PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Harden (ranked 796 p4p, 115 weight class) and James Steel (ranked 2791 p4p, 351 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Harden
vs
Steel

185 cm
25
185 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

183 cm
34
202 lbs
17 - 17 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Harden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 17 - 1, fighting out of New York, James Steel!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Anthony Taglia and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harden connects with a right hand. Steel shakes it off.

It looks like James Steel has been cut.
Harden looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Steel darts in looking for a takedown but Harden gets double underhooks and turns Steel into the cage.
Harden on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Steel throws out a loose jab but Harden uses good head movement to avoid it.
Harden throws a looping overhand right but Steel ducks down to avoid it.
Steel with a poor takedown
and Harden counters with a right hand to the body.
Steel rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Harden counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Harden gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Steel.
Harden ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Steel moves away.
Steel closes this distance looking for a takedown but Harden circles away.
James Harden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Steel.
The fighters circling - Steel throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Steel misses with a takedown
enabling Harden to counter with a crisp jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steel blocks a jab.
Harden misses with a head kick.
Harden throws a leg kick
and Steel counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Harden lands a nice hook to Steel's body. Steel takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harden throws a hook but Steel blocks it.
Steel with the counter takedown but Harden avoids it easily.
Steel ducks under a wild hook from Harden.
Harden fails to land with a series of punches.
Steel fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Harden manages to avoid it.
Steel fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Harden lands with a thumping leg kick.
Harden throws a leg kick

and Steel counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Steel is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Harden is just riding it out for now. Steel eventually gives up the hold.

Steel is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Harden sees it coming and defends easily.
Harden trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harden is looking for a sweep. Steel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Steel is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Harden sees it coming and defends easily.

Steel is looking for a kimura here.
Harden trying to control here.
Harden knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Steel on the ground.

Steel is looking for submissions but instead, Harden has regained full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Harden swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Harden being controlled here, momentarily.
Steel trying to control the position from guard on top but Harden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harden wants to sweep here but Steel controlling him for the moment.
Steel wants to pass the guard but Harden is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Steel passes into half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Harden is looking for a sweep. Steel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Steel is looking for a kimura here.
Harden is looking to improve his position.
Harden wants to control but Steel passes into side.

Steel wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Harden, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that James Harden will probably get the nod.
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.

Steel throws the left hand but Harden avoids the punch easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Steel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Harden with a hook.
Harden throws a jab but it's blocked by Steel.

Steel decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Harden tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Steel has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

Steel looking to secure an arm triangle but Harden defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harden regains half guard.
Steel trying to control from half guard but Harden is working away.

Steel is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Harden has managed to free his arm - good work.
Steel moves nicely into side control.
Harden wants to control but Steel postures up.
Steel passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Harden!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steel working for a guillotine from mount but Harden is in no mood to give up.
Steel controlling from the full mount.
Harden really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Steel throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Harden because Steel loaded up on that one.
Harden is trying desperately to improve position.
Steel lands a nice shot to the head.
Steel trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harden is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Steel controlling from mount.

Steel is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Harden has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Steel is looking to work his way around to Harden's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel controlling the pace for now.
Steel looking to control but Harden is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Steel wants to finish this one by submission but Harden is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Steel.
Steel controlling the pace for now.
Steel tries to control but Harden wriggling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steel manages to capitalize on a mistake by Harden to take his back!

Steel patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Steel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on James Steel'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!

The crowd cheers as Harden lands an impressive looking overhand right. Steel doesn't seem phased though.
Harden lands a jab to Steel's midsection.
Nice sprawl there from Harden as Steel shoots in.
Harden went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Steel fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Harden to the ground. Steel is now in Harden's guard.
Harden is looking to stand back up but Steel counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Harden.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Steel trying to pass the guard but Harden defending well.
Harden trying to control but Steel postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Steel is trying to control. Harden wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harden is looking to control Steel's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Harden avoid being mounted?
Steel is looking to advance position but Harden won't allow it.
Steel is keen to just control but Harden is a slippery customer.
Steel trying to control from Harden's half guard. Harden has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Steel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Harden swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Steel trying to control the position from guard on top but Harden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Steel's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Steel trying to control but Harden is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Harden throws a big shot that misses.
A slow jab from Harden misses its intended target.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Steel is defended easily by Harden.
Steel defending well as Harden loads up on a big left hand.
Harden throws a body shot but no joy.
James Harden is winning the standup battle so far.
Steel tries to clinch but Harden moves out of range.
Harden throws a right hand that misses
and Steel counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harden throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Harden fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Steel checks it well.
Steel tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Steel is looking to clinch.
Harden swats away the attempt to clinch by Steel.
Harden fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Steel looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Harden loads up on a big right hand but Steel slips the punch.
James Harden is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Steel shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Steel prevents Harden from improving his position.

Steel is trying to work for a kimura but Harden is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harden is doing well to control the position and prevent Steel from advancing to side control.

Harden is defending against the submission attempts here by Steel.
Harden is trying to control but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steel stops Harden from getting back to his feet.
James Steel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Harden tries to get to full guard but Steel has control of the leg.

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 James Harden.
I think Harden has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... James Harden!