PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Steel Ii (ranked 975 p4p, 1812 weight class) and Justin Kulina (ranked 148 p4p, 246 weight class). Kulina has chosen Tool - Schism as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Steel Ii
vs
Kulina

185 cm
24
179
9 - 7 - 0

184 cm
23
171
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Brooklyn Apothecary

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 9 - 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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Justin Kulina!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Steve Erwin and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kulina gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kulina lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kulina throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Steel Iis head.
Kulina throws a head punch that misses.
Steel Ii fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Steel Ii breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Steel Ii tries a head kick but it misses.
Steel Ii throws a series of punches but Kulina moves out of range.
Steel Ii throws a sloppy body shot
letting Kulina counter with a right hand.
Steel Ii throws a front kick that sends Kulina stumbling back into the cage.
Kulina misses with a looping left.
Kulina with a nice cross.
Steel Ii throws a jab when Kulina was well out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kulina misses with a combination
and Steel Ii counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kulina dips to his left and cracks Steel Ii with an uppercut!
Kulina attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kulina looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kulina cracks Steel Ii with a good jab.
Justin Kulina is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Steel Ii misses.
Steel Ii is looking to land body kicks.
Kulina moves out of range of the strikes.

Kulina rushes Steel Ii and presses him up against the cage.
Kulina goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Steel Ii blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Steel Ii is trying to break the clinch but Kulina has him pressed against the cage.
Steel Ii tries a body shot but Kulina blocks it.
Kulina swings wildly with an uppercut but Steel Ii uses good head movement to avoid it.
Steel Ii gets through Kulina's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Steel Ii breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Steel Ii misses with a straight left.
Kulina blocks the body kick.
Kulina displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Kulina misses with a hook. Steel Ii ducked under it nicely.
Jab, jab by Kulina - just one landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kulina swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kulina takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Justin Kulina has been cut.

Oooooh!!! Kulina has knocked Steel Ii down with a huge combo! Kulina steps away and waves a wobbly Steel Ii back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Steel Ii is rocked!

It looks like Alex Steel Ii has been cut.
Kulina throws a right and a left that both miss.
Oh Steel Ii is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Steel Ii misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Steel Ii seems to have got his legs back now.
Kulina moves in looking to clinch but Steel Ii pushes him off.
Kulina blocks a jab.
The fighters circling - Steel Ii throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kulina now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Kulina jabs Steel Ii right on the nose. Steel Ii blinks but takes it well.

Kulina pushes Steel Ii up against the cage in a clinch.

Steel Ii pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Steel Ii takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Steel Ii blocks a jab.
A quick step to the side and Steel Ii tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
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 just misses with a punch to the body.
Kulina misses with an uppercut.
Steel Ii missing with a left hand there. Kulina was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kulina takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel Ii steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kulina.
Steel Ii drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Steel Ii looks to land a left hand but Kulina moved out of range nicely.
Steel Ii moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Steel Ii avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kulina tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steel Ii swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kulina fails in his attempt to clinch.

Kulina rushes Steel Ii and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kulina tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Steel Ii wants to break free but Kulina has control.
Kulina misses with a hook from the clinch.
Steel Ii has a couple of punches blocked by Kulina.
Steel Ii blocks an uppercut.
Steel Ii scores with a shot to the side of Kulina's head.
Kulina can't find room to land a body shot as Steel Ii controls the action.
Steel Ii tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kulina misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kulina tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kulina lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Steel Ii breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Kulina takes the fight into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kulina throws a head punch that misses.
A shot in the inside from Steel Ii.
Kulina lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Steel Ii can't find room to land a body shot as Kulina controls the action.
Kulina struggles to land a body shot inside as Steel Ii controls his hands.
Kulina pushes Steel Ii back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Kulina blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kulina gets through Steel Ii's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kulina lands with a light punch inside.
Steel Ii stalling in the clinch but Kulina improves position.
A hook to the body from Kulina.
A nice left hand lands by Kulina.
Kulina throws a punch but it's blocked by Steel Ii.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Kulina dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kulina tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Steel Ii paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Justin Kulina seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Kulina gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kulina fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Steel Ii.
Kulina misses with a hook to the ribs.
Steel Ii blocking some punches.
Steel Ii misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kulina misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kulina has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Steel Ii tries to break the clinch but Kulina is controlling the position.
Steel Ii lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kulina misses with a punch to the body.
Kulina scores with a shot to the side of Steel Ii's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel Ii doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kulina misses with the head strike.
Steel Ii blocks an uppercut.
Steel Ii struggles to land a body shot inside as Kulina controls his hands.
Steel Ii blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kulina swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulina scores with a shot to the side of Steel Ii's head.
Steel Ii working aggressively here.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Justin Kulina seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Steel Ii escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kulina's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Kulina duly obliges.
Kulina steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Steel Ii. That one must have hurt.
Steel Ii throws the left hand but Kulina avoids the punch easily.
Steel Ii needs to keep his hands up - Kulina had a free shot at his head there.
Steel Ii throws a hook but Kulina avoids it easily.
Steel Ii is looking to land body kicks.
Kulina takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Steel Ii loads up on a big right hand but Kulina slips the punch.
Kulina flicks out a counter leg kick but Steel Ii steps away.
Steel Ii looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kulina thinks about the counter body kick.
Steel Ii lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steel Ii throws a head kick but Kulina moves out of range.
Steel Ii tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel Ii throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A low kick from Kulina is predictable there
and Steel Ii counters with a stiff right hand.
Steel Ii throws a lazy head kick
and Kulina counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Steel Ii throws a nice inside leg kick.
Steel Ii pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kulina looks to score with a jab to the body but Steel Ii is just out of range.
Kulina uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Steel Ii.
The fighters circle momentarily. Steel Ii darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Steel Ii throws a big shot that misses.
Steel Ii scores with a three punch combo!
A solid leg kick lands there for Steel Ii.
Steel Ii throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Kulina moves into the clinch.
I was talking to Steel Ii's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Steel Ii misses with a punch on the inside.

Steel Ii breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Some bone on bone action there as Kulina checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Sloppy strikes from Kulina. Those never looked like landing.
Steel Ii swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Steel Ii fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel Ii misses with a wild body shot.
Steel Ii throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kulina connects with a body shot.
Steel Ii throws a head kick but Kulina moves out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Kulina misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kulina looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kulina moves in looking to clinch but Steel Ii pushes him off.
A big right from Steel Ii misses.
Kulina throws out a counter right but Steel Ii avoids it with no problem.
Steel Ii throws a head kick that misses.
A little jabbing left from Kulina on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Alex Steel Ii seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steel Ii takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kulina, as that shot connected.
Kulina tries to clinch but Steel Ii moves out of range.
Steel Ii lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kulina's sensitive parts.
Kulina moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Kulina connects with an inside leg kick.
Steel Ii scores with a push kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kulina misses with a few strikes there.
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!
Steel Ii throws a head kick that misses.
Steel Ii jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Steel Ii throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Kulina tries to close the distance and clinch but Steel Ii swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kulina bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Steel Ii's head backwards.

Kulina moves into the clinch successfully.
Steel Ii prevents a body shot from Kulina.
Kulina misses with the head strike.
Kulina pushes Steel Ii back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kulina is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Steel Ii is keeping busy.
Kulina tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kulina misses with the head strike.
Kulina lands a hook to the side of the head.

Steel Ii breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Steel Ii throws a wild body kick that Kulina sees coming a mile off.
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.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kulina lands a glancing blow to the side of Steel Ii's head.
Steel Ii is looking to slow Kulina down with leg kicks.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kulina. Steel Ii does a little dance to reset his feet.
Steel Ii tried to counter with a leg kick but Kulina avoided it.
Kulina tries to clinch but Steel Ii moves out of range.
Steel Ii scoring well with a low kick there.
Kulina waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Steel Ii.
Steel Ii scores with a kick to the body.

Kulina clinches up with Steel Ii and pushes him back against the cage.
Steel Ii has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Steel Ii lands a nice shot to the body.
Kulina misses with some punches.
Kulina misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Steel Ii pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kulina fails to land with a series of punches.
Kulina takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Steel Ii bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kulina does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel Ii connects with a jab.
Kulina misses with a leg kick.
Steel Ii misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kulina fails in his attempt to clinch.
A lazy body kick from Steel Ii
and Kulina counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kulina misses with a body kick.
Kulina misses with an uppercut.
Kulina's jab looks to have found its range, popping Steel Ii under the eye.
Steel Ii lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Steel Ii misses with a two punch combination.
Kulina misses with a two punch combination.
Kulina avoids a kick to the body.
Alex Steel Ii is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kulina moves out of range as Steel Ii throws a body kick.
Steel Ii tests Kulina's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kulina has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Steel Ii.
Kulina takes one to the chin there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Steel Ii is defended easily by Kulina.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kulina misses with a hook. Steel Ii ducked under it nicely.
Kulina moves to clinch but Steel Ii breaks away
and Steel Ii counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Steel Ii looks to land a body kick but Kulina moved away.
Kulina's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Steel Ii connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kulina scrambles back to his feet.
Kulina takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Steel Ii connects with a high kick.
Kulina scores with a jab to the body.
Kulina moves away from the strike by Steel Ii.
Kulina connects with a right hand. Steel Ii shakes it off.
Jab by Steel Ii.
Kulina tries to clinch but Steel Ii moves out of range.
Steel Ii quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Kulina scores with a body shot.
Kulina takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kulina drives through and clinches with Steel Ii against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A right hand to the body from Kulina.
Steel Ii blocks an uppercut.
Steel Ii stalling in the clinch but Kulina improves position.
Kulina misses with a hook from the clinch.
Steel Ii blocks a body shot from Kulina.
Kulina misses with a punch on the inside.
A hook to the body from Kulina.
Steel Ii wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kulina has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steel Ii.
Steel Ii lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kulina lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kulina misses with a hook from the clinch.
Steel Ii looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kulina tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Steel Ii misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel Ii is looking to break free of the clinch but Kulina has double underhooks.
Kulina will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Steel Ii up against the cage.
Kulina avoiding damage.
Kulina swings wildly with an uppercut but Steel Ii uses good head movement to avoid it.
Steel Ii tries to stall but Kulina uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kulina has a couple of punches blocked by Steel Ii.
A right hook to the body lands for Kulina.
Steel Ii looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Kulina misses with a punch to the body.
Steel Ii takes a shot to the head.

Steel Ii escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steel Ii throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kulina avoids the head kick by Steel Ii.
A little jabbing left from Kulina on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Justin Kulina.
I think Kulina 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Kulina!
After the fight, Justin Kulina was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.