PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Steel (ranked 23281 p4p, 645 weight class) and Alex Wright (ranked 7491 p4p, 595 weight class). Wright has chosen Warped Mind as his entrance music. Chris Steel could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Alex Wright's chin.

Steel
vs
Wright

195 cm
23
250 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

193 cm
21
218 lbs
4 - 13 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chris Steel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alex Wright!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Steve Montenegro and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Wright does no damage.
Steel throwing a counter right hand but Wright manages to avoid it.
Wright shoots in for a takedown but Steel shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Steel slaps away a takedown attempt from Wright, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Steel shoots in and drives through. Wright sprawls well.
Steel takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Wright misses with a few strikes there.
Steel fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Steel shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Wright defends it nicely.
As Steel backs off Wright throws a huge counter combo but Steel manages to avoid it all.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel leaves Wright with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Chris Steel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Wright.
Steel closes the distance and clinches up with Wright, looking for a takedown. Steel pushes Wright against the cage but Wright circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wright shoots in for a takedown but Steel shows good takedown defense.

Wright has closed the distance and engaged Steel in a clinch.
Steel drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Steel is breathing heavily.

Wright has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Steel uses from the top position.
Wright is controlling Steel's posture.
Wright is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Steel is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel looking to sit in guard and control but Wright gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Wright throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Steel keeping moving, preventing Wright from controlling successfully.
Wright is stalling in the full guard.
Steel has Wright pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel continues to stall.
Wright working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Wright looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Steel displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wright.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Steel 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 Wright has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Wright and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Steel definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Wright gets caught napping as Steel dives in and scores a takedown. Wright manages to retain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Steel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Wright seems keen to control Steel's posture.

Wright scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Wright closes the distance looking to clinch
and Steel counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Wright gets a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steel wants to break the clinch but can't.
Steel is trying to force a seperation but Wright has the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Steel drives through and clinches with Wright against the cage.
Steel controlling the action here for a moment.

Steel drags the fight down to the ground.
Steel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Steel keeping moving, preventing Wright from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wright is stalling in the full guard.
Steel is pulling down on Wright's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wright is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steel is pulling down on Wright's head. It's preventing any offense from Wright, at least for the moment.
Wright passes into half guard.
Wright looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Wright wants to lay and pray for a moment but Steel keeps working.
Steel is trying to escape back to his feet but Wright uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Wright fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Wright is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Steel has escaped the position, nice work there.
Wright wants to lay and pray for a moment but Steel keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel defending against the ground and pound.
Steel tries to get back to half guard but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wright 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 Wright off to one side.
Wright takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Wright wants to clinch.

Steel closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Steel wants to get back to striking at distance but Wright won't allow it.
Wright slowing the pace effectively.
Steel tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Wright is trying to pull guard but Steel has him pressed against the cage.
Wright is looking to take this one to the mat.
Chris Steel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Wright.
Wright has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Steel after a bit of a struggle.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wright drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Steel gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Wright jumps guard but Steel turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Steel dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Steel closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wright circles away.
A good leg kick by Wright.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Steel.
Steel takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Wright cracks a nice hook into Steel's ribs.
Wright rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Steel moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Steel slips a jab and a cross from Wright.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wright thumps Steel with a low kick.
Wright closes the distance and clinches up with Steel, looking for a takedown. Wright pushes Steel against the cage but Steel circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Wright goes for a double leg but Steel avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Steel continues to drive forward.
Wright pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wright shoots in but Steel avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Chris Steel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Wright.
Steel moves in looking to clinch but Wright pushes him off.
Wright looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.

Steel has taken the fight to the clinch.

Wright has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Steel uses from the top position.
Wright is trying to keep Steel in close.
Wright throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Wright pushes Steel off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Steel misses with a takedown
and Wright counters with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Steel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Steel on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Wright misses with a takedown
and Steel connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jab from Wright.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steel wants to clinch up but Wright keeps it at a distance.
Chris Steel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wright defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Steel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel slaps away a takedown attempt from Wright, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Wright throws a nice outside leg kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Wright.

Steel moves into range and clinches up with Wright.
Steel working hard to break the clinch.
Steel working hard to break the clinch.

Wright lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel controlling the position for now.

Wright stands up from half guard.
Wright scores with a spinning back kick!
Steel tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Wright defends well and Steel ends up having to push Wright into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Steel. No joy for Wright on that attempt.
Wright shoots for a double leg takedown but Steel sprawls well. He's pushed Wright's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Wright lands with a hook. Steel tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Chris Steel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alex Wright is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Steel gets caught flat footed, as Wright shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Steel is wriggling around but Wright manages to pass to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Steel showed his dominance in that final round.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight for Alex Wright!
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight for Alex Wright!
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight for Alex Wright!

Alex Wright wins by unanimous decision!
Alex Wright decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.