PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hector Achilles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Steiner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Achilles comes into the arena with The Man blaring out of the sound system. Steiner has chosen Steiner as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The key to victory for Hector Achilles has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Achilles
vs
Steiner

185 cm
19
199 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

177 cm
27
198 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hector Achilles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ricky Steiner!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Winston Alpacca and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Steiner feints and as Achilles raises his hands in defense, Steiner changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Steiner sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steiner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Steiner throwing strikes but missing.
Steiner trying to control the position from guard on top but Achilles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steiner is stalling in the full guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Achilles's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Achilles preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Steiner has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Steiner postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steiner is stalling in the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ricky Steiner.
Jab by Achilles.
Achilles lands a jab to the nose.
Achilles lands with a cross.
Achilles lands an overhand right.
Steiner closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Achilles lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steiner uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Achilles.
Achilles tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Steiner was well out of range. Poor timing from Achilles.
Steiner shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Achilles lands with an uppercut that bounces Steiner off the cage and back into range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Achilles's jab looks to have found its range, popping Steiner under the eye.
Achilles throws a lazy right hand but Steiner sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Achilles jabs Steiner to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Steiner steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Achilles.
Achilles throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steiner misses with the ground and pound.
Steiner lands a few punches from side control.
Steiner working the ground and pound.
Steiner is chipping away with strikes.
Achilles wants to control but Steiner postures up.
Steiner throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Steiner is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Achilles knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Steiner throws a strike aimed at the side of Achilles's head but Achilles avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steiner looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Achilles is avoiding damage well.
Achilles takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Achilles is trying to control Steiner's posture but Steiner avoids it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
The ground and pound from Steiner seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Steiner lands some shots froms side control.
Steiner postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steiner scores with punches from side control.

Steiner wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Achilles, who protects the arm well.
Steiner is looking to take a break and control but Achilles is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Steiner dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Steiner displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Achilles throws out the jab.
Steiner slips under a jab.
Steiner on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Achilles cracks Steiner with a good jab.

Steiner shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Achilles napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Steiner working the head with strikes.
Steiner in side control, throwing shots but Achilles defends.
Steiner postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Steiner landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Achilles avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Steiner.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steiner wants to control but Achilles is keeping him busy.
Achilles is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Steiner's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Achilles on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Steiner thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Steiner working his ground and pound in the gym.
Steiner takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Steiner throwing shots but Achilles is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steiner throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steiner is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Achilles trying to keep a closed guard but Steiner is proving a slippery customer.
Steiner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Steiner postures up and lands a big shot to Achilles's brow.
Steiner trying to control the position from guard on top but Achilles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Steiner drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Achilles dives on top into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Steiner working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Steiner is on top in guard.
Steiner lands a couple of digs.
Achilles keeping moving, preventing Steiner from controlling successfully.
Achilles preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Steiner in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Achilles avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Steiner trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Achilles is trying to control the position but Steiner postures up.
Steiner wants to control from the top but Achilles keeps moving.
Steiner postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Steiner trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Steiner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steiner stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Achilles swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steiner throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Achilles works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Steiner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Achilles lands a really nice looking cross but Steiner seems unphased.
Achilles fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Steiner manages to avoid it.

Steiner shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Steiner was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Steiner working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Achilles gets back to half guard.
Steiner throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Achilles to regain full guard.
Achilles looking for a sweep. Not yet Achilles, not yet.
Steiner throws an elbow that misses. Achilles uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Steiner's guard. Nice move by Achilles!
Achilles is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Steiner manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Achilles tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Steiner was well out of range. Poor timing from Achilles.
Achilles misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Steiner bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Steiner tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Achilles manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Achilles thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hector Achilles is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Steiner or perhaps it was just good defense by Achilles which made him look bad.
Achilles misses with a straight right.
Achilles throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Achilles throws a jab when Steiner was well out of range.
Achilles misses with the combination.
Hector Achilles is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Steiner.
Achilles misses with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Achilles throws a right and a left that both miss.
Achilles lands with a shot to the body.
Achilles lands with a good body shot.
Achilles lands with a nice body punch.
Achilles lands a jab-cross combination.

Steiner shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Steiner lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Achilles is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steiner throwing shots but Achilles is blocking nicely.
Hector Achilles has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Achilles wants to control but Steiner is keeping busy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steiner working the head and body with strikes.
Steiner thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Achilles's head.
Achilles blocking the ground and pound attempt from Steiner.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steiner missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Achilles is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Steiner scores with a couple of nice shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ricky Steiner.
I've got Steiner 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Ricky Steiner!
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight for Ricky Steiner!
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight for Ricky Steiner!

Ricky Steiner wins by unanimous decision!
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.