PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Elinho Mineiro (ranked 2299 p4p, 2289 weight class) and Alex Steel Iii (ranked 271 p4p, 268 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Alex Steel Iii was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Mineiro
vs
Steel Iii

202 cm
25
240
13 - 11 - 0

190 cm
25
280
8 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Elinho Mineiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Steel Iii!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Ryoma Takatsuka and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steel Iii jabs at Mineiro's body.
Mineiro moves out of range of the strikes.
Steel Iii misses with a shot to the body
and Mineiro cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mineiro takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A decent looking cross lands there for Steel Iii.
Steel Iii lands a right hook to the body.
Nice defenses there by Steel Iii.
Steel Iii throws a series of punches but Mineiro avoids them all with ease.
Mineiro slips a straight right by Steel Iii.
Steel Iii digs a good body shot into Mineiro's ribs.
Steel Iii throws the left hand but Mineiro avoids the punch easily.
Mineiro swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steel Iii lands a nice shot to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Steel Iii. That snapped Mineiro's head back.

Steel Iii clinches up with Mineiro and pushes him back against the cage.
Steel Iii lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mineiro backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Steel Iii.
Steel Iii tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Steel Iii lands a right hand.
Mineiro misses with the head strike.
Steel Iii is stalling here.

Mineiro ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mineiro no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Steel Iii is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
It looks like Steel Iii might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Steel Iii loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mineiro looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Steel Iii in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mineiro keeping moving, preventing Steel Iii from controlling successfully.
Steel Iii is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Steel Iii is looking to pass into half guard but Mineiro pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Mineiro is in guard.

Steel Iii looking for a sweep. Not yet Steel Iii, not yet.
Steel Iii is trying to control the position but Mineiro postures up.
Steel Iii has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Mineiro has passed into side control.
Steel Iii is not content to let Mineiro control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel Iii tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mineiro wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Steel Iii is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Mineiro wants to control but Steel Iii is keeping him busy.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Steel Iii is looking to regain half guard here but Mineiro keeps moving and retains side control.

Mineiro wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Steel Iii, who protects the arm well.
Steel Iii wants to control but Mineiro postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Steel Iii tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Mineiro working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Steel Iii holding on.
Mineiro tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Steel Iii struggling a bit here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Steel Iii dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Steel Iii moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A jab from Mineiro finds it's way through Steel Iii's defenses.
Alex Steel Iii seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mineiro's jab looks to have found its range, popping Steel Iii under the eye.
Steel Iii throws a hook but Mineiro avoids it easily.
Steel Iii wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Steel Iii tests Mineiro's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Steel Iii misses with a shot to the body
and Mineiro counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mineiro misses with a looping right.

Steel Iii dives in and scores a takedown into Mineiro's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Steel Iii sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Steel Iii working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mineiro keeping moving, preventing Steel Iii from controlling successfully.

Mineiro is looking for a triangle but Steel Iii pushes his legs off easily.

Mineiro working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Steel Iii doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Steel Iii manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mineiro can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Steel Iii controls the pace.
Steel Iii throws an elbow that misses. Mineiro uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Steel Iii's guard. Nice move by Mineiro!

Elinho Mineiro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Steel Iii manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mineiro manages to get himself to full guard.

Steel Iii slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Steel Iii postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mineiro wants to sweep but no luck.

Mineiro is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Steel Iii passes Mineiro's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mineiro is looking for a sweep. Steel Iii is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Steel Iii throwing shots but Mineiro is blocking nicely.
Steel Iii drops an elbow to the side of Mineiro's head.
Steel Iii missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Steel Iii working over Mineiro with some ground and pound. Mineiro looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Mineiro is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Steel Iii scores with a couple of nice shots.
Steel Iii lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Steel Iii scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Steel Iii controlling the action here.
Steel Iii is continuing to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel Iii thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mineiro's head.
Steel Iii missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Steel Iii missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Steel Iii throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Steel Iii is looking to take a break and control but Mineiro is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Steel Iii perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Steel Iii winds up and cracks Mineiro with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Steel Iii controlling the pace.
Steel Iii missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Steel Iii 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Mineiro shoots in for a takedown but Steel Iii shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Steel Iii throws a body shot but no joy.
The crowd cheers as Steel Iii lands an impressive looking overhand right. Mineiro doesn't seem phased though.
Steel Iii throws a series of punches but Mineiro moves out of range.
A quick step to the side and Mineiro tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A cross from Steel Iii lands.
BOOM! Steel Iii lands a beautiful left hook that drops Mineiro. Mineiro tries to recover but Steel Iii is having none of it, landing more punishing shots from mount. One final crushing shot and Mineiro lies motionless on the canvas. The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alex Steel Iii!