PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Maximo Steele (ranked 24682 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connar Scanlan (ranked 5754 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Steele
vs
Scanlan

189 cm
19
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Maximo Steele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Connar Scanlan!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steele tries to clinch but Scanlan is having none of it.
Connar Scanlan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Scanlan rushes Steele and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Come on Steele - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Steele tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Scanlan's elbow.

Steele manages to break the clinch.

Scanlan throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Steele was covering up waiting for the punch and Scanlan finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Scanlan looking to pass the guard.
Scanlan trying to control but Steele is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steele can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Scanlan controls the pace.

Scanlan stands up and waves to Steele to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Steele gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Scanlan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Scanlan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Steele.
Steele avoids a punch combination nicely.
Steele appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Steele takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Steele attempts a counter takedown but Scanlan avoids it well and moves away.
Scanlan throws a head kick that misses.
Steele feinted with a counter takedown.

Scanlan has Steele up against the cage in a clinch.

Steele breaks from the clinch.
Steele with a lazy takedown attempt
and Scanlan counters with a left to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Steele finds it's way through Scanlan's defenses.

Scanlan clinches with his opponent.
Steele working hard to break the clinch.
Steele can't break the clinch.
Steele taking a breather.

Steele manages to break the clinch.
Scanlan lands a high kick!

It looks like Maximo Steele has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Scanlan pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Scanlan scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Steele tries to kick Scanlan off in order to stand up. Scanlan Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Steele wants to get back to his feet but Scanlan is dominant here and he's now got Steele's back!
Steele just trying to survive but Scanlan is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Steele really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scanlan missing with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Scanlan is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Steele has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Scanlan has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Steele's body.
Steele is trying to break free.
Scanlan controls the action.
Steele is trying to stand back up.
Scanlan biding his time, controlling Steele.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Steele is trying to stand back up.

Scanlan working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Steele preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Scanlan.
Steele trying to control the action but Scanlan just sinks the hooks in.
Scanlan misses with punches from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connar Scanlan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Maximo Steele's cut.
That's time! Steele's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Scanlan rushes Steele and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Steele is trying to pull guard but Scanlan has him pressed against the cage.
Steele tries to break free but Scanlan pushes him back against the cage.
Steele is trying to break the clinch but Scanlan has him pressed against the cage.
Steele wants to get back to striking at distance but Scanlan won't allow it.

Scanlan lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Steele is not content to let Scanlan control the position.
Scanlan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Scanlan decides to stand and escape the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scanlan throws a sloppy head kick and Steele moves out of range easily.
Scanlan on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Steele. Steele obviously looking to wear him down.
Scanlan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Scanlan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Steele tries to sprawl but Scanlan drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Scanlan stands up out of the half guard.
Scanlan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Steele.
Steele misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Scanlan closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Steele to the mat! Steele manages to get full guard.
Scanlan is breathing heavily.
Steele not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Steele is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Scanlan passes Steele's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Scanlan is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Steele defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele is looking to control Scanlan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Steele avoid being mounted?
Scanlan prevents Steele from standing back up.
Steele tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Scanlan has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Scanlan thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steele flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Scanlan is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Steele to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Steele shrugs it off.
Steele tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Steele throwing hammer fists to the chest of Scanlan. What's that going to do exactly?
Steele tries to hold on but Scanlan postures up.
Steele is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Steele is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Steele is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Steele is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Scanlan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Scanlan has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Steele tries to buck Scanlan off but Scanlan takes his back!
Steele tries to break free.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steele trying to control the position but Scanlan manages to sink in the hooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connar Scanlan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Maximo Steele's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Scanlan fails to land with a series of punches.

Scanlan shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Steele's guard.
Scanlan trying to control but Steele is working from the bottom.
Steele is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Scanlan throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steele manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Scanlan manages to get himself to full guard.

Scanlan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Steele is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scanlan controlling the position.
Steele keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Scanlan's head.
Scanlan throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Steele stands up from Scanlan's guard - Steele perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Steele misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Scanlan.

Steele gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Steele scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Scanlan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Steele tries a head kick but it misses.

Scanlan scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Scanlan trying to mount his opponent but Steele defends it.
Steele slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Steele will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Steele is wriggling around but Scanlan manages to pass to half guard.
Scanlan seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scanlan thows a huge punch but Steele dodges it nicely.
Steele wants to control but Scanlan is keeping busy.
Scanlan is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Steele is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Connar Scanlan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Steele is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Steele is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Steele swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scanlan wants to control the pace but Steele is squirming around nicely.
Scanlan tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Steele wants to control but Scanlan is having none of it.
Scanlan throwing strikes here but Steele is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Steele keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Steele throwing hammer fists to the chest of Scanlan. What's that going to do exactly?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steele blocking the ground and pound.
Maximo Steele has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Connar Scanlan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Scanlan content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connar Scanlan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Scanlan has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connar Scanlan!