PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zina Ronaldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steel comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Sugar Ray - Mean Machine kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ronaldo
vs
Steel

187 cm
21
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

191 cm
22
183 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Zina Ronaldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Steel!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Chris Edwards and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ronaldo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Steel swivels and escapes.
Steel fails with the takedown

and Ronaldo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Steel won't be happy with that.
Ronaldo tries to move into full mount but can't pass Steel's legs.
The ground and pound from Ronaldo seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Steel tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ronaldo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Ronaldo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Steel, who protects the arm well.

Ronaldo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ronaldo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ronaldo tries to advance to mount but Steel denies him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel sneaks back into half guard.
Steel keeping hold of Ronaldo's head, controlling as best he can.

Ronaldo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Steel is looking to control Ronaldo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Steel avoid being mounted?
Ronaldo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Steel knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Ronaldo wants to work for an arm triangle but Steel is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ronaldo is breathing heavily.
Steel blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ronaldo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Steel trying to control here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Steel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Ronaldo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Ronaldo is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Steel has managed to free his arm - good work.
Steel gets full guard.
Steel trying to control the position here.

Steel working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ronaldo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ronaldo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ronaldo tries to free his leg and advance position but Steel is retaining full guard.
Steel is trying to keep Ronaldo in close.
Ronaldo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ronaldo scoring with some ground and pound.
Steel keeping full guard, as Ronaldo tries to pass.
Ronaldo chips away with some ground and pound.
Steel has Ronaldo pulled in close to control his posture.
Ronaldo with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Steel pushes Ronaldo off and scrambles back to his feet.
Ronaldo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Steel counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ronaldo's guard now.
Ronaldo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Steel wants to pass the guard but Ronaldo is keeping the position.

Ronaldo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Steel wants to stand but Ronaldo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Steel must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ronaldo striking from the bottom.
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 Zina Ronaldo will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Steel shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Steel showed some decent athleticism there.

Ronaldo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ronaldo is staying active underneath Steel, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ronaldo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ronaldo.
Ronaldo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Ronaldo avoids the attempt from Steel to control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Steel can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ronaldo looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Steel has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Ronaldo is not going to allow Steel to sit and survive in this position.

Steel defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Steel can't escape the position.

Ronaldo has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Steel! Can he survive? No! He's out! Ronaldo gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Zina Ronaldo!