PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Steel (ranked 1074 p4p, 131 weight class) and Ronnie Rolla (ranked 678 p4p, 77 weight class). Rolla is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Hit 'Em Up. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Steel
vs
Rolla

183 cm
32
202 lbs
15 - 11 - 1

185 cm
29
200 lbs
18 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Pit Bull Development

Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 1, fighting out of New York, James Steel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ronnie Rolla!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Trevor Gratis and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steel keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Steel misses the target.
Rolla connects with a nice looking jab.
Steel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Steel scores with a shot to the body.
Rolla connects with a body shot that sends Steel's belly button to the back.
Rolla tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Steel tries to counter with a takedown but Rolla is quick to defend against it.
Steel stuns Rolla with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Steel jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Steel checks the leg kick nicely there.
Rolla blocks a jab.
Rolla shapes to counter with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel throws a hook but Rolla avoids it easily.
Rolla moves out of range as Steel throws a body kick.
Rolla unleashes a big counter combination but Steel bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
The crowd cheers as Steel lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rolla doesn't seem phased though.
Rolla scores with a jab. Steel acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steel checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel looks to land a left hand but Rolla moved out of range nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Steel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Steel, right into the meat.
Ronnie Rolla is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rolla throws a hook but Steel blocks it.
Steel jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
A big left from Steel misses.
That kick from Rolla tenderised Steel's leg. Steel is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rolla fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Steel has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Steel on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rolla. Rolla obviously looking to wear him down.
Jab from Rolla.
Rolla lunges at Steel with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Steel's hand.
Steel will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rolla.
Rolla throws out a counter right but Steel avoids it with no problem.
Steel throws a hook but Rolla blocks it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steel tests Rolla's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rolla has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Rolla ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Steel moves away.
Steel tries to bum rush Rolla with a series of wild strikes but Rolla uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Steel throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rolla counters with an outside leg kick.
Steel doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rolla counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rolla misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rolla moves to clinch but Steel breaks away
and Steel counters with a nice uppercut.
Steel throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Rolla to counter with a crisp jab.
Rolla feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Steels jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rolla uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Steel.
Steel keeps the fight on the outside.
Steel attempts a counter takedown but Rolla avoids it well and moves away.
Steel throws a hook but Rolla blocks it.
Steel connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Rolla misses with a looping right.
Rolla takes a swing at Steel's ribcage but misses.
Steel swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A jab from Steel misses.
Rolla walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Steel throws the left hand but Rolla avoids the punch easily.
Rolla throws a body shot but no joy.
James Steel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab lands there for Rolla.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rolla.
Steel misses with a looping left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rolla throws a jab when Steel was well out of range.
Rolla works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rolla thuds a left hand into Steel's body.
Steel slips a straight right by Rolla.
Steel is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Steel throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rolla uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Steel.
Steel doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Steel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rolla is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Steel had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Rolla tried to score with a low kick but Steel checks it.
Steel on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rolla. Rolla obviously looking to wear him down.
Steel smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Rolla tries to land a leg kick but Steel saw it coming and moves away.
A big right from Rolla misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronnie Rolla dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Steel moves away from the strike by Rolla.
Rolla pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Steel will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rolla lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Jab by Rolla.
Steel swats away the attempt to clinch by Rolla.
Ronnie Rolla is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice defenses there by Rolla.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Steel might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Rolla tries to bum rush Steel with a series of wild strikes but Steel uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rolla fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Steel manages to avoid it.
Steel half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Steel loads up on a big right hand but Rolla slips the punch.
A leg kick checked by Rolla.
Rolla unleashes a big counter combination but Steel bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Steel misses with a few strikes there.
It seemed like Rolla was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rolla fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Steel just misses with a punch to the body.
Steel misses the jab.
Rolla digs a good hook to Steel's body.
Steel throws a looping overhand right but Rolla ducks down to avoid it.
Rolla has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Good exchange - Rolla coming out on top.
Steel throws a combination that misses
and Rolla connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Rolla clinches up against the cage.

Rolla pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rolla buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Steel looks to land a left hand but Rolla moved out of range nicely.
Steel dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rolla slips under a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rolla attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ronnie Rolla seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A left lands for Rolla.
Rolla digs a good hook to Steel's body.
Rolla throws an overhand right that lands on Steel's shoulder, as Steel tries to avoid the shot.
Steel scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Rolla throws a right and a left that both miss.
Steel throws a jab but it's blocked by Rolla.
Rolla takes one to the side of the head.
Steel throws a right hand that Rolla ducks under and follows up with a left that Rolla also avoids with ease.
Rolla swinging wildly here.
Steel appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Rolla catches Steel with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rolla has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Steel finds it's way round the side to connect with Rolla's head.
Rolla lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Steel circles away quickly and effectively.
Rolla tries to score with a low kick but Steel moves his leg out of the way.
A swing and a miss from Steel.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rolla.
Rolla swings for the body but Steel moves out of range.
Rolla ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Steel moves away.
Rolla misses with a straight right.
Steel drops down looking for a counter takedown but Rolla sprawls and moves away.
Steel throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rolla connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rolla throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Steel was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A slow jab from Steel misses its intended target.
Steel misses with a double jab
and Rolla counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rolla fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Steel.
Rolla ducks under a wild hook from Steel.
Rolla misses with a looping right.
Rolla is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Steel.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steel chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rolla can pounce on him.
Steel throws a looping overhand right but Rolla ducks down to avoid it.
Rolla takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Rolla is looking to clinch.
Steel staying out of range there.
Steel throws the left hand but Rolla avoids the punch easily.
Steel looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Steel pushes Rolla up against the cage in a clinch.
Steel has a couple of punches blocked by Rolla.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronnie Rolla showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. 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.

Rolla works Steel's body with a nice hook.
Steel misses with a right hand
and Rolla counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Steel thinking.
Steel connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Steel throws a looping overhand right but Rolla ducks down to avoid it.
A nice side step and Rolla releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Rolla slips under a jab.
Steel ducks under a wild hook from Rolla.
Steel looks to land a right hand but Rolla moved out of range.
As Steel backs off Rolla throws a huge counter combo but Steel manages to avoid it all.
Steel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rolla.
Steel tries to clinch there but Rolla circles away.
Rolla swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rolla connects with a leg kick. Steel looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rolla scores with a jab. Steel acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rolla pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rolla scores with a shot to the body.
Steel misses with a lunging right hand
and Rolla counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rolla lands a right hook to the body.
Rolla dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Rolla fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Steel, pushing him back against the cage.
Rolla blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Rolla breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rolla plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like James Steel has been cut.

Rolla tries to sprawl but Steel drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Steel is looking to advance position but Rolla won't allow it.
Rolla controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Steel is looking to advance position but Rolla won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel is trying to control. Rolla wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rolla is concentrating on defense, preventing Steel from advancing position.
Steel wants to free his trapped foot but Rolla is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Steel is thwarting Rolla's attempts to control the position.
Ronnie Rolla is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel trying to control the action but Rolla is working from the bottom.
Rolla is looking for a sweep. Steel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rolla is looking to control Steel's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rolla avoid being mounted?
Steel stops Rolla from getting back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
James Steel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A right-left combo lands from Rolla.
Steel fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rolla scores with a nice strike.
Steel looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Rolla scoring well with a low kick there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Rolla.
Rolla looks to score with a jab to the body but Steel is just out of range.
Steel connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rolla's hands.
Steel misses with a right hand
and Steel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Steel's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rolla under the eye.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steel dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rolla. That did some damage!
Steel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rolla.
Rolla leaves Steel with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jab, jab by Rolla - just one landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ronnie Rolla comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rolla 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronnie Rolla!
A relieved looking Ronnie Rolla thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.