PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Steve Long (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arthur Read (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Long comes to the cage accompanied by Hallowed Ground - WASP. Steve Long has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Long
vs
Read

170 cm
25
157 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

180 cm
23
160 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steve Long!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Arthur Read!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Jonathan Paton and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Long misses with a few strikes there.
Long throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Read circles away from the clinch attempt.
Long throws a shot to the body.

Long clinches.
Read is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Read is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Long pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Long lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Long breaks from the clinch.
Long doesn't manage to clinch there - Read circles away.
Long looks to land a left hand but Read moved out of range nicely.
Long swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Long throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Long with a hook.
The fight stays on the outside here - Long looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Long throws a big shot that misses.
Read fails with a takedown attempt.
Steve Long has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthur Read.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long is looking to clinch.
Long takes a swing at Read's ribcage but misses.
A combination from Long does no damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Long looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Read has a takedown stuffed.
Read shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Read tries for a takedown but Long sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Long looks to throw the jab but Read is out of range.
Long tries to bum rush Read with a series of wild strikes but Read uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Long swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Long misses with an uppercut.
Long moves in looking to clinch but Read pushes him off.
Steve Long seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two 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.
Long throws a big shot that misses.
Read wants to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Read or perhaps it was just good defense by Long which made him look bad.
Long tries to bum rush Read with a series of wild strikes but Read uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Read shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Long as he jumps to the side.
Long tries to clinch up.
Long clinches but Read breaks the clinch

and Read counters with a shoot takedown. Long fights it but they end up in guard.
Read trying to control but Long is working from the bottom.

Long is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Long has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Read can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Read throws a strike but Long rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Long tries to stand but Read is controlling from the bottom.
Read looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Read working a defensive guard here.
Read has his hands on Long's head, controlling the position.
Read trying to control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Read can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Long wants to get up but he can't break Read's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Long throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Long is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Read.
Long thows a body shot but no joy.
Read shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Long defends it nicely.
Long misses with a double jab

and Read counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Read controls from within his opponent's guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Long throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Long tries to clinch up

and Read counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Read avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Long is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Read is controlling him.
Long trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Long is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Read defends well.
Read chips away with some ground and pound.
Long keeping moving, preventing Read from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Long is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Long has his foot on Read's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Read works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Read scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Read content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Long is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Read working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Read content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Read's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Read wants to pass the guard but Long is keeping the position.
Read trying to control the position from guard on top but Long is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Read cracks Long with a solid left hand.
Long trying to keep a closed guard but Read is proving a slippery customer.
Read's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Read stops Long from standing up.
Read working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Read distracts Long with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Long is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Read defends well.
Read trying to control but Long is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Read slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Read is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Long wants to stand but Read is controlling the position.
Read is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Long looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Read passes into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Read connects with a nice short shot to Long's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Long is staying active underneath Read, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Long keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Long has hold of Read's hands but Read slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Read is looking to stall here but Long recovers full guard.

Long throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Long working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Read has passed into half guard!
Read lands strikes from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Read 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!

Long tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Read paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Long clinches but Read breaks the clinch

and Read counters with a single leg into guard. Long didn't expect that.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Read's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Read lands a couple of elbows.

Long working for submissions but it's allowed Read to get to half guard.
Read working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Long blocking the ground and pound attempt from Read.

Long is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Read pulls his head out easily.
Read thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Long to regain full guard.
Read trying to control but Long is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Read trying to control but Long is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Long misses with a double jab

and Read decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Long's guard.

Long working for a triangle but Read defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Read makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Long escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Read gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Read must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Long has his foot on Read's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Read works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Read scoring with punches to the head and body.

Long looking for a guillotine here but Read defends easily.
Long has momentary wrist control but Read slips an elbow through the middle.
Read trying to control but Long is working from the bottom.
Read lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Long wants to stand but Read is controlling the position.
Read lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Read trying to control the position from guard on top but Long is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Read with a nice head shot there.
Read distracts Long with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Long looking for a guillotine here but Read defends easily.

Long is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Read defends well.
Read pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Long is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Read keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Long's head.
Read missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Read trying to control but Long is working from the bottom.
Read connects with a couple of short punches.
Read loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Read prevents Long from getting back to his feet.
Read sitting in guard here, content to control.
Read is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Read lands a couple of elbows.

Long has his foot on Read's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Read works his way back into a safe position though.
Read chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Read really dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Long misses the shot to the body.
Steve Long is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Read darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Long looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Long trying to control but Read postures up.
Read working Long over with strikes.
Read is keen to just control but Long is a slippery customer.

Long looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Read pushes past his half guard into mount!
Read cracks Long with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Read putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Read prevents Long from getting the reversal.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Read putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Long slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Long tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Read manages to move to mount!
Read punishing his opponent with strikes.
Long really wants to buck Read off and get back to his feet.
Read landing strikes from the mount.
Long tries to buck Read off but he can't manage it.
Read raining down shots from the mount!
Read lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Read is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Long can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Read avoids the attempt from Long to control.
Read lands a nice shot to the head.
Long wants to try and get back to his feet.
Read pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Read landing strikes, looking to finish!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Read lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Long hang on?
Read is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Long can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Long is rocked!
Read looking to control and managing it successfully.
Long is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Long takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Long wants to try and get back to his feet.
Read with good strikes from the mount here!
Read scoring with strikes but Long is staying in there.
Long is looking to get to half guard.
Read looking to control but Long is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Read lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Read is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Long can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Read prevents Long from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Read fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Arthur Read has got the better of the ground game so far.
Long tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Long is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Read trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Read with the ground and pound from mount.
Read pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Read breaks from Long's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Read prevents Long from getting the reversal.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Long in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Read scoring with strikes but Long is staying in there.
Read is in the full mount, landing strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Read dominated that fourth round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! 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.

Read throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Long was covering up waiting for the punch and Read finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Oh Long is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Long looking for a guillotine here but Read defends easily.
Long seems to have got his legs back now.
Read makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Read stands up over Long, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Long keeping moving, preventing Read from controlling successfully.
Read is stalling in the full guard.

Long working for a triangle but Read defends it easily.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Read makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Read trying to control the position from guard on top but Long is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Long trying to control the position.

Long is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Read defends well.

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.

Long throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Read escapes and throws Long's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Read lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Long down.
Read really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Long. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Long tries to improve position but can't.
Long gets back to half guard.
Read slips a nice elbow through Long's hands, connecting with Long's forehead.
Read lands strikes from half guard.
Read controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Read sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Long defending well though.
Read takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Long is not content to let Read control the position.
Long wants to control but Read is keeping busy.
Long tries to get to full guard but Read has control of the leg.
Long wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Long throws a hook to the side of Read's head but Read sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Read fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Read.
Long is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Read lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Read seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Long does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Long gets full guard.
Long has control of Read's left arm, preventing Read from doing any damage.
Steve Long has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Read with a nice head shot there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arthur Read comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Read 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 45:49
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 45:49
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arthur Read!
Arthur Read is the new lightweight champion!