PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Keiji Mutou (ranked 2662 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Steward (ranked 7324 p4p, 0 weight class). Steward has chosen CFO% - Worlds Apart as his entrance music. Steve Steward has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mutou
vs
Steward

188 cm
48
206 lbs
40 - 31 - 2

193 cm
25
208 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 40 - 31 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Keiji Mutou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Steve Steward!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Steven Brown and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steward slips a jab and a cross from Mutou.
Steward looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Steward tries a head kick but it misses.
Steward uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mutou.
Mutou throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Steward misses with an uppercut. Mutou saw that one coming.
Steward thuds a left hand into Mutou's body.
Steward takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Mutou instigates a clinch.

Mutou lands a takedown into guard.
Mutou working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Mutou stopping the sweep attempt from Steward.
Mutou missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mutou is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Holding Cell that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mutou controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mutou throws a big right hand that misses.
Mutou throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Steward works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steward has Mutou pulled in close to control his posture.
Mutou throws a big elbow that misses.
Mutou is in close to Steward's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Steward working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mutou.
Mutou slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Mutou working some strikes from top position.
Mutou postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mutou is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mutou lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mutou trying to control but Steward is working from the bottom.
Mutou slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Mutou is looking to work some ground and pound but Steward has wrist control.
Mutou throwing strikes but missing.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Mutou content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Steward can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mutou working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mutou trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mutou accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mutou engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Mutou postures up and lands a big shot to Steward's brow.
Mutou throws a big right hand that misses.
Mutou in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mutou passes Steward's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Mutou thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Steward really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mutou. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mutou thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mutou throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Steward is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Mutou jumps into side control!
Mutou working the ground and pound from side control.
Steward takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The strikes coming from Mutou are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steward is letting Mutou control him for a moment.
Steward is looking to regain half guard here but Mutou keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mutou lands a nice forearm strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keiji Mutou dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Steward looks to score with a jab to the body but Mutou is just out of range.
Keiji Mutou is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Steward swings for the body but Mutou moves out of range.
Steward ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mutou moves away.
Steward tried to score with a low kick but Mutou checks it.
Steward is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Mutou.

It looks like Steve Steward has been cut.
Mutou connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Mutou blocks a jab.

Mutou scores with a takedown into Steward's guard.
Mutou missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mutou working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Steward's head.
Mutou showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mutou makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mutou with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mutou's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Mutou with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two 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.
Mutou trying to control the position from guard on top but Steward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mutou's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

A jab-cross combination lands for Mutou and sends Steward crashing to the mat! Mutou follows him down to the mat - Steward regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!
Mutou thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mutou landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Steward is rocked!
Mutou lands a big elbow - Steward is out of it! He's waving his arms around but his eyes are closed and he's not intelligently defending himself - the ref has no choice but to jump in and stop the fight! This one is in the books! A TKO win for Mutou!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Keiji Mutou!
Keiji Mutou spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.