab.
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 Vigorio Gonzalez will probably get the nod.
That's time! Gonzalez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gonzalez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Steele.
A left and a right from Steele both land. Nice combination.
Steele tries to close the distance and clinch but Gonzalez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Steele drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Steele lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Gonzalez has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Gonzalez and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A counter left hand to the body from Gonzalez misses its target.
Steele scores with a decent looking hook.
Steele tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gonzalez was well out of range. Poor timing from Steele.
Gonzalez changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Steele avoids the body shot from Gonzalez.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Steele is looking to break free of the clinch but Gonzalez has double underhooks.
A short right from Gonzalez on the inside.
Steele lands a shot to the body.
Steele tries to break the clinch but Gonzalez is controlling the position.
Gonzalez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Steele struggles to land a body shot inside as Gonzalez controls his hands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gonzalez tries to break the clinch but Steele is controlling the position.
Gonzalez blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez misses with a punch to the body.
Steele goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Steele lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gonzalez backwards.
Gonzalez working aggressively here.
Steele digs a right hand underneath Gonzalez's ribcage. Gonzalez let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Steele pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice defenses there by Gonzalez.
Gonzalez wants to clinch.

Steele moves into range and clinches up with Gonzalez.
Steele misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gonzalez working aggressively here.
A short left from Gonzalez.
Steele gets through Gonzalez's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Gonzalez lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez lands a right hand that snaps the head of Steele backwards.
Steele struggles to land a body shot inside as Gonzalez controls his hands.
Gonzalez working aggressively here.
Steele blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gonzalez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Steele pushes Gonzalez back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Gonzalez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Steele has a couple of punches blocked by Gonzalez.
Steele lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Gonzalez.

Steele breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Steele fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Gonzalez is out of range.
Gonzalez doesn't manage to clinch there - Steele circles away.
Steele bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Gonzalez slips under a jab.
Steele waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gonzalez.
The crowd cheers as Gonzalez lands an impressive looking overhand right. Steele doesn't seem phased though.
Gonzalez throws a shot from downtown. Steele moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez tests Steele's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Steele walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Gonzalez dodges the punch combination from Steele.
Gonzalez scores with a decent looking hook.
Steele tries to clinch but Gonzalez is having none of it.
Gonzalez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Steele.
Vigorio Gonzalez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gonzalez takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Gonzalez takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Steele scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Gonzalez throws a leg kick which misses Steele's front leg but catches the back leg as Steele tries to avoid it.
Gonzalez connects with a good right hand that stumbles Steele. Steele circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gonzalez misses with a hook to the ribs.
Raylan Steele has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele misses with some punches.
Steele tries to break the clinch but Gonzalez is controlling the position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Gonzalez as Steele tries to tie him up.
Gonzalez has Steele pressed against the cage, preventing Steele from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Still in the clinch, Gonzalez scores with a nice short uppercut.
Gonzalez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Steele's elbow.
Nice body punch from Gonzalez - that landed with a thud.
Steele misses with some punches.

Steele breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Steele throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Steele tries to move into range but Gonzalez moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Steele throws a big shot that misses.
Gonzalez dips to his left and cracks Steele with an uppercut!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vigorio Gonzalez.
Well Gonzalez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vigorio Gonzalez!
Vigorio Gonzalez managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Sportivité, into his post fight interview.