PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jake VanVactor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julius Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). VanVactor comes to the cage accompanied by Like a Pimp by David Banner. Steel is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Its a Fight. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

VanVactor
vs
Steel

180 cm
36
183 lbs
19 - 16 - 0

190 cm
31
181 lbs
19 - 14 - 3

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jake VanVactor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Julius Steel!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Alyssa Summers and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
VanVactor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Steel.
Steel throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and VanVactor counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Steel's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Steel duly obliges.
Steel works over VanVactor's head and body with a nice combination.
VanVactor walks forward, straight into a front kick from Steel.
Steel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from VanVactor.
Steel lands a jab.
Steel misses with a two punch combination.
Steel throws a low kick, looking for VanVactor's leg but VanVactor calmly moves out of range.
VanVactor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Steel manages to avoid it.
Steel keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Steel throws out a leg kick but VanVactor moves out of range and Steel only half commits.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
VanVactor fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A clash of legs there as VanVactor blocks the low kick.
Nice straight punches there by VanVactor. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of VanVactor.
A right-left combo lands from Steel.
Steel slaps away a takedown attempt from VanVactor, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake VanVactor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Steel throws a front kick aimed at VanVactor's knee but VanVactor avoids it well.
VanVactor misses with a left hand
and Steel counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Steel misses with the combination.
VanVactor scores with a decent looking hook.
Steel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
VanVactor avoids a punch combination nicely.
Julius Steel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Steel throws a series of punches but VanVactor moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Steel. No joy for VanVactor on that attempt.
No joy there for Steel, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Steel rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but VanVactor moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Steel misses with a double jab
and VanVactor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Steel misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steel falls off balance throwing a combination
and VanVactor counters with a nice body shot.
Steel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
VanVactor lands a nice hook to Steel's body. Steel takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
VanVactor slips a jab and a cross from Steel.
A punch lands to the side of Steel 's head but he takes it in his stride.
VanVactor darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
VanVactor jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Steel stuffs the takedown attempt from VanVactor. VanVactor gets slowly back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Steel.
VanVactor works Steel's body with a nice hook.
Horrible takedown by VanVactor or perhaps it was just good defense by Steel which made him look bad.
VanVactor's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and VanVactor duly obliges.
Steel throws a series of punches but VanVactor avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel misses with a wild combination.
Steel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
VanVactor thows a body shot but no joy.

VanVactor shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
VanVactor lands strikes from half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steel is trying to stand.
VanVactor is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Steel is refusing to be controlled, as VanVactor sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jake VanVactor will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

VanVactor tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Steel swivels and escapes.
Steel leaves VanVactor with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Steel rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but VanVactor moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
VanVactor throws the left hand but Steel avoids the punch easily.
Steel throws a right hand that VanVactor ducks under and follows up with a left that VanVactor also avoids with ease.
Steel throws a combination that misses
and VanVactor makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Steel lands a glancing blow to the side of VanVactor's head.
VanVactor fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake VanVactor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jab from Steel.
Steel misses with a double jab.
VanVactor showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Steel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
VanVactor connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

VanVactor looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
VanVactor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Steel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst VanVactor is controlling him.
VanVactor postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Steel really doesn't want to stay on the ground with VanVactor. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
VanVactor wants to control from the top but Steel keeps moving.
VanVactor working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
VanVactor trying to control the position from guard on top but Steel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
VanVactor throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
VanVactor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Steel is keeping the position for now.
VanVactor is standing up over Steel. Steel looks to escape but VanVactor dives into side control.
VanVactor lands a few punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
VanVactor advances nicely into full mount.
Steel is bucking up trying to escape but VanVactor cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
VanVactor in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Steel is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
VanVactor landing punches.
VanVactor lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
VanVactor is landing with some decent strikes but Steel is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, VanVactor cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
VanVactor lands a big shot there that rocks Steel but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
VanVactor looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Steel in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
VanVactor lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Steel is rocked!
VanVactor with the ground and pound from mount.
Steel is still in real trouble! Can VanVactor finish him?
VanVactor pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
VanVactor content just to control the position here.
VanVactor tries to control but Steel wriggling away.
VanVactor raining down shots from the mount!
Steel seems to have recovered his senses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
VanVactor raining down hammerfists from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake VanVactor dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

VanVactor looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Steel is fending him off so far but VanVactor persists. Nope, Steel circles away and we're back to standing.
Steel swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and VanVactor counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Steel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Good exchange - VanVactor coming out on top.
Steel misses with a few strikes there.
VanVactor scores with the left hand. Steel knows he should have avoided that one.
VanVactor lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
VanVactor works the jab nicely.
Steel slips a straight right by VanVactor.
Steel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Steel throws a right and a left that both miss.
Steel feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits VanVactors jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
VanVactor loads up on a big right hand but Steel slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Steel.
VanVactor throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Steel counters with a left to the body.
Steel will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
VanVactor thows a left - swing and a miss!
Steel lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Julius Steel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
VanVactor swings for the body but Steel moves out of range.
Steel slips under a jab.
Julius Steel seems to be getting the better of the standup.
VanVactor is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Steel.
Steel tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
VanVactor looks to land a right hand but Steel moved out of range.
VanVactor looks to land a combination but Steel avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
VanVactor closes this distance looking for a takedown but Steel circles away.
Steel misses with the combination.
Steel lands a body shot.
VanVactor blocks a low kick nicely.
Steel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from VanVactor.
Steel lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Jake VanVactor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
VanVactor throws the left hand but Steel avoids the punch easily.
Steel misses with a hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
VanVactor lands with a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
VanVactor avoids the body shot from Steel.
Steel throws a right hand that VanVactor ducks under and follows up with a left that VanVactor also avoids with ease.
VanVactor thows a left - swing and a miss!
Steel lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Steel feints and then cracks VanVactor's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow VanVactor down.
Steel moves out of range of the strikes.
Steel keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake VanVactor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Steel swinging wildly here.
VanVactor misses with a hook.
Steel buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
VanVactor ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
VanVactor tests Steel's chin there with a solid looking shot.
VanVactor showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Steel.
Steel keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from VanVactor.
Julius Steel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
VanVactor fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Steel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steel stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Steel wants it to stay on the feet.
Steel throws a right hand that VanVactor ducks under and follows up with a left that VanVactor also avoids with ease.
Steel misses with a combination
and VanVactor counters with a lovely shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Julius Steel.
I think VanVactor has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake VanVactor!