PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cris Cyborg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Steller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben Steller has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Cris Cyborg's chin.

Cyborg
vs
Steller

172 cm
25
150 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
151 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cris Cyborg!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Steller!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Steve Montenegro and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cyborg throws a good cross that connects.
Steller moves to clinch but Cyborg breaks away
and Cyborg counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cyborg falls off balance throwing a combination

and Steller counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Steller.
Cyborg throws a punch but it's blocked by Steller.
Cyborg gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Steller.
Steller swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Steller blocks a body shot from Cyborg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steller's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Cyborg is stalling here.
Steller lands a hook that snaps the head of Cyborg backwards.
Steller drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Steller wants a takedown but no success here.
Cris Cyborg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Steller.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cyborg takes a shot to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Steller fails to land.
Cyborg lands a body punch.
Steller has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cyborg avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Steller works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Steller trying to control but Cyborg is working from the bottom.
Steller postures up in Cyborg's guard and throws a big left but Cyborg blocks it.
Cyborg looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cyborg preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steller trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Steller distracts Cyborg with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Steller with a flurry of punches that miss.
Steller wants to control from the top but Cyborg keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Cyborg throws a body shot but no joy.
Steller drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Cyborg defends it well.
Cyborg scores with a punch to the head.

Steller has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cyborg lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Steller or not.
Steller drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cyborg gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cyborg swings wildly with an uppercut but Steller uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cyborg blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Cyborg.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steller.
Steller misses with the head strike.
Cyborg struggles to land a body shot inside as Steller controls his hands.
Steller changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cyborg fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Steller looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Steller looks winded!
Cyborg with a jab.
Ben Steller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cyborg tests Steller's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cyborg pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Steller back to the cage. Cyborg follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steller closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Cyborg scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Cyborg misses with a straight left.
Cyborg connects with a body shot.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cyborg tries to close the distance and clinch but Steller swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Steller drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Cyborg lands a really nice looking cross but Steller seems unphased.
Cyborg tests Steller's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Steller takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Cyborg misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Steller counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cyborg won't be happy with that.
Cyborg avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Steller.
You can see the frustration on Cyborg's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Steller throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Cyborg is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Steller can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steller fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Steller lands an elbow.
Cyborg on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cyborg tries to get out of the position.
Steller works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steller sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Cyborg is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Steller lands a nice forearm strike.
Steller cracks Cyborg with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Cyborg trying to remain calm as Steller controls from the top position.
Sloppy strikes there by Steller.
Cyborg is working to avoid the ground and pound but Steller connects with a decent elbow.
Cyborg takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Steller in side control, throwing shots but Cyborg defends.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Steller trying to control the action but Cyborg is working from the bottom.
Steller in side control, throwing shots but Cyborg defends.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cyborg avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Steller.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Steller passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Cyborg!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steller lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Cyborg tries to hold on but Steller postures up.
Steller is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Cyborg can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steller trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Steller punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steller working the ground and pound effectively.

Cyborg is rocked!
Steller loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Cyborg scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Steller land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Steller stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ben Steller!
Ben Steller is the new featherweight champion!