PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alessio Da Santiago (ranked 6558 p4p, 440 weight class) and Dave Steele (ranked 6094 p4p, 426 weight class). Alessio Da Santiago has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Da Santiago
vs
Steele

175 cm
22
144 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

164 cm
20
133 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alessio Da Santiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dave Steele!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Aafke Stam and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steele fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Da Santiago dives in and grabs Steele's left leg, looking for a takedown. Steele pushes down on Da Santiago's head and hops out.
Da Santiago tries to clinch but Steele moves out of range.
Da Santiago fails in his attempt to clinch.
Steele now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Steele leaves Da Santiago with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Da Santiago tries to clinch but Steele moves out of range.
Steele lands a nice looking body shot.
Steele looks to score with a jab to the body but Da Santiago is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Steele.
Alessio Da Santiago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Da Santiago is trying hard to land a takedown here. Steele sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Steele lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alessio Da Santiago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Da Santiago wants to clinch up but Steele keeps it at a distance.
Steele tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Da Santiago was well out of range. Poor timing from Steele.
Da Santiago misses with a takedown attempt
and Steele connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Da Santiago tries to clinch up
and Steele counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Da Santiago shoots in looking for a takedown but Steele manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Da Santiago's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Steele is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Santiago shoots for a takedown but Steele saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Da Santiago tries a head kick but it misses.

Da Santiago darts in and clinches Steele up against the cage.
Steele prevents a takedown attempt there.
Steele is trying to push Da Santiago away but Da Santiago has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Da Santiago leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Santiago crunches a lovely knee into Steele's ribcage.
Da Santiago has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Steele after a bit of a struggle.
Da Santiago tries a body shot but Steele blocks it.
Da Santiago looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Steele gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Da Santiago.
Da Santiago fails to pull guard.

That's four 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.
Steele is trying to break free.
Steele prevents the takedown attempt.
Da Santiago jumps guard but Steele turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Da Santiago tries to pull guard but Steele won't allow it.
Steele is trying to push Da Santiago away but Da Santiago has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Steele dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

No luck for Da Santiago with that takedown attempt.
Steele circles away from the clinch attempt.
Da Santiago shoots in looking for a takedown but Steele manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Da Santiago's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Steele throws a counter combo.
Da Santiago tries to clinch up.
Da Santiago misses with a few strikes there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Da Santiago wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Santiago shoots in looking for a takedown. Steele tries to sprawl out of it but Da Santiago keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Steele manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alessio Da Santiago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Da Santiago tries to close the distance and clinch but Steele swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Alessio Da Santiago is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Da Santiago tries to score a power double leg takedown but Steele sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Da Santiago somewhat.

Da Santiago instigates a clinch.

That's two 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.
Da Santiago pressing his opponent against the cage.
Da Santiago lands a damaging elbow.

Steele breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Santiago scores with a head kick. Steele tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Steele throws a body punch but Da Santiago moves out of range.
Da Santiago is looking for a counter combo.

Da Santiago darts in and clinches Steele up against the cage.
Da Santiago wants to take the fight to the mat but Steele manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Steele's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Da Santiago is trying hard to land a takedown here. Steele sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Steele gets caught napping as Da Santiago dives in and scores a takedown. Steele manages to retain guard.
Da Santiago throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele trying to control the position.
Da Santiago tries to free his leg and advance position but Steele is retaining full guard.
Steele is looking to sweep but instead, Da Santiago has passed into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Steele can do anything to dispel that myth.
Steele is breathing heavily.
Da Santiago wants to take a breather but Steele is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Steele is looking to improve his position.
Da Santiago is keen to just control but Steele is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alessio Da Santiago dominated that second round.
That's time! Da Santiago's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Da Santiago tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
It seemed like Steele was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Da Santiago moves in looking to clinch but Steele pushes him off.
Steele is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Da Santiago rather than just go for the knockout.
Steele avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dave Steele seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Da Santiago wants to clinch
and Steele counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Da Santiago thinking.
Da Santiago tries to clinch up
and Steele 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.
Steele slaps away a takedown attempt from Da Santiago, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele misses with a straight right.
Steele swings for the body but Da Santiago moves out of range.
Da Santiago closes the distance and clinches up with Steele, looking for a takedown. Da Santiago pushes Steele against the cage but Steele circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A little jabbing left from Steele on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Steele has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Da Santiago shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Steele as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alessio Da Santiago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Da Santiago tries a head kick but it misses.
Da Santiago shoots in but Steele avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Santiago looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Steele swats away the attempt to clinch by Da Santiago.

Da Santiago rushes Steele and presses him up against the cage.
Da Santiago is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Steele working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele is trying to break the clinch but Da Santiago is controlling him.
Da Santiago has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Steele avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Da Santiago goes for a takedown attempt but Steele pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Da Santiago changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Steele tries to avoid it but Da Santiago manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Steele to the ground. Steele escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Da Santiago tries to clinch there but Steele circles away.
Da Santiago is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four 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.
Da Santiago throws a head kick but Steele moves out of range.
Da Santiago looks to clinch
and Steele counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Steele is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Da Santiago gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Steele counters with a nice uppercut.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Da Santiago displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Steele throws out the jab.
As Steele looks to move away, Da Santiago throws a big counter combo but Steele just gets out of the way.
Da Santiago fails with a takedown attempt.
A little jabbing left from Steele on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dave Steele comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Steele has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dave Steele!
In his post fight interview, Dave Steele started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.