PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steven Steele (ranked 2343 p4p, 277 weight class) and Joe Monroe (ranked 2812 p4p, 314 weight class). Steele kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Bloody Sunday . Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Steele
vs
Monroe

184 cm
27
197 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

191 cm
27
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Arcticus University: London

Sportivité

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Steven Steele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Monroe !
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Alyssa Summers and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Monroe swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Monroe instigates a clinch.
Monroe wants to break the clinch but can't.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steele.
A head punch on the inside from Steele fails to land.
Steele lands an elbow that stopped Monroe in his tracks for a moment.
Steele tries for a takedown. No joy.
Monroe has a couple of punches blocked by Steele.

Steele has hold of one of Monroe 's legs. Monroe is fighting the takedown attempt but Steele gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Steele stopping the sweep attempt from Monroe .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steele stops Monroe from standing up.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Monroe manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Monroe scores a nice knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe avoids the elbow strike from Steele, against the cage.
Steele throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Monroe 's coach down at Touch Of Death Combat Academy was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Monroe 's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Steele.
Monroe blocks an elbow strike.
Monroe blocks an elbow strike from Steele.
Monroe avoids the elbow strike from Steele, against the cage.
Monroe dodges an elbow strike from Steele.
Monroe is pushing Steele up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Steele creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Monroe 's defenses.
Steele working aggressively here.
Steele throws an elbow that misses.
Steele lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Steele prevents Monroe from breaking the clinch.
Monroe crunches a lovely knee into Steele's ribcage.
Monroe misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Monroe scores with a nice hook to the head.
Steele letting Monroe take a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele lands an elbow that stopped Monroe in his tracks for a moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Monroe blocks an elbow strike from Steele.
Steele pushes off an throws an elbow but Monroe leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Steele.
Steele tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Monroe blocks an elbow strike.
Monroe trying to land knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Steele fails to land.
Monroe dodges an elbow strike from Steele.
Steele looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
With the fighters up against the cage, Steele throws an elbow but misses.
A shot in the inside from Steele.
Steele tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Steele avoiding damage as Monroe throws knees to the body.
Monroe avoids the elbow strike from Steele, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Steele just misses with a elbow thrown towards Monroe 's brow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Steele.
Steele comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Joe Monroe has been cut.
A head punch on the inside from Steele fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe blocks an elbow strike.
Monroe is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Monroe avoids a wild elbow strike from Steele.
Steele pushes off an throws an elbow but Monroe leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Monroe trying to control the position but instead, Steele has worked for underhooks and has pushed Monroe into the cage.

Steele has picked Monroe up - he's going for a ride! Steele dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Monroe kicks off Steele and gets to his feet.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Monroe .

Steele closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Steele throws an elbow that misses.
Monroe takes an elbow to the temple.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Steele misses with an elbow strike.
Monroe landing knees to the body.
Monroe dodges an elbow strike from Steele.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Monroe dodges an elbow strike from Steele.
Monroe missing with knees to the body.
Steele gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Steele has Monroe pressed against the cage, preventing Monroe from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Steele.
Monroe misses with some punches.
Monroe blocks an elbow strike from Steele.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Steele looks to throw an elbow but misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Steele throws an elbow but misses.

Monroe pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Steele slips a jab from Monroe .
The fight stays on the outside here - Monroe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Monroe lands a two punch combo.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Steele closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Steele dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Monroe 's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Steele gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Steele lands an elbow inside that Monroe shrugs off.
Steele lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Steele throws an elbow that misses.
Steele lands an elbow just above Monroe 's eye.
Monroe utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Steele just misses with a elbow thrown towards Monroe 's brow.
Steele lands a nice elbow.

Steele tightens his grip and picks Monroe up, before dumping him to the ground. Monroe manages to land in guard.

Monroe is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steele can't get the takedown.
Monroe scores with a nice hook to the head.
Monroe takes an elbow to the temple.
Steele misses with an elbow over the top.
Monroe avoids the elbow strike from Steele, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Steele throws an elbow but misses.
Steele pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Monroe is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Monroe missing with knees to the body.
Monroe is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Monroe lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Monroe gets underhooks to prevent Steele's takedown attempt.
Steele lands a damaging elbow.

Monroe 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Steele has taken the fight to the clinch.
Monroe landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Steele misses with an elbow strike.
Monroe missing with knees to the body.
Monroe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Steele creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Monroe 's defenses.
Steele prevents Monroe from breaking the clinch.
Monroe lands with a left to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe avoids a wild elbow strike from Steele.
Steele blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Steele throws an elbow but misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Monroe just misses with a elbow thrown towards Steele's brow.
Monroe with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Steele gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Steele misses with an elbow strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steele.

Steele has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Monroe is trying to keep an underhook but Steele manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Monroe is trying to stand back up but Steele is controlling him
Joe Monroe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Monroe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele tries to stand but can't do so whilst Monroe controls his leg.
Monroe looks like he's trying to stand up.
Steele is thwarting Monroe 's attempts to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Monroe tries to clinch there but Steele circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Monroe throws a hook but Steele blocks it.
Monroe throws a leg kick that misses.

Steele rushes Monroe and presses him up against the cage.
Monroe dodges an elbow strike from Steele.
Monroe is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Steele is keeping busy.
Monroe putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Steele in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Steele lands an elbow that stopped Monroe in his tracks for a moment.
Steele swings wildly with an uppercut but Monroe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Steele has Monroe pressed against the cage, preventing Monroe from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Steele lands a damaging elbow.
Steele looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Monroe swings wildly with an uppercut but Steele uses good head movement to avoid it.
Steele lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Steele just misses with a elbow thrown towards Monroe 's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Steele dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Joe Monroe 's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A jab from Monroe misses.

Steele closes the distance and pushes Monroe back into the cage.
Monroe blocks an elbow strike from Steele.
Monroe wants to break the clinch but can't.
Steele lands an elbow inside.
Monroe takes an elbow to the temple.
Monroe is trying to maintain a safe position but Steele gets an underhook and turns Monroe into the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Steele.

Steele gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Monroe is looking to stand up but Steele isn't so interested in that idea.
Monroe manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Steele manages to get himself to full guard.

Steele utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe stopping the sweep attempt from Steele.
Steele is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Monroe can do to turn this around?
Steele utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Monroe wants to control from the top but Steele keeps moving.
Monroe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Steele works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Steele on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Steele tries to get out of the position.
Monroe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Steele tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Steele pulls Monroe in close to prevent any damage.
Steele keeping moving, preventing Monroe from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Steele seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Steele gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steele moves into range and clinches up with Monroe .
Steele lands a damaging elbow.
Monroe is trying to break free.
Steven Steele has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Steele throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Steele lands an elbow that stopped Monroe in his tracks for a moment.
Steele avoiding damage as Monroe throws knees to the body.
Steele creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Monroe dodges an elbow strike from Steele.
Steele throws an elbow but it misses.
Steele on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Monroe tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Steele avoids it.
Monroe tries a knee to the head but Steele blocks it.
Monroe is trying to push Steele away but Steele has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Steele throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe blocks the elbow strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Steele throws an elbow but misses.
Monroe landing knees to the body.
Monroe has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Steele misses with an elbow strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Steele throws an elbow but misses.
Monroe blocks the elbow strike.
Monroe throws a punch but it's blocked by Steele.
Steele creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Monroe 's defenses.
Steele prevents a body shot from Monroe .
Monroe misses with a hook from the clinch.
Steele lands an elbow inside that Monroe shrugs off.
Steele lands a damaging elbow.
Steele lands an elbow that stopped Monroe in his tracks for a moment.
Nice elbow from Steele.
Steele throws an elbow but it misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Steele throws an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Steele managing to block the knees to the body from Monroe .
Steven Steele is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Steele lands an elbow that stopped Monroe in his tracks for a moment.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Steele lands an elbow inside.
Monroe takes an elbow to the temple.
Monroe avoids a wild elbow strike from Steele.
Steele gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Joe Monroe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steele is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Monroe gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Monroe misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Steele.
Monroe is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Steele is defending well for now.
Steele on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Monroe looking to slow down the pace here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Steele showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Steele, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Steele!