PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leo Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Gracie (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.

Steele
vs
Gracie

210 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leo Steele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Gracie!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Franklyn Lucas and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steele lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Steele misses with a straight right.
Steele misses with a jab, cross combination.
Steele really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Steele swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Steele scoring well with a low kick there.
Steele fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Steele misses with a hook. Gracie ducked under it nicely.
Steele misses with a wild combination.
Steele looks for the body kick but Gracie saw that one coming.
Steele misses with a wild combination.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Steele.
Steele throws a solid leg kick but Gracie takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Steele.
No joy there for Steele, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele throws a jab but it's blocked by Gracie.
Gracie checks a low kick from Steele.
Gracie defending well as Steele loads up on a big left hand.
Steele is breathing heavily.
Steele fails to land with a series of punches.
Gracie lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Leo Steele is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Steele will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A combination from Steele does no damage.
Steele throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gracie lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Gracie scores with a three punch combo!
Gracie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracie lands a jab-cross combination.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Steele circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Gracie both land. Nice combination.
Gracie looks to land a combination. Steele sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Gracie misses with a few strikes there.
Gracie misses with the combination.
Steele misses with a double jab
and Gracie counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Gracie throws a sloppy head kick and Steele moves out of range easily.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Steele crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Gracie - the referee stops the clock and Steele gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Gracie. Steele manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Leo Steele seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Gracie, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gracie tries a head kick but it misses.
Steele falls off balance throwing a combination

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gracie tries to pass to full mount but Steele defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie sits in half guard.
Steele is looking to escape.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Steele is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
Gracie prevents Steele from standing back up.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Steele is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Steele is trying to stand up here but Gracie is controlling him well.
Gracie not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Steele has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gracie sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Steele defending well though.
Steele is trying to stand back up but Gracie is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Gracie is keen to just control but Steele is a slippery customer.
Steele pushes Gracie off looking to stand but Gracie dives back in and keeps control.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Steele doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Steele is trying to stand up here but Gracie is controlling him well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Steele.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steele falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gracie counters with an inside leg kick.
Steele throws a combination that misses
and Gracie counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Gracie dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Steele tries a head kick but it misses.
Steele throws a combination that misses
and Gracie makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Steele misses with a leg kick
and Gracie counters with a left and a right that stings Steele.
Steele throws a combination that misses
and Gracie counters with a series of strikes. Steele will be more careful next time no doubt.
Gracie misses with a head kick.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Steele tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Steele to the ground. Steele escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Steele has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Steele falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gracie counters with a three punch combo that has Steele backing up. Steele nods at Gracie to acknowledge the strikes.
Crunch! Gracie slams his shin into Steele's torso.
Gracie fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Steele.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie misses with a jab, cross combination.
Steele swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gracie counters with a left to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a head kick.
Gracie connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Steele falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gracie counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Steele thinking.
Gracie misses with a series of wild punches.
Leo Steele is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Steele throws a lazy right hand but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Steele throws a combination that misses
and Gracie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Steele swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gracie counters with a low kick, right behind Steele 's knee.
Gracie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gracie plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A head kick misses from Gracie.

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.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gracie.
Gracie works over Steele's head and body with a nice combination.
Gracie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Steele falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gracie counters with a head kick. That will keep Steele thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Steele throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gracie finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Gracie tries a low kick but Steele avoids it.
Steele throws a combination that misses
and Gracie counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A head kick misses from Gracie.
Steele throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Steele throws a sloppy head kick
and Gracie counters with a slapping leg kick.
Steele misses with a double jab
and Gracie counters with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele misses with a head kick.
Gracie lands a body shot.
Gracie is working the combinations to good effect here.
Gracie is trying hard to land a takedown here. Steele sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gracie misses with a jab, cross combination.
Steele throws a combination that misses
and Gracie counters with a two punch combo.
Gracie attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Steele throws a head kick that misses
and Gracie counters with a nice leg kick.
Steele misses with a hook.
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.
Leo Steele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Gracie.
Gracie lands a head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Steele misses with a combination
and Gracie counters with a low kick, right behind Steele 's knee.

Gracie scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Steele tries to kick Gracie off but Gracie keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
It looks like Gracie is going to stand back up.
Steele tries to kick Gracie off but Gracie keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Steele defends the submission attempt.
Gracie passes to full mount!

Gracie wants to finish this one by submission but Steele is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Gracie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Steele throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gracie counters with a three punch combo that has Steele backing up. Steele nods at Gracie to acknowledge the strikes.
Gracie checks a leg kick.
Steele looks to land a combination but Gracie avoids it well.
Steele avoids the head kick by Gracie.
Steele blocks a low kick nicely.
Steele dodges the punch combination from Gracie.
Steele swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gracie counters with a two punch combo.
Steele ducks right into an uppercut from Gracie.
Steele throws a combination that misses
and Gracie counters with a big head kick but Steele shrugs it off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Gracie, right into the meat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Steele falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gracie counters with a one-two to the body.
Steele misses with a double jab
and Gracie counters with a left and a right that stings Steele.
Michael Gracie seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele throws a sloppy body shot
and Gracie counters with a one-two to the body.
Gracie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie throws a head kick but Steele moves out of range.
Steele misses with a double jab
and Gracie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gracie looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Steele falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gracie counters with a big head kick but Steele shrugs it off.
Gracie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracie plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Steele blocks a head kick by Gracie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Steele throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gracie counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Steele misses with a double jab
and Steele takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Steele keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Steele swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gracie counters with a one-two to the body.
Steele pivots, looking for a leg kick but Gracie is out of range and Steele settles back down.
Steele tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Steele scores with a decent looking hook.
Steele misses with a double jab
enabling Gracie to counter with a crisp jab.
Steele misses with a double jab
and Gracie counters with a solid body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Steele.
Gracie misses with a low kick as Steele jumps back.
A combination from Gracie does no damage.
Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Steele.
Steele misses with a combination

and Gracie counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gracie.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Steele is keeping the position for now.
Steele wants to stand and escape but Gracie is having none of it.
Michael Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gracie distracts Steele with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Leo Steele has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steele keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Steele wants to stand but Gracie is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Steele is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie moves out of range as Steele strikes.
Steele swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gracie counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Steele is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Gracie throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Steele.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A punch combination from Gracie misses.
Steele swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gracie counters with a one-two to the body.
Steele falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gracie counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gracie 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 John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Gracie!