PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dick Army (ranked 410 p4p, 57 weight class) and James Steel (ranked 779 p4p, 98 weight class). Army comes to the cage accompanied by Dick Army. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Army
vs
Steel

189 cm
38
200 lbs
45 - 24 - 1

183 cm
36
202 lbs
21 - 19 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

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 45 - 24 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Dick Army!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 19 - 1, fighting out of New York, James Steel!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, William Peck and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Army fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Army throws a half hearted mid kick.
Steel takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Army missing with a left hand there. Steel was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Steel now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

Army pushes Steel up against the cage in a clinch.
Steel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Steel tries to throw a body punch but Army avoids it by throwing Steel back against the cage.

Army pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Steel misses with a hook
and Army counters with a series of strikes. Steel will be more careful next time no doubt.
Steel takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Steel doesn't manage to clinch there - Army circles away.
Army lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steel misses with a hook
and Army connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like James Steel has been cut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Army. Steel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Steel looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Army lets loose with a powerful body kick. Steel will feel that in the morning.
Steel misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A big left from Steel misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Steel closes the distance and pushes Army back into the cage.
Steel keeps control of Army as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Steel drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Army gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Army escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Army tries to keep at a distance but Steel has taken the fight into the clinch.

Army breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Steel throws an off balance right hand
and Army counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Army ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Dick Army is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Army wants to clinch up but Steel keeps it at a distance.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Steel has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Army darts in and clinches Steel up against the cage.
Steel lands a nice knee to the body.
Army wants to get back to striking at distance but Steel won't allow it.
A head punch on the inside from Steel fails to land.
Steel misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Army pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Steel misses with a left hand
and Army counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Army will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Steel tries to close the distance and clinch but Army swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Army misses the shot to the body.
Steel misses with a straight right.
Steel throws a lazy uppercut
and Steel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Steel scores with a sloppy right hand. Army should have avoided that one.

It looks like Dick Army has been cut.
Steel takes a swing at Army's ribcage but misses.
Army misses with a kick to the body.
Army will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Army misses the body punch
and Steel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Army tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Steel was well out of range. Poor timing from Army.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Army lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Army misses with a hook to the body
and Steel counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Army keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Steel.
Steel throws an off balance right hand
and Army counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Steel digs a good body shot into Army's ribs.
Army looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
James Steel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheers as Army lands an impressive looking overhand right. Steel doesn't seem phased though.
Steel lands a jab to the head.
Steel looks to land a left hand but Army moved out of range nicely.
Army swats away the attempt to clinch by Steel.
Steel tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Army counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steel throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Army counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Army misses with a wild combination.

Steel clinches up against the cage.
Army wants to get back to striking at distance but Steel won't allow it.
Steel has Army pressed against the cage, preventing Army from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Steel misses with a short punch on the inside.
Army prevents a body shot from Steel.
Army looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Steel working aggressively here.
Army comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Army tries to break the clinch but Steel is controlling the position.
Steel tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Army's elbow.
A short uppercut from Steel.

Steel has hold of one of Army's legs. Army is fighting the takedown attempt but Steel gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Steel drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Army manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Steel has Army in his guard.

Army wants to stand but Steel is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick Army dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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 clinches up against the cage.
Army wants to break free but Steel has control.
Army has had enough of the clinch but Steel keeps him there for the moment.
A right hook to the body lands for Steel.
Army is trying to break the clinch but Steel has him pressed against the cage.

Army's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Army - that will leave a mark!
Army lands a lovely overhand right.
Steel might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Steel throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Army on the side of the head.
Army lands an overhand right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Army but Army pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Army lands a really nice looking cross but Steel seems unphased.
Army slips a straight right by Steel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Army moves away.
Army keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Army throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Army rushes Steel and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Steel keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Army's efforts to push away.
Steel misses with a body punch.
Army throws a head punch that misses.
Army wants to break free but Steel has control.
Army is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Army tries to throw a body punch but Steel avoids it by throwing Army back against the cage.
Army wants to break the clinch but can't.
Steel tries to work over Army's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Steel takes an elbow to the forehead.
Steel goes for a takedown in the clinch but Army prevents it.
Army wants to break free but Steel has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Army's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Army connects with a right hand. Steel shakes it off.
Steel moves out of range as Army throws a body kick.
Steel scores with a punch to the head.
Steel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Army swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Army checks a low kick from Steel.
An attempted straight right counter from Army misses the target.

Steel has managed to clinch.
Steel misses with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Army manages to break the clinch.
Steel connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Steel tries to clinch
and Army counters with a stiff right hand.
Army throws a big shot that misses.
Steel moves to clinch but Army breaks away
and Army cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Army clobbers Steel with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Army is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Steel can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Army misses with a hook. Steel ducked under it nicely.
Steel moves in looking to clinch but Army pushes him off.
Army quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Army connects with a crisp jab.
Steel changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Army tries to avoid it but Steel manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Army to the ground. Army escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dick Army has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Steel.
Army lands with a good body shot.
Army moves out of range of the strikes.
Army tries to clinch but Steel is having none of it.
Steel looks to clinch
and Army counters with a nice uppercut.
Steel waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Army.
Army moves out of range as Steel strikes.
Army lands a really nice looking cross but Steel seems unphased.
Dick Army is winning the standup battle so far.
Steel connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Steel looks to land a left hand but Army moved out of range nicely.
Army defending well as Steel loads up on a big left hand.
Army quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel digs a good body shot into Army's ribs.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Army lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Steel instigates a clinch.

Army breaks from the clinch.
Army scores with a crisp jab that stopped Steel in his tracks.
Army cracks Steel with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Steel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Steel jabs Army to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Steel moves away from the strike by Army.
Army changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Army pushes Steel away with a front kick.
Steel fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Steel drives through and clinches with Army against the cage.
Army is trying to break the clinch but Steel has him pressed against the cage.

Army's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick Army dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Army uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Army lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Steel throws an overhand right that lands on Army's shoulder, as Army tries to avoid the shot.
Army lands a nice looking kick to the body. Steel takes a step back to recover.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Army, right into the meat.
Steel tries to close the distance and clinch but Army swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Steel misses with a hook
and Army counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Steel has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Army slips a jab from Steel.
Steel throws a leg kick
and Army counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Army moves in looking to clinch but Steel pushes him off.
Army throws a half hearted mid kick.
Steel sizes up Army with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Army drops his hands momentarily and Steel takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Steel has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Army.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Army misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Army.
Steel tries to clinch but Army is having none of it.
Army moves out of range as Steel strikes.
Steel steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Army. That one must have hurt.
Steel steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Army. That one must have hurt.
Steel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A nice inside leg kick there by Army. That's going to slow Steel down.
Both fighters circling a little - Army finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Steel looks for a takedown but Army sprawls well.

Army gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Army breaks from the clinch.
Steel tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Army swivels and escapes.
Army thinks about countering with a body kick.

Army instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Army blocks a body shot from Steel.

Steel wants the takedown. Army is fighting it off but Steel persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Army's guard against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Steel is fighting to break Army's control of his arms but Army is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Steel not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Steel sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Army's guard.
Steel with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Army is trying to get back to full guard.
Steel is looking to stall here but Army recovers full guard.
Dick Army is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Army keeping moving, preventing Steel from controlling successfully.
Steel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Steel wants to pass the guard but Army is keeping the position.
Army pulls Steel in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Army not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Army connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Steel blocks the body kick.
Steel throws a hook but Army avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Steel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
James Steel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Army bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
A lazy left from Army finds it's target.
Steel shoots for a double leg takedown but Army sprawls well. He's pushed Steel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dick Army has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Steel.
Steel misses with a lunging right hand
letting Army counter with a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dick Army showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Army, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dick Army!
Dick Army decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.