PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Steel Ii (ranked 970 p4p, 4068 weight class) and Kahdi Mandinos (ranked 142 p4p, 486 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Steel Ii
vs
Mandinos

185 cm
24
179
8 - 7 - 0

180 cm
24
180
8 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Steel Ii!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Kahdi Mandinos!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Darius Henderson and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mandinos avoids the head kick by Steel Ii.
Mandinos looks to land a right hand but Steel Ii moved out of range.
Steel Ii throws a nice inside leg kick.
Steel Ii scores with a nice strike.

Steel Ii gets tackled into the cage by Mandinos. Mandinos maintains the clinch.

Steel Ii's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Steel Ii fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mandinos has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Mandinos thows a left - swing and a miss!
Steel Ii throws a quick inside leg kick.
Mandinos moves forwards but Steel Ii connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Steel Ii feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Mandinos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mandinos working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel Ii looking to pass the guard.
Steel Ii wants to control from the top but Mandinos keeps moving.
Steel Ii sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Mandinos throws his legs up looking for a submission but Steel Ii uses it to pass to side control.
Steel Ii is looking to take a break and control but Mandinos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mandinos tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Mandinos managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Steel Ii.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steel Ii working away.
Steel Ii content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Mandinos is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Steel Ii trying to control from half guard but Mandinos is working away.
Steel Ii prevents Mandinos from improving his position.
Mandinos flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mandinos flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Mandinos trying to control but Steel Ii postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Steel Ii keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Mandinos walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Mandinos jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Steel Ii connects with a high kick.
Mandinos misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Steel Ii to counter with a crisp jab.
Steel Ii throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Mandinos on the side of the head.
Steel Ii connects with the punch.
Steel Ii lands with a nice combination. Mandinos backs away looking to recover.
Steel Ii throws a head kick but Mandinos moves out of range.
Mandinos is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mandinos wants to clinch
and Steel Ii counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Mandinos is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel Ii connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Mandinos tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steel Ii swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mandinos works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Steel Ii moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
It looks like Steel Ii has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.

Mandinos drives through and clinches with Steel Ii against the cage.
Steel Ii misses with a short punch on the inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Steel Ii.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Steel Ii.

It looks like Kahdi Mandinos has been cut.
Steel Ii misses with an elbow strike.
Mandinos drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Steel Ii gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mandinos fails to pull the fight into his guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Steel Ii dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kahdi Mandinos's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A nice leg kick from Steel Ii, right into the meat of the thigh.
Mandinos gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A nice leg kick lands there from Steel Ii.
Steel Ii dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Steel Ii throws a head kick that misses

and Mandinos counters with a shoot takedown. Steel Ii fights it but they end up in guard.
Steel Ii is adopting a defensive guard.
Steel Ii wants to sweep here but Mandinos controlling him for the moment.
Mandinos trying to control the position from guard on top but Steel Ii is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel Ii seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Mandinos wants to control from the top but Steel Ii keeps moving.
Mandinos is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mandinos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Steel Ii wants to stand but Mandinos is controlling the position.
Mandinos looking to pass the guard.
Mandinos stopping the sweep attempt from Steel Ii.
Steel Ii is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mandinos can do to turn this around?
Steel Ii trying to control the position.
Steel Ii can't keep his opponent in guard - Mandinos advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Mandinos is looking for a kimura but Steel Ii is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mandinos to get the leverage.

Mandinos is working for a submission of some sort.
Steel Ii is looking for a sweep. Mandinos is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel Ii moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Mandinos throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Mandinos is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Alex Steel Ii overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Steel Ii is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Steel Ii controlling the position.
Steel Ii wants to sweep but no luck.
Mandinos looking to pass the guard.
Mandinos landing with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steel Ii wants to sweep but no luck.
Mandinos lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mandinos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Steel Ii is on top in guard.

Mandinos keeping moving, preventing Steel Ii from controlling successfully.

Mandinos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Mandinos is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Steel Ii with a flurry of punches that miss.

Mandinos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Steel Ii with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mandinos working a defensive guard but Steel Ii manages to pass into side control anyway.
Mandinos tries to buck Steel Ii off but Steel Ii is having none of it.
Mandinos seems a little lost for a moment, as Steel Ii dominates the positioning.
Mandinos wants to control but Steel Ii postures up.
Mandinos tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mandinos sneaks back into half guard.

Mandinos looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mandinos throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Alex Steel Ii will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kahdi Mandinos's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice shot lands for Steel Ii.

Mandinos takes the fight into the clinch.
Steel Ii is struggling to control the position.
Mandinos is trying to push Steel Ii away but Steel Ii has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Steel Ii breaks from the clinch.
Jab from Steel Ii.
Steel Ii lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mandinos throws a jab when Steel Ii was well out of range.
Steel Ii lands with a kick to the temple. Mandinos shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
A big left from Steel Ii misses.
Horrible takedown attempt by Mandinos or perhaps it was just good defense by Steel Ii, which made it look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel Ii misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Steel Ii throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Steel Ii misses with an attempted mid kick.
Mandinos fails in his attempt to clinch.
That kick from Steel Ii tenderised Mandinos's leg. Mandinos is trying to keep his angry face on.
Alex Steel Ii is winning the standup battle so far.

Steel Ii clinches with his opponent.
Steel Ii struggles to land a body shot inside as Mandinos controls his hands.
Mandinos takes a shot to the head.

Mandinos works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Mandinos preventing the sweep.
Steel Ii pulls Mandinos in to control the position.
Mandinos is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mandinos advances position into side control!
Steel Ii tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mandinos wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Mandinos.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steel Ii prevents Mandinos from moving into mount.

Mandinos tries for a kimura but Steel Ii is defending well.
Mandinos lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Steel Ii down.
Steel Ii gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Mandinos is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Steel Ii is not content to let Mandinos control the position.
Steel Ii gets back to full guard.
Mandinos working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Steel Ii's head.
Mandinos tries to free his leg and advance position but Steel Ii is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel Ii is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mandinos pushing down on Steel Ii's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Steel Ii is looking for a sweep. Mandinos is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mandinos throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Mandinos is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Steel Ii has managed to free his arm - good work.
Steel Ii is looking to control Mandinos's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Steel Ii avoid being mounted?
Steel Ii manages to get to full guard.
Mandinos trying to control but Steel Ii is working from the bottom.
Steel Ii trying to keep a closed guard but Mandinos is proving a slippery customer.

Steel Ii uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Mandinos's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel Ii missing with a left hand there. Mandinos was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mandinos tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
A nice combination there by Steel Ii.
Steel Ii lands a really nice looking cross but Mandinos seems unphased.
Mandinos has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Steel Ii.
Steel Ii throws a sloppy head kick and Mandinos moves out of range easily.
Mandinos is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mandinos throws a right hand that misses
and Steel Ii counters with a three punch combo that has Mandinos backing up. Mandinos nods at Steel Ii to acknowledge the strikes.
Steel Ii avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Alex Steel Ii is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Steel Ii lands with an uppercut that bounces Mandinos off the cage and back into range.
Steel Ii tests Mandinos's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Steel Ii throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kahdi Mandinos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mandinos lunges at Steel Ii with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Steel Ii's hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Steel Ii showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Steel Ii, 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 Chris Dean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Steel Ii!