PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jack Steel (ranked 1949 p4p, 245 weight class) and Kal Valen (ranked 3660 p4p, 403 weight class). Kal Valen is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Steel
vs
Valen

196 cm
27
245 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

200 cm
27
275 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Heavy handed

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jack Steel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kal Valen!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Ackerman and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Valen clinches up against the cage.
Valen looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Steel tries to circle away but Valen has him pinned against the cage.
Steel misses with some punches.
Valen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Steel is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Steel struggles to land a body shot inside as Valen controls his hands.
Steel lands a shot to the body.
Steel throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Valens head.
Steel doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Steel blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steel.
I was talking to Steel's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Steel fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel can't break the clinch.
Steel is trying to force a seperation but Valen has the dominant position.
A head punch on the inside from Steel fails to land.
Steel throws a punch but it's blocked by Valen.
Valen swings wildly with an uppercut but Steel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valen misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Valen lands a right hand.
Valen throws a punch but it's blocked by Steel.
A short uppercut from Steel.

Steel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Steel throws a low kick but Valen avoids it.
Valen lands a slapping body shot.
A jab from Steel misses.
A big left from Steel misses.
Steel lands a jab to the head.
Steel is looking to land body kicks.
Valen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Valen wants to clinch
and Steel counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Steel.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Valen missing with a left hand there. Steel was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A counter left hand to the body from Steel misses its target.
Valen closes the distance but Steel moves to the side
and Steel counters with a stiff right hand.
Steel throws a jab but it's blocked by Valen.
Valen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Steel counters with a nice body shot.
Valen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Steel counters with a one-two to the body.
Kal Valen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Steel counters with a right hand to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Valen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Steel misses with a looping left.
Valen throws a counter combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valen misses with a looping left.
Steel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Steel went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Steel lands an overhand right.
Valen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
As Steel backs off Valen throws a huge counter combo but Steel manages to avoid it all.
Valen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Steel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Steel scores with a jab.
Valen misses the jab.
Steel throws a big counter combination but Valen scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Valen throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Steel counter with a right hand.
Valen slips under a jab from Steel.
Steel swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Valen tries to clinch up but Steel circles away and keeps his distance.
A counter left hand to the body from Steel misses its target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel lunges at Valen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Valen's hand.
Steel lands with a nice body punch.

Valen instigates a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Valen fails to land.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steel is trying to push Valen away but Valen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Valen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Valen throws a punch but it's blocked by Steel.
Steel throws a head punch that misses.
Valen misses with some punches.
Valen tries to throw a body punch but Steel avoids it by throwing Valen back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steel.
Steel lands with a short shot to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Valen.
Steel lands with a right to the head.
Valen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Valen lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Steel dominated that round.
That's time! Steel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Valen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Steel.
Jack Steel is winning the standup battle so far.
Steel lands with a straight right. Valen didn't see that one coming.
Valen tries to clinch
and Steel connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kal Valen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Valen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Steel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Steel here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Steel tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Valen is able to avoid easily.
Steel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Valen has managed to clinch.
Steel swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel working aggressively here.
Valen tries to work over Steel's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Valen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Valen misses with a punch on the inside.
Steel has had enough of the clinch but Valen keeps him there for the moment.
Valen prevents Steel from breaking the clinch.
Steel lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Valen backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Steel blocking some punches.
Valen lands a nice uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steel.
Valen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Steels head.
Steel tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Valen's elbow.
Steel is trying to break the clinch but Valen has him pressed against the cage.
Steel lands a shoulder strike.
Steel throws a punch but it's blocked by Valen.
Valen tries to throw a body punch but Steel avoids it by throwing Valen back against the cage.
Valen misses with a punch to the body.
Steel misses with a punch on the inside.
Steel is trying to push Valen away but Valen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Valen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Steel working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Valen.
Steel blocks an uppercut.
Steel blocking some punches.
Valen lands a body punch in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Steel fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Steel.
Steel prevents a body shot from Valen.
Steel lands with a light punch inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Valen lands with a left to the head.
Steel is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Steel blocks a body shot from Valen.
Steel blocking some punches.
Steel lands with a light punch inside.
Steel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Valen can do to turn this around?
A head punch on the inside from Valen fails to land.
Steel prevents a body shot from Valen.
Steel lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Steel misses with a hook from the clinch.
Steel blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Valen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Steel working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Steel scores with a shoulder strike.
Valen misses with some punches.
Steel wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Steel misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Valen fails to land.
Valen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Steel is trying to push Valen away but Valen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Steel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Valen misses with a punch to the body.
A short right from Steel.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Steel.
Steel misses with a hook from the clinch.
Steel lands a left hand.
Steel scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Steel tries to throw a body punch but Valen avoids it by throwing Steel back against the cage.
Valen lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Steel or not.
Valen misses with a punch to the body.
Steel is looking to break free of the clinch but Valen has double underhooks.
Steel pushes Valen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Steel lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valen.
Steel lands with a right to the head.
Steel swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Steel lands with a light punch inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A nice left hand lands by Steel.

Valen is rocked!
Valen keeps control of Steel as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Valen blocking some punches.
A shot in the inside from Valen.
Jack Steel has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Steel tries to circle away but Valen has him pinned against the cage.
Steel blocks a body shot from Valen.
Steel throws a punch but it's blocked by Valen.
A short right from Valen.
Valen throws a punch but it's blocked by Steel.
Steel working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Valen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valen.
Steel can't break the clinch.
Steel blocks a body shot from Valen.
A short uppercut from Steel.
Valen lands with a right to the head.
Steel misses with a punch on the inside.
Steel lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Valen backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Steel dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, 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.

Valen wants to clinch but Steel slips to the side
and Steel counters with a nice uppercut.
Valen wants to clinch up but Steel keeps it at a distance.
Steel lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Valen at a distance.
Steel tries a low kick but Valen avoids it.
Steel swats away the attempt to clinch by Valen.
Steel digs a good hook to Valen's body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel misses with a hook. Valen ducked under it nicely.

Valen closes the distance and clinches.
Valen misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valen working aggressively here.
Steel is trying to break the clinch but Valen has him pressed against the cage.
Valen can't find room to land a body shot as Steel controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Steel.
Valen throws a head punch that misses.
Steel lands an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Valen.
Valen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Steel blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Steel is trying to break the clinch but Valen has him pressed against the cage.
Steel throws a punch but it's blocked by Valen.
Valen swings wildly with an uppercut but Steel uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Steel.
A head punch on the inside from Valen fails to land.
Valen gets through Steel's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Valen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Steel misses with a hook to the ribs.
Valen working aggressively here.
Steel lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valen throws a punch but it's blocked by Steel.
Steel wants to get back to striking at distance but Valen won't allow it.
Steel scores with a shoulder strike.
Valen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Steel misses with a hook from the clinch.
Valen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Valen blocking some punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch on the inside from Valen fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Steel.
A frustrated look appears on Steel's face as he tries to break the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Steel.
Valen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Steel misses with a body punch.
Steel lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Valen lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Steel has a couple of punches blocked by Valen.
Steel lands a right hand.
Valen blocks an uppercut.
Steel misses with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Steel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Valen has Steel pressed against the cage, preventing Steel from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Valen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Steel is trying to push Valen away but Valen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Steel blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Steel.
Valen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Steel.
Steel lands a hook that snaps the head of Valen backwards.
Steel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Steel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A left hand lands to the body for Steel.
Steel scores with a nice hook to the head.
Steel lands a right hand that snaps the head of Valen backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Steel.
Steel makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Steel lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A body shot lands from Valen.
Valen keeps control of Steel as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valen blocks an uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steel misses with a punch to the body.
Valen misses with the head strike.
Valen can't find room to land a body shot as Steel controls the action.
Valen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Steel's elbow.
Steel fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Valen blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Steel fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valen.
Steel scores with a shoulder strike.
Valen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Steel wants to get back to striking at distance but Valen won't allow it.
Steel takes a shot to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steel.
Valen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Steel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Steel is trying to break the clinch but Valen has him pressed against the cage.
Kal Valen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Valen has Steel pressed against the cage, preventing Steel from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Steel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Steel has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Steel!
An out of breath Jack Steel thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.