PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jakub Stepniewski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joseph Michaels has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Michaels
vs
Stepniewski

178 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
190 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joseph Michaels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jakub Stepniewski !
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Roger Salmon and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stepniewski looking to score a takedown here. Michaels is defending well but Stepniewski drives through and ends up in Michaels's guard.

Stepniewski is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Stepniewski got a little sloppy there for a moment and Michaels has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stepniewski has managed to get both his arms back between Michaels's legs - danger averted.
Stepniewski distracts Michaels with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Michaels looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Stepniewski keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Michaels's head.
Stepniewski postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Michaels is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stepniewski defends well.
Stepniewski lands a couple of elbows.
Michaels controls Stepniewski momentarily but Stepniewski frees himself.
Stepniewski lands a couple of elbows.
Stepniewski scoring with punches to the head and body.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
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!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Stepniewski 's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stepniewski scoring with punches to the head and body.
Michaels is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Michaels is breathing heavily.

Michaels is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Stepniewski moves into full guard.
Stepniewski keeping moving, preventing Michaels from controlling successfully.
Michaels is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Stepniewski is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Stepniewski keeping full guard, as Michaels tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Stepniewski had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Michaels defends it easily.
Stepniewski working a defensive guard here.

Stepniewski is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stepniewski lands an upkick as Michaels stands over him.
Stepniewski striking off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stepniewski has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Michaels can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Stepniewski keeping moving, preventing Michaels from controlling successfully.

Stepniewski escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Michaels gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Stepniewski has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Michaels doesn't defend quickly enough and Stepniewski has managed to lock this one up! Can Michaels escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Stepniewski on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Jakub Stepniewski !
Jakub Stepniewski decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.