PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hold Steady (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Power (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Max Power is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Steady
vs
Power

170 cm
24
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
21
150 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hold Steady!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Max Power!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Tiny Johnson and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Power drives through and clinches with Steady against the cage.

Power drags the fight down to the ground.
Power wants to hit a switch here but Steady passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Power there!
Steady prevents Power from getting the reversal.

Steady has hold of Power's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Power manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Power tries to reverse the position but Steady maintains control.
Steady lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Power is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Steady content just to control the position here.
Steady trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Power throwing hammer fists to the chest of Steady. What's that going to do exactly?
Power is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Power is wriggling around trying to escape.
Power is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Steady with a couple of short strikes.
Power tries to reverse the position but Steady maintains control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steady working Power over with strikes here.
Power is looking to improve his position but Steady isn't that keen on the idea.
Steady trying to control but Power is having none of it.
Power is trying desperately to improve position.
Power flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

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.
Power swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Power looks gassed!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Power swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Steady blocks Power's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Steady controlling from the full mount.
Steady tries to control but Power wriggling away.
Power is in all sorts of trouble here.

Steady is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Power to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Power shrugs it off.
Steady takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Steady fails to advance to Power's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steady working for a submission but Power is keeping him at bay.

Steady stands up from mount. Strange move.
Steady showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Power.
Max Power seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Steady has managed to clinch.

Steady escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Steady throws a head kick but Power moves out of range.
Power stuffs the takedown.
Power tries to clinch up

and Steady counters with a single leg into guard. Power didn't expect that.
Steady stops Power from standing up.

Power working for a triangle but Steady defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steady trying to control the position from guard on top but Power is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steady 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.
Steady has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Steady working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Steady not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Power working for a triangle but Steady defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hold Steady dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Danga de danga de dang - Steady scores with a four punch combination!
Power misses with an uppercut. Steady saw that one coming.

Steady clinches.
Steady blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Power throws a head punch that misses.

Steady's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Power misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Steady dodges the punch combination from Power.

Power gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Steady to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Power utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Power is breathing heavily.

Steady decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Steady looks for a takedown but Power sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Steady looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Power looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steady sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Steady advances to half guard.
Power wants to get back to his feet.
Steady seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Steady prevents Power from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steady is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Steady working Power over with strikes.
Steady controlling the action here.
Steady moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Power.
Steady moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Steady has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Power gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Steady counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Steady drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Power wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Power taking a bit of punishment here - Steady scoring with strikes.
Steady prevents Power from escaping the position.

Steady is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Power has escaped the position, nice work there.

Power bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steady misses with a head kick.

Steady moves into the clinch.

Steady breaks the clinch.
Steady scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Power swinging wildly here.

Steady shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Power's guard.

Power looking for a guillotine here but Steady defends easily.

Steady got a little sloppy there for a moment and Power has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Steady has managed to get both his arms back between Power's legs - danger averted.

Power has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Steady can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hold Steady dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Steady shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Power as he jumps to the side.
Power fails in his attempt to clinch.
Steady tries to clinch but Power moves out of range.
Power misses with a shot to the body

and Steady counters by clinching up.

Steady's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Steady bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Steady walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Power checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Power looks to clinch

and Steady counters with a takedown into side control.
Power is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Steady off and has taken his back!
Steady trying to get back to his feet but Power is in full control for now.
Steady tries to roll but Power sticks to his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Power loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Steady hold on?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Power scores with punches and elbows.
Steady manages to scramble and ends up in full guard, under a barage of strikes . Great composure from Steady.
Power wanted to stand there but Steady had control of the position.
Power being controlled here momentarily.

Steady is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Power is aware though and is defending well.
Steady is trying to keep Power in close.
Steady trying to strike off his back.

Steady escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Power gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hold Steady overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Power stands up from Steady's guard - Power perhaps looking for a knockout.
Hold Steady is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Power looks to clinch

and Steady counters by moving into the clinch.
Steady drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Steady has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Power uses from the top position.

Power stands up and waves to Steady to follow him.
Power falls off balance throwing a combination

and Steady holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Power tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Steady's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Steady throws a solid leg kick but Power takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Steady.
Power rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Steady moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Power tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Steady paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Power throws a combination that misses

and Steady counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Power's guard now.
Steady not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steady postures up.
Steady with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Steady wants to control from the top but Power keeps moving.
Power trying to strike off his back.

Power looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Power wants to stand and escape but Steady is having none of it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Steady shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Power keeping moving, preventing Steady from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steady working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Steady gets to his feet - Power follows without any prompting.

Steady darts in and clinches Power up against the cage.
Steady lands a right hand that snaps the head of Power backwards.

Power is fighting off a takedown attempt but Steady is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Power to the mat. Power regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Steady decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Max Power has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Power misses with a double jab

and Steady counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Power!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steady wants to control the pace but Power is squirming around nicely.
Steady putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steady prevents Power from getting the reversal.
Power takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Hold Steady is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Steady controlling the pace for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hold Steady showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Steady has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hold Steady!