PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mario de Jesus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Trent Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

de Jesus
vs
Steele

167 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mario de Jesus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Trent Steele!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Taro Takaoka and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Steele has closed the distance and engaged de Jesus in a clinch.
de Jesus blocks an uppercut.
de Jesus keeps control of Steele as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Steele wants to get back to striking at distance but de Jesus won't allow it.
Steele drops to a knee looking for a takedown but de Jesus gets the underhooks and prevents it.
de Jesus can't get the takedown.
Steele is trying to break the clinch but de Jesus has him pressed against the cage.
Steele is looking for a takedown up against the cage. de Jesus gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Steele pulls de Jesus into guard.
Steele has his hands on de Jesus's head, controlling the position.
de Jesus wants to control from the top but Steele keeps moving.
de Jesus trying to stand up but can't free himself from Steele's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele wants to sweep here but de Jesus controlling him for the moment.

Steele has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes de Jesus off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
de Jesus wants to clinch

and Steele counters with a takedown into side control.
Steele is looking to take a break and control but de Jesus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Steele is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Steele tries to move to mount but de Jesus blocks the move with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de Jesus wants to control but Steele postures up.
de Jesus is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Steele is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
de Jesus trying his best to control but Steele has mounted him.
Steele looking to finish with strikes here!
de Jesus is desperately trying to improve his position but Steele has a good base and remains in mount.
Steele sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Steele looking to finish with strikes here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de Jesus is wriggling around trying to escape.
de Jesus taking shots to the head.
Steele throws some wild stikes that de Jesus manages to avoid easily.
de Jesus really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Steele thowing shots but they're missing.

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.
Steele looking to control but de Jesus is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Steele prevents de Jesus from getting the reversal.
de Jesus blocking the ground and pound.
de Jesus flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Steele unloads with some shots from mount but de Jesus bucks and avoids them well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steele sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
de Jesus is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
de Jesus knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Steele on the ground.
Steele unloads with some shots from mount but de Jesus bucks and avoids them well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trent Steele dominated that round.
That's time! de Jesus's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

de Jesus misses with a double jab.
de Jesus has his takedown stuffed
and Steele cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
de Jesus swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
de Jesus shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Steele counters with a shoot takedown. de Jesus fights it but they end up in guard.
Steele trying to control but de Jesus is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as de Jesus works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
de Jesus working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Steele.
de Jesus working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Steele.

Steele stands and steps away. de Jesus gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
de Jesus tries for a takedown but Steele circles away easily

and Steele decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in de Jesus's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mario de Jesus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
de Jesus trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de Jesus preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

de Jesus is working an open guard so Steele takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
de Jesus with a lazy takedown attempt

and Steele counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steele wants to control from the top but de Jesus keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Steele accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele wants to pass the guard but de Jesus is keeping the position.

de Jesus had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Steele is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. de Jesus Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Steele's back instead.
Steele rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
de Jesus is trying to control the action in half guard but Steele is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Steele gets back to full guard.

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.
Steele wants to sweep but no luck.
de Jesus trying to control but Steele is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
de Jesus preventing the sweep.
Steele has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
de Jesus trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Steele thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
de Jesus wants to stand but Steele is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trent Steele showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

de Jesus bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Steele drives through with a takedown into guard.
Steele stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. de Jesus swivels though and keeps the full guard.
de Jesus thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Steele trying to control the position from guard on top but de Jesus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
de Jesus controls Steele momentarily but Steele frees himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

de Jesus is looking for a triangle but Steele pushes his legs off easily.

de Jesus is working an open guard so Steele takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

de Jesus gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Steele pushes down on de Jesus's leg and manages to get into half guard.
de Jesus trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de Jesus wants to get back to full guard but Steele has mounted him!
Steele misses with a head shot.
de Jesus manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.

Steele is working for a submission of some sort.
Steele tries to stand but can't do so whilst de Jesus controls his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele trying to control the action but de Jesus is working from the bottom.
de Jesus makes his way to full guard. A much better position for de Jesus.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steele wants to control from the top but de Jesus keeps moving.

Steele avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Steele postures up in de Jesus's guard and throws a big left but de Jesus blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
de Jesus 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
de Jesus gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Steele counters with a stiff right hand.
de Jesus blocks a leg kick.
de Jesus wants to clinch
and Steele counters with a left to the body.
Mario de Jesus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Trent Steele is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Steele gets a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Trent Steele comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Steele has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 26:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 26:30

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