PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sydney Lewis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Spenser Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Spenser Steel has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lewis
vs
Steel

160 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

168 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sydney Lewis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Spenser Steel!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Anthony Taglia and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lewis stuffs the takedown.

Lewis moves into the clinch.
Steel tries to pull guard but Lewis won't allow it.
Steel tries to stall but Lewis uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Lewis could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Lewis successfully pulls guard.
Lewis has a closed guard, preventing Steel from standing up.
Lewis is controlling Steel's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lewis is keeping the position for now.
Lewis trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Steel trying to control but Lewis is working from the bottom.
Lewis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Steel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lewis swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Lewis feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Steel tries to strike from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel striking off his back but it's not causing Lewis any problems.
Steel pulls Lewis in close to his closed guard and prevents Lewis from doing any damage or advancing position.
Lewis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Steel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lewis lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Steel working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lewis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lewis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lewis is looking to work some ground and pound but Steel has wrist control.
Steel tries to strike from the bottom.

Steel has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lewis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Steel has Lewis pulled in close to control his posture.
Lewis knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Steel on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lewis wants to stand and escape but instead Steel has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Lewis keeping full guard, as Steel tries to pass.
Steel keeps trying to improve his position.
Lewis is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Steel wants to get up but he can't break Lewis's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Steel works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Steel trying to pass the guard but Lewis defending well.
Steel seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lewis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Steel looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Lewis with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Steel winds up and cracks Lewis with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Steel works his way into full mount!
Lewis is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Spenser Steel will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lewis scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Steel slaps away a takedown attempt from Lewis, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lewis tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Steel defends well and Lewis ends up having to push Steel into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Steel unleashes a big counter combination but Lewis bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Steel throws a leg kick that is checked
and Lewis counters with a stiff right hand.
Steel looks to clinch
enabling Lewis to counter with a crisp jab.
Steel has his takedown stuffed
and Lewis makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lewis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Steel as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sydney Lewis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lewis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lewis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lewis was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Lewis has taken the fight to the clinch.

Steel ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Steel no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Steel throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Steel looking for a guillotine here but Lewis defends easily.
Lewis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Steel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lewis is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lewis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Steel wants to stand and escape but Lewis is having none of it.
Steel looking for a sweep. Not yet Steel, not yet.
Lewis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Steel is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Steel rushes Lewis and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Steel is stalling here.
Steel is trying to drag Lewis to the mat but Lewis just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Steel is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steel gets control of Lewis's arms and successfully pulls guard. Steel will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Lewis is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Steel trying to control the position.
Steel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Lewis gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Steel slaps away a takedown attempt from Lewis, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Steel looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lewis stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lewis wants it to stay on the feet.
Sydney Lewis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Lewis looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Lewis is looking to take a break and control but Steel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steel has hold of Lewis's hands but Lewis slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Lewis thows a huge punch but Steel dodges it nicely.
Steel is trying to control but can't.

Lewis is looking for a kimura but Steel is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lewis to get the leverage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lewis thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lewis lands with a punch from half guard.
Lewis is thwarting Steel's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sydney Lewis dominated that second round.
That's time! Lewis's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Steel fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Steel changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lewis tries to avoid it but Steel manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lewis to the ground. Lewis escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lewis looks for a takedown but Steel sprawls well.
Lewis shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Steel is defended easily by Lewis.
Sydney Lewis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Spenser Steel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lewis closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Lewis lands in his opponent's guard.
Steel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lewis.
Lewis is working Steel over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Lewis has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Steel controls Lewis momentarily but Lewis frees himself.
Lewis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Steel can do to turn this around?
Steel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Steel working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lewis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lewis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Steel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lewis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Steel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lewis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Lewis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Steel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lewis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Steel throws out a counter right but Lewis avoids it with no problem.

Lewis has managed to clinch.
Lewis wants a takedown.
Steel drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lewis gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Steel is looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lewis manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Steel is looking to stand up but Lewis won't let him.
Lewis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lewis controls Steel momentarily but Steel frees himself.
Steel wants to control from the top but Lewis keeps moving.
Steel controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four 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.
Lewis looking to control.
Lewis controlling Steel's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Lewis shoots in for a double leg but Steel sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lewis fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Steel throws a fast counter high kick but Lewis manages to duck under it in time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lewis shoots for a double leg takedown but Steel sprawls well. He's pushed Lewis's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Steel forces Lewis back against the cage and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sydney Lewis showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lewis has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sydney Lewis!