PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jerome Steel (ranked 1368 p4p, 964 weight class) and Neville Southall (ranked 42 p4p, 30 weight class). Neville Southall has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Steel
vs
Southall

196 cm
35
279
20 - 19 - 0

185 cm
34
286
20 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jerome Steel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Neville Southall!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steel needs to keep his hands up - Southall had a free shot at his head there.

It looks like Jerome Steel has been cut.
Steel misses with a shot to the body
and Southall counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Steel misses with a low kick.
Southall misses with a hook. Steel ducked under it nicely.
Steel feints and then cracks Southall's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Southall down.
Steel throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Southall stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Steel swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Southall.
Southall's coach down at Tran MMA Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Southall's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Steel throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Southall's head.
Steel throws a wild body kick that Southall sees coming a mile off.
Steel lands a nice leg kick that just misses Southall's sensitive parts.
Jab by Steel.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Southall is looking to slow Steel down with leg kicks.
Southall takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Neville Southall has been cut.
Southall tries to score with a low kick but Steel moves his leg out of the way.
Southall throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Steel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Southall.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Southall! But no joy.
Steel walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Southall checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel looks to throw a body kick

and Southall counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Steel lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Southall working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steel.
Steel throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Southalls head.
Steel lands a body punch.
Steel misses with a short punch on the inside.
Southall blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Southall wants to take the fight to the mat but Steel manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Southall.
Still in the clinch, Southall scores with a nice short uppercut.
Steel blocks a body shot from Southall.
Steel effectively controlling the action here.
Southall misses with a punch to the body.
Steel struggles to land a body shot inside as Southall controls his hands.
Steel lands a hook to the side of the head.
Steel throws a punch but it's blocked by Southall.
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!
Southall misses with a punch on the inside.

Southall jumps guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steel got a little sloppy there for a moment and Southall has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Steel has managed to get both his arms back between Southall's legs - danger averted.
Steel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Steel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Southall wants to stand up but Steel is controlling him.
Steel is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Steel won't allow Southall to get back to his feet.
Southall is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Southall wants to sweep but no luck.
Southall will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Steel stands up out of Southall's guard for a moment - Southall manages to land a nice upkick.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Steel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Steel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Southall is looking to stand up but Steel isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Steel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Steel makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Steel is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That has opened up Neville Southall's cut even more.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Southall lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Steel will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Steel working a defensive guard here.
Southall is in close to Steel's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Steel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Southall preventing the sweep.
Southall postures up in Steel's guard and throws a big left but Steel blocks it.
Steel controls Southall momentarily but Southall frees himself.
Steel wants to sweep but no luck.
Southall has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Southall throws a big right hand that misses.
Southall lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Southall tries to free his leg and advance position but Steel is retaining full guard.
Steel keeping moving, preventing Southall from controlling successfully.
Steel controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steel 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.
Southall being controlled here momentarily.
Steel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Steel controlling Southall's posture.
Southall won't allow Steel to sweep him here.
Southall trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Steel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Southall accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jerome Steel will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Steel lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

The cut above Neville Southall's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Steel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Southall has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Southall there as he acknowledges the shot.
A big right from Steel misses.
Steel misses with a low kick.
Steel jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Steel needs to keep his hands up - Southall had a free shot at his head there.
Steel lands with a nice body kick.
Steel slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Steel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Southall dips to his left and cracks Steel with an uppercut!
Steel thows a leg kick but Southall checks it
and Southall counters with a nice low kick that buckles Steel's knee momentarily.
Steel is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steel avoids the head kick by Southall.
Steel motions for Southall to come forward. Steel throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Jerome Steel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steel throws a leg kick but Southall moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel throws a lazy head kick
and Southall connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Southall cracks Steel with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Steel looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Southall finish him?

Steel is rocked!
Jerome Steel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Southall fires a straight punch through the middle that cracks Steel square on the jaw! Damn, Steel is out cold on his feet and topples face first to the canvas! Wow, I haven't seen a knockout that brutal in a long time!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:14 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Neville Southall!