PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Steiner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Ferguson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steiner comes to the cage accompanied by Steiner. Both these fighters are unbeaten, so somebody's 0 has got to go!Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Steiner
vs
Ferguson

177 cm
26
198 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

165 cm
26
199 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

Atlantis

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ricky Steiner!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Chris Ferguson!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Daniel Franklin and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ferguson misses with a hook
letting Steiner counter with a right hand.
Steiner darts in trying to clinch

and Ferguson counters by clinching up.
Ferguson has had enough of the clinch but Steiner keeps him there for the moment.
Steiner is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ferguson is keeping busy.
Steiner manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Steiner can't break the clinch.
Ferguson prevents a body shot from Steiner.
I was talking to Steiner's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ferguson.
Steiner can't find room to land a body shot as Ferguson controls the action.
Ferguson working aggressively here.
A short right from Steiner on the inside.

Steiner breaks from the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ferguson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ferguson tries to clinch up but Steiner circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ferguson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ferguson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Steiner counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Steiner.
Steiner will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Steiner is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ferguson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ferguson has escaped and now he's on top!
Steiner wants to get back to his feet but Ferguson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ferguson passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steiner prevents Ferguson from moving into mount.
Ferguson cracks Steiner with a big right hand but Steiner just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Ferguson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ferguson has closed the distance and engaged Steiner in a clinch.
Steiner avoiding damage.
Steiner misses with a punch on the inside.
Ferguson taking a breather.
Ferguson lands with a left to the head.
Steiner throws a punch but it's blocked by Ferguson.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ferguson.
Ferguson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Steiner backwards.
Ferguson throws a punch but it's blocked by Steiner.
Ferguson blocks an uppercut.
Ferguson misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson has Steiner pushed against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Ferguson.
Ferguson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Steiner tries to throw a body punch but Ferguson avoids it by throwing Steiner back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Steiner lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ferguson.
Steiner blocking some punches.
Ferguson digs a right hand underneath Steiner's ribcage. Steiner let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steiner.
Ferguson is pushing Steiner up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Steiner as Ferguson tries to tie him up.
Steiner looking for a takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ferguson swings wildly with an uppercut but Steiner uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ferguson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ferguson stalling in the clinch.

Steiner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Ferguson 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.

Ferguson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steiner swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Steiner rushes Ferguson and presses him up against the cage.

Steiner manages to break the clinch.
Steiner moves to clinch but Ferguson breaks away

and Ferguson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ferguson.
Ferguson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Steiner tries a body shot but Ferguson blocks it.
Steiner's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ferguson lands a body punch.
Ferguson avoiding damage as Steiner throws knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Steiner has Ferguson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ferguson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ferguson scores with a shoulder strike.
Steiner tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ferguson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ferguson lands a hook that snaps the head of Steiner backwards.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ferguson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Steiner breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Ferguson.

Steiner fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ferguson sprawls well initially but Steiner persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ferguson trying to control from the bottom.
Steiner wants to control but Ferguson is keeping him busy.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ferguson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ferguson wants to sweep but no luck.
Ferguson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Steiner is controlling him.
Ferguson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Ferguson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Steiner is controlling him.
Steiner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Steiner content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steiner throws a big right hand that misses.
Ferguson wants to sweep but no luck.
Ferguson working a defensive guard here.
Steiner stopping the sweep attempt from Ferguson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steiner with a nice head shot there.
Steiner trying to control the position from guard on top but Ferguson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steiner won't allow Ferguson to sweep him here.
Steiner scoring with some ground and pound.
Steiner scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ferguson is looking to stand up but Steiner isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ferguson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Steiner defends it easily.
Steiner won't allow Ferguson to sweep him here.
Steiner postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ferguson working a defensive guard here.
Steiner landing with the ground and pound.
Ferguson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Steiner puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Ferguson wants to control but Steiner is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ferguson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Steiner scores with a couple of nice shots.
Steiner landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ferguson is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steiner thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ricky Steiner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Steiner blocks the strikes from Ferguson.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steiner lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Steiner lands strikes from half guard.
Steiner missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ferguson wants to get back to full guard but Steiner has mounted him!
Ferguson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ferguson flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Steiner is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ferguson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Steiner lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Steiner takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ferguson tries to hold on but Steiner pushes him away.
Steiner scores with a couple of good head shots there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ricky Steiner will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Steiner tries to bum rush Ferguson with a series of wild strikes but Ferguson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ferguson keeps the fight on the outside.
Steiner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ferguson wants to clinch.

Ferguson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Steiner, pushing him back against the cage.
Ferguson has a couple of punches blocked by Steiner.

Steiner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Steiner avoids the body shot from Ferguson.
Steiner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Chris Ferguson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Steiner clinches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Steiner.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steiner lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ferguson or not.

Steiner has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Ferguson clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Steiner has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Steiner has the hooks in. Ferguson is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Steiner.
Steiner is hanging on to Ferguson's back as he tries to escape.
Steiner is punishing Ferguson with strikes - can he finish him?!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Steiner has the hooks in. Ferguson is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Steiner lands strikes to the head.
Ferguson trying to get back to his feet but Steiner is in full control for now.
Ferguson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Steiner connects with a big shot to the side of Ferguson's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steiner has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Ferguson takes a big shot to the side of the head.

Ferguson is rocked!
Ferguson trying to control the position but Steiner manages to sink in the hooks.
Steiner scores with punches from the back.
Ferguson controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Steiner looking for the choke but no joy.
Ferguson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steiner lands a big elbow.
Steiner unloading with bombs!
Steiner lands a nice shot to the head.
Ferguson is still in real trouble! Can Steiner finish him?
The referee warns Ferguson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Ferguson gets back to half guard.
Ferguson is trying to get back to full guard.
Ferguson pushes Steiner off looking to stand but Steiner dives back in and keeps control.
Steiner seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Steiner working over Ferguson with some ground and pound. Ferguson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Steiner is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ferguson missing with punches from the bottom.
Steiner seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Steiner lands a nice short elbow.
Ground and pound from Steiner.
Ferguson wants to improve his position but Steiner is controlling well.
Steiner scores with a big shot! Ferguson's head bounced off the canvas with a huge thud! More strikes land and the referee has jumped in to save Ferguson! He was hurt real bad - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ricky Steiner!
Ricky Steiner retains his middleweight title!
Ricky Steiner was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.