PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Steel (ranked 566 p4p, 72 weight class) and Castor Rollins (ranked 963 p4p, 127 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Steel
vs
Rollins

183 cm
31
202 lbs
14 - 9 - 1

188 cm
38
187 lbs
33 - 19 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 1, fighting out of New York, James Steel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Castor Rollins!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Trevor Gratis and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good standup being displayed there by Steel as he connects with a hook.
Rollins throws a looping overhand right but Steel ducks down to avoid it.
Steel doesn't manage to clinch there - Rollins circles away.
Steel misses with the combination.
Rollins connects with a body shot.
Steel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rollins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rollins slips under a jab.
Rollins slips a straight right by Steel.
Steel has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Midnight MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Rollins lands with a hook. Steel tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel moves in looking to clinch but Rollins pushes him off.
Steel fails to land with a series of punches.
Steel doesn't manage to clinch there - Rollins circles away.
Steel throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rollins tries to counter by closing the distance.
Nice takedown defense from Rollins. No joy for Steel on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rollins misses with a hook. Steel ducked under it nicely.
Nice uppercut there from Steel.
Rollins cracks Steel with an open hand slap.

It looks like James Steel has been cut.
Steel connects with a leg kick. Rollins looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rollins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Steel misses with a looping right.
Rollins takes a swing at Steel's ribcage but misses.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Steel.

Steel goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Rollins rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Steel's guard! Nice work there by Rollins!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rollins pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Steel is keeping the position for now.
Rollins stays in close to Steel's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steel looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rollins passes into half guard.

Steel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rollins controlling the pace.

Steel looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Rollins pushes past his half guard into mount!
Steel wants to control but Rollins is having none of it.
Steel can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel is working hard here to advance position.
Rollins content just to control the position here.
Steel regains half guard.
Rollins works his way into full mount!
Steel is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel wants to hold on but Rollins pushes him away.
Steel can't escape the position.
Steel manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rollins is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Steel moves into full guard.

Steel working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rollins doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rollins manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Castor Rollins will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on James Steel's cut.
That's time! Steel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Steel moves into the clinch.
Steel doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rollins lands with a light punch inside.
Rollins working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rollins misses with some punches.
Rollins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Steel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rollins has a couple of punches blocked by Steel.
Steel presses Rollins against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rollins is defending well.
Rollins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rollins prevents a body shot from Steel.
Steel doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Steel doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rollins lands a nice uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Rollins.
Rollins blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steel.
Steel tries a body shot but Rollins blocks it.
Rollins misses with a short punch on the inside.
Steel doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rollins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Steel throws a head punch that misses.
Rollins cracks Steel with a nice body shot.
Steel working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rollins can't find room to land a body shot as Steel controls the action.
Rollins can't find room to land a body shot as Steel controls the action.
Rollins throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steel.
Rollins prevents a body shot from Steel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rollins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rollins cracks Steel with a nice body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Rollins fails to land.
Steel cracks Rollins with a nice body shot.
Rollins throws a punch but it's blocked by Steel.
Steel blocking some punches.
Nice body punch from Steel.
Steel lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steel misses with a punch to the body.
Steel tries a body shot but Rollins blocks it.
Rollins gets through Steel's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steel.
Steel struggles to land a body shot inside as Rollins controls his hands.
Rollins takes a shot to the head.
Castor Rollins seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A nice left hand lands by Steel.
Steel misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rollins misses with the head strike.
Rollins throws a head punch that misses.
Rollins working aggressively here.
Rollins struggles to land a body shot inside as Steel controls his hands.
Steel tries a body shot but Rollins blocks it.
Steel misses with a punch to the body.
Steel presses Rollins against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Steel digs a right hand underneath Rollins's ribcage. Rollins let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Rollins throws a punch but it's blocked by Steel.
Still in the clinch, Rollins scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rollins tries a body shot but Steel blocks it.
Rollins has a couple of punches blocked by Steel.

Steel turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Rollins tries to buck Steel off but Steel is having none of it.
Rollins can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Steel goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rollins has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Steel but great work by Rollins.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steel can't do much from the bottom here.
Steel is being controlled here.
Steel tries to improve position but can't.
Steel is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rollins off and has taken his back!

Steel is looking for the choke from the back position but Rollins is controlling his hands well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Castor Rollins will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on James Steel's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rollins looks to throw the jab but Steel is out of range.
Rollins on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Steel moves in looking to clinch but Rollins pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Steel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Some wild striking there from Rollins.
A lazy left from Steel finds it's target.
Rollins scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Steel doesn't seem bothered though.
Castor Rollins seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rollins lands a right hook to the body.
Steel throws a jab when Rollins was well out of range.
Steel is looking to clinch but Rollins is avoiding it.
Rollins lands with a straight right. Steel didn't see that one coming.
Steel doesn't manage to clinch there - Rollins circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Steel closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steel.
Rollins can't find room to land a body shot as Steel controls the action.
Rollins softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Steel blocking some punches.
Rollins lands a right hand.
Rollins misses with the head strike.
Steel can't find room to land a body shot as Rollins controls the action.
Steel tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rollins's elbow.
Steel blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rollins swings wildly with an uppercut but Steel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rollins digs a right hand into Steel's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Steel's gas tank.
Steel is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rollins gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Steel tries a body shot but Rollins blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rollins or not.
Rollins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Steel's elbow.
Steel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Steel struggles to land a body shot inside as Rollins controls his hands.
Steel tries a body shot but Rollins blocks it.
Rollins throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Steels head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steel.
Steel throws a punch but it's blocked by Rollins.

Steel gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rollins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Steel advances position into side control!

Steel is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rollins is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rollins manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steel is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rollins has managed to free his arm - good work.

Steel looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Rollins manages to get to full guard.

That's four 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.
Steel wants to pass the guard but Rollins is keeping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steel trying to control but Rollins is working from the bottom.
Steel advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Castor Rollins just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on James Steel's cut.
That's time! Steel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Steel tries to clinch there but Rollins circles away.
Steel misses with a takedown attempt - Rollins sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Steel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rollins moves away.
Rollins bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Rollins connects with a single shot there.
Steel gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Steel looks to throw the jab but Rollins is out of range.
Rollins tries to counter with a clinch but Steel shakes him off and moves away.
Steel tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rollins manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rollins tries to counter with a clinch but Steel shakes him off and moves away.
Steel misses with a hook. Rollins ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rollins throws a hook but Steel avoids it easily.
Rollins slips under a jab from Steel.
Rollins steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Steel.
Steel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rollins swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rollins pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
James Steel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rollins misses with an uppercut. Steel saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Steel tries to clinch up but Rollins circles away and keeps his distance.
Steel loads up on a big right hand but Rollins slips the punch.
Rollins avoids the body shot from Steel.
Rollins swats away the attempt to clinch by Steel.
Rollins wants to counter with a clinch but Steel pushes him away.
Rollins lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Steel doesn't manage to clinch there - Rollins circles away.
Steel slips under a jab from Rollins.
Steel drops down looking for a counter takedown but Rollins sprawls and moves away.
Rollins lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Rollins misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel throws a big shot that misses.
Steel tries to clinch but Rollins moves out of range.
Rollins tries to counter by closing the distance.
Steel moves in looking to clinch but Rollins pushes him off.
Rollins misses with a hook. Steel ducked under it nicely.
Steel lands a nice hook to Rollins's body. Rollins takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Steel takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Steel tries to clinch up.
Steel is looking to clinch.
Rollins tries to counter by closing the distance.
Steel dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rollins will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
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!
Steel thows a left - swing and a miss!

Steel forces Rollins back against the cage and clinches.
Steel goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rollins prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Steel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short right from Steel on the inside.
Steel misses with a punch to the body.
Rollins prevents a body shot from Steel.
Steel can't find room to land a body shot as Rollins controls the action.
Steel presses Rollins against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rollins lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rollins pushes Steel back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Rollins lands with a left to the head.
Steel tries a body shot but Rollins blocks it.
Rollins lands with a left to the head.
Steel misses with a punch to the body.
Steel prevents a body shot from Rollins.
Steel working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rollins misses with a body punch.
Rollins misses with a punch to the body.
Rollins tries to throw a body punch but Steel avoids it by throwing Rollins back against the cage.
Rollins misses with a punch on the inside.
Rollins lands with a left to the head.
Rollins misses with a body punch.
Rollins lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Steel backwards.
Rollins is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rollins gets underhooks to prevent Steel's takedown attempt.
A right hook to the body lands for Rollins.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Rollins cracks Steel with a nice body shot.
Rollins gets through Steel's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rollins works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Steel throws a head punch that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Castor Rollins dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on James Steel's cut.
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!

Steel looks to land a right hand but Rollins moved out of range.
Rollins lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Steel tries to close the distance and clinch but Rollins swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rollins connects with a right hand. Steel shakes it off.
Steel throws a series of punches but Rollins avoids them all with ease.
Steel loads up on a big right hand but Rollins slips the punch.
Rollins is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Steel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Rollins misses the target.
Steel will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rollins steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Steel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rollins checks the leg kick.
Rollins circles away from the clinch attempt.
Steel tries to clinch but Rollins is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel connects with a body shot.
Steel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rollins but Rollins pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Rollins comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Castor Rollins is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Steel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rollins scores with a hook.
A jab lands there for Rollins.
Steel takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Rollins gets tackled into the cage by Steel. Steel maintains the clinch.
Steel drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rollins lands a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Rollins on the inside.
Steel misses with a body punch.
Rollins gets through Steel's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Steel can't find room to land a body shot as Rollins controls the action.
Steel pushes Rollins back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Steel misses with a body punch.
Steel blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Steel fails to land.
Rollins can't find room to land a body shot as Steel controls the action.
Rollins can't find room to land a body shot as Steel controls the action.
Steel wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Steel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rollins can't find room to land a body shot as Steel controls the action.
Rollins misses with the head strike.
Steel tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rollins misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rollins lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short body shot lands from Rollins as the two fighters clinch.
Steel tries a body shot but Rollins blocks it.
Rollins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short body shot lands from Steel as the two fighters clinch.
Rollins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rollins prevents a body shot from Steel.
Castor Rollins is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Steel working hard to break the clinch.
Steel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
James Steel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Good body shot from Steel.
Steel blocks a body shot from Rollins.
Steel tries a body shot but Rollins blocks it.
Steel tries to work over Rollins's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel tries to throw a body punch but Rollins avoids it by throwing Steel back against the cage.
Rollins softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rollins lands a right hand that snaps the head of Steel backwards.
Steel misses with a hook to the ribs.
Steel lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rollins blocks a body shot from Steel.
Steel tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rollins's elbow.
Steel is trying to drag Rollins to the mat but Rollins just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Steel tries to work over Rollins's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Castor Rollins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rollins 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 45:50
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 45:50
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Castor Rollins!
Castor Rollins is the new middleweight champion!
Castor Rollins very nearly forgot to thank Arcticus University: London amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.