PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ace Popo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Logan Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Popo comes to the cage accompanied by Alter Bridge- Ties that Bind. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Popo
vs
Steele

168 cm
23
158 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

186 cm
22
165 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
KO power

ADCC Champion
Good low kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ace Popo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Logan Steele!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Paul Tew and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steele throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Steele steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Popo.
Steele bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Steele paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Steele lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Popo at a distance.

Steele drives through with a takedown into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Steele advances to half guard.

Popo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Popo looking for submissions off his back.
Steele seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Popo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Popo is looking to improve his position.

Steele is looking for a kimura but Popo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Steele to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popo wants to get back to full guard.
Steele trying to control from half guard but Popo is working away.
Popo wants to improve his position but Steele is controlling well.
Steele controlling the action here.
Popo tries to get to full guard but Steele has control of the leg.

Steele is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Popo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Steele.
Popo is refusing to be controlled, as Steele sits in half guard.
Popo tries to roll over but Steele keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popo gets back to full guard.

Steele avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Popo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Steele's guard.
Popo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Steele is looking for a triangle but Popo pushes his legs off easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Popo postures up.

Steele is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Steele looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Popo looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popo pushes down on Steele's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Popo working the head and body with strikes.
Popo throwing shots but Steele is blocking nicely.
Steele is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Popo is pressing down on Steele's thigh, looking to free his foot. Steele is holding on for now.
Popo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steele has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Popo is working away from the top position though.

Popo is working for a kimura but Steele is defending it quite comfortably.
Popo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Popo wants to take a breather but Steele is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Steele looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Popo is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Popo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Steele is just riding it out for now. Popo eventually gives up the hold.

Popo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Popo wants to pass the guard but Steele is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steele is looking to control Popo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Steele avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Logan Steele will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Popo misses with a looping right.
Popo throws a hook but Steele blocks it.
Popo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Steele bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Steele lets loose with a powerful body kick. Popo will feel that in the morning.
No luck for Steele with that takedown attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Popo. Steele does a little dance to reset his feet.
Steele avoids the body shot from Popo.
Popo swings for the body but Steele moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele tests Popo's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Popo takes a swing at Steele's ribcage but misses.
Popo throws a sloppy body shot
and Steele makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Steele misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Steele tries to close the distance and clinch up but Popo swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Popo has Steele up against the cage in a clinch.
Steele swings wildly with an uppercut but Popo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Steele lands with a light punch inside.
Steele working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popo has Steele pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Steele manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Steele tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Steele lands a right hand.
Popo is trying to push Steele away but Steele has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A short right from Steele on the inside.
Steele misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Popo.
Nice body punch from Steele.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Steele throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Steele tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Popo's elbow.
Steele throws a punch but it's blocked by Popo.
Steele misses with the head strike.
Steele stops a takedown attempt from Popo.
Steele lands a left hand that snaps the head of Popo backwards.
Popo is working for takedown but Steele is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ace Popo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele tries a body shot but Popo blocks it.
Steele gets underhooks to prevent Popo's takedown attempt.
Steele tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Popo's elbow.
Popo is trying to stall.
Steele working aggressively here.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Steele scores with a shoulder strike.
A short right from Steele.
A short right from Steele on the inside.
Steele prevents a takedown attempt there.
Steele lands a hook that snaps the head of Popo backwards.
Steele prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele gets through Popo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Steele scores with a shoulder strike.
Popo taking a breather.
Steele looking to slow down the pace here.
Popo wants a takedown but no success here.
Steele misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Steele.

Popo lands a takedown into guard.
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!
Steele looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Popo throwing strikes but missing.
Popo looking to sit in guard and control but Steele gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Popo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Logan Steele showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Steele lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Steele throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

Steele clinches.
Steele tries to throw a body punch but Popo avoids it by throwing Steele back against the cage.
Steele scores with a hook to the body.
Popo can't get the takedown.
Still in the clinch, Steele scores with a nice short uppercut.
Popo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Steele lands a left hand.
Steele lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Steele lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Popo goes for a takedown attempt but Steele pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Steele fails with a takedown attempt.
An inside leg kick lands from Steele.
Popo takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Popo misses with a combination
and Steele counters with a leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Popo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Steele counters with a nice low kick that buckles Popo's knee momentarily.
Ace Popo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele throws a quick inside leg kick.
Steele throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Steele connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steele lands with a kick to the ribs.
Steele throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Popo.
Ace Popo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick misses from Steele.
Logan Steele seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steele tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Steele lands with a nice body kick.
Steele is looking to clinch.
Steele uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Popo has time to react.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Steele catches Popo right on the button with a cross.

Steele forces Popo back against the cage and clinches.
Steele misses with a hook to the ribs.
Popo tries for a takedown but Steele manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ace Popo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Popo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Steele fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Logan Steele is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Steele is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Steele lands a lovely overhand right.
Steele fakes the leg kick and cracks Popo in the body.
Steele lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Steele fakes the leg kick and cracks Popo in the body.
Steele getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Steele thows a body kick. Popo tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Steele avoids the body shot from Popo.
Ace Popo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Steele tries to clinch up.
Popo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Steele thows a body kick. Popo tries to catch it but that hurt him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice body kick from Steele.
Popo ducks right into an uppercut from Steele.

And that's the end of the fight!
Logan Steele comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Steele winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Logan Steele!
Logan Steele decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.