PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Riaan Rennie (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! Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Rennie
vs
Steel

182 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

191 cm
22
183 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Riaan Rennie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Steel!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Daniel Bishop and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Steel forces Rennie back against the cage and clinches.

Rennie breaks the clinch.

Steel moves into the clinch.
Rennie can't get the takedown.
Rennie wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Steel gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rennie is trying to stand.
Rennie is breathing heavily.

Steel gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Steel gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rennie has had enough of the clinch but Steel keeps him there for the moment.

Steel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Steel closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Steel stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Steel shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rennie swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

Steel has control of Rennie's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Rennie regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Steel stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Steel fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rennie sprawls well initially but Steel persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Steel lands with a punch from half guard.
Steel lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Steel passes the guard and advances to mount!
Rennie is trying to stand up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steel content just to control the position here.
You get the feeling that Rennie really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Steel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel looking to control and managing it successfully.
Steel blocks Rennie's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Steel lands a heavy elbow.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Steel working the ground and pound effectively.
Steel unloading with bombs!
Steel unloading with bombs!
Steel looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rennie is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel controlling from the full mount.
Steel landing shots from mount.
Steel lands a big elbow.
Steel sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Steel is going olschool here, as he tries to force Rennie to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Rennie shrugs it off.
Steel working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel tries to control but Rennie wriggling away.
Steel looking to finish Rennie with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rennie!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steel blocks Rennie's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

Steel is going olschool here, as he tries to force Rennie to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Rennie shrugs it off.
Rennie is trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Steel dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rennie throws a right hand that Steel ducks under and follows up with a left that Steel also avoids with ease.

Steel forces Rennie back against the cage and clinches.

Steel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Steel rushes Rennie and presses him up against the cage.
Steel leaning against his opponent.
Steel gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rennie is trying to break free.
Steel drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Steel gets control of Rennie's arms and successfully pulls guard. Steel will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Steel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rennie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rennie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rennie is looking to stand up but Steel won't let him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rennie stopping the sweep attempt from Steel.
Steel is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Steel looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rennie with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Steel stops Rennie from getting back to his feet.

Steel is looking for a kimura but Rennie is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Steel to get the leverage.
Rennie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Steel working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rennie's head.
Steel chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Mike Steel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rennie wants to stand but Steel is controlling the position.

Steel decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rennie, up you get!

Steel feints and as Rennie raises his hands in defense, Steel changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Steel prevents Rennie from getting back to his feet.

Steel decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rennie, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rennie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rennie looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Steel shoots in for a takedown but Rennie shows good takedown defense.
Steel throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Rennie gets a clinch.

Steel has hold of one of Rennie's legs. Rennie is fighting the takedown attempt but Steel gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Steel gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Steel fails with a takedown attempt.
Riaan Rennie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Steel.
Steel shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rennie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Steel as he jumps to the side.
Rennie avoids the head kick by Steel.
Rennie throws a series of punches but Steel moves out of range.

Steel moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Steel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rennie throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Steel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rennie but Rennie pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rennie fails in his attempt to clinch.
Riaan Rennie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rennie is looking to clinch but Steel is avoiding it.

Steel drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rennie takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Rennie is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Steel's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steel looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Steel is keen to just control but Rennie is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Steel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Rennie tries for a takedown but Steel circles away easily

and Steel counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Steel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Steel slips nicely into half guard.

Rennie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Steel is controlling the pace.
Steel is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Steel landing shots from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rennie is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

Steel working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
You get the feeling that Rennie really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Rennie taking shots to the head.
Steel fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Steel breaks from Rennie's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Steel manages to capitalize on a mistake by Rennie to take his back!

Rennie defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Steel gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Steel gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Steel apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Steel scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Rennie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Steel counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rennie throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Steel counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Steel.
Rennie has momentary wrist control but Steel slips an elbow through the middle.
Steel stops Rennie from standing up.
Steel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rennie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Steel is standing up over Rennie. Rennie looks to escape but Steel dives into side control.
Steel trying to control the action but Rennie is working from the bottom.
Riaan Rennie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steel is trying to get an arm triangle but Rennie is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Rennie's face as Steel controls the position.

Steel tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Steel has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Steel moves into the clinch successfully.
Rennie is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Riaan Rennie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rennie jumps guard but Steel stands there with Rennie around his waist. Rennie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mike Steel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rennie wants a takedown.
Rennie tries to throw a body punch but Steel avoids it by throwing Rennie back against the cage.
Steel has Rennie pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rennie manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Steel gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Steel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rennie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Steel trying to control the position from guard on top but Rennie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Steel stands up from guard. Let's bang!

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Steel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Steel 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 25:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 25:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Steel!