PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abel Steele (ranked 23740 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rip Tugger (ranked 6827 p4p, 0 weight class). Rip Tugger has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Abel Steele's chin.

Steele
vs
Tugger

159 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

201 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Abel Steele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rip Tugger!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Roger Salmon and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tugger pushes Steele up against the cage in a clinch.
Steele tries to break free but Tugger pushes him back against the cage.
Steele wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Tugger gets control of Steele's arms and successfully pulls guard. Tugger will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Tugger tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Steele looking to sit in guard and control but Tugger gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steele is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tugger is controlling him.
Tugger must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tugger engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tugger is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tugger's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Tugger wants to pass the guard but Steele is keeping the position.
Tugger wants to stand but Steele is controlling his posture from full guard.
Tugger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Tugger stands up from Steele's guard - Tugger perhaps looking for a knockout.

Steele gets tackled into the cage by Tugger. Tugger maintains the clinch.
Tugger wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Steele has him pressed against the cage.
Tugger effectively controlling the action here.
Tugger is looking to break free of the clinch but Steele has double underhooks.

Steele manages to break the clinch.

Tugger fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Steele sprawls well initially but Tugger persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Steele makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tugger dives in and scores a takedown into Steele's guard.

Steele has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Tugger is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Steele is looking to take this one to the mat.
Tugger is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Tugger pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Tugger stalling the fight.

Steele ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Steele no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Tugger scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steele is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Steele really is a fat lump.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tugger working some strikes from top position.

Tugger stands and steps away. Steele gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Tugger moves into the clinch.

Tugger gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Steele regains guard.

Steele has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Tugger is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Tugger wants the takedown. Steele is fighting it off but Tugger persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Steele's guard against the cage.

Steele has his feet on Tugger's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Tugger looks winded!

Tugger decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Steele pushes Tugger off and gets back to his feet.
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 Abel Steele will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tugger defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Steele.
Tugger throws a right and a left that both miss.

Steele gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Steele wants to sweep but no luck.

Tugger drops back, looking for a kneebar! Steele looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Steele looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Steele!

Tugger is not content to let Steele control the position.
Tugger is trying to control Steele's posture but Steele avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Tugger down.
Tugger on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Tugger manages to work his way to half guard, despite Steele's best efforts.
Steele missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Steele trying to control the action but Tugger is working from the bottom.
Tugger trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steele is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tugger defends it well.

Steele stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Tugger scores with a three punch combo!

Tugger shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Steele has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Tugger is on him like a limpet, forcing Steele back against the cage.
Tugger is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Tugger pulls guard successfully.
Tugger working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Steele.

Tugger is working an open guard so Steele takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Steele misses with a double jab.

Tugger shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Steele's guard.
Tugger postures up and lands a big shot to Steele's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tugger would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Tugger postures up.
Abel Steele overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Tugger is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Steele is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Steele has escaped and now he's on top!

Steele pushes down on Tugger's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Steele trying to control from half guard but Tugger is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abel Steele dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tugger throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Steele was covering up waiting for the punch and Tugger finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Steele lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Tugger sitting in guard here, content to control.
Steele keeping moving, preventing Tugger from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tugger passes into half guard.
Steele is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Steele bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tugger's guard.

Tugger is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Tugger takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Steele scoring with some ground and pound.

Steele drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Tugger dives on top into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tugger postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Tugger wants to control from the top but Steele keeps moving.
Tugger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tugger with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tugger trying to control the position from guard on top but Steele is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tugger throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Steele is trying to keep Tugger in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Tugger missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Steele is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tugger pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Steele has Tugger pressed against the cage, preventing Tugger from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Steele managing to block the knees to the body from Tugger.

Tugger gets control of Steele's arms and successfully pulls guard. Tugger will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Steele stands up and waves to Tugger to follow him.
Tugger scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Abel Steele has been cut.

Tugger throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Steele tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Tugger is in Steele's guard.

Steele pushes Tugger off and gets back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rip Tugger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Abel Steele is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A frustrated look appears on Tugger's face as he tries to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rip Tugger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Steele 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abel Steele!