PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Steve (ranked 17 p4p, 2 weight class) and Rick Piano (ranked 16 p4p, 1 weight class). Piano has chosen Rick going ham on a bitch as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Rick Piano was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Steve
vs
Piano

175 cm
30
187 lbs
35 - 4 - 0

190 cm
28
275 lbs
27 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

HELLBENT
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Condemned
Hot Spunk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 35 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Steve!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rick Piano !
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Piano getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

It looks like Chris Steve has been cut.
Piano fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Steve manages to avoid it.

Steve rushes Piano and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Piano blocks a body shot from Steve.
Piano blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Piano breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Piano throws a hook but Steve blocks it.
Steve with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Piano goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Steve closes the distance and pushes Piano back into the cage.
Our sources have told us that Steve has been working on his elbows in the gym.

Piano breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Piano circles away from the clinch attempt.
Piano swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Steve steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Piano .

Piano lands a big right hand that sends Steve crashing to the mat! Piano stays standing though and waves Steve back to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Steve comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Steve connects with a solid leg kick.
Piano throws a shot from downtown. Steve moves away and avoids it.
Piano uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Steve.
Steve with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Piano throws a big shot that misses.
Steve fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Piano .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piano swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A big right from Piano misses.
Steve tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from Piano misses the target.
Piano throws a body punch but Steve moves out of range.

Piano gets tackled into the cage by Steve. Steve maintains the clinch.
Piano cracks Steve with a nice body shot.
Steve misses with a punch to the body.
Steve lands a hook to the side of the head.
Piano blocks an elbow strike.
Steve throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Steve lands an elbow inside.

Piano breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A jab from Piano misses.
Steve ducks under a wild hook from Piano .
Steve seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Piano feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Steve sprawling to the canvas! Steve rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Piano finish him?!

Chris Steve's cut is getting worse.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Steve scores with a jab to the body.
Steve staying out of range there.

Steve closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Piano scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Steve doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Piano breaks the clinch.
Piano throws a body punch but Steve moves out of range.
Steve moves out of range of the strikes.
Piano throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
As Piano tries to get set, Steve tries to push him back and clinch up but Piano manages to avoid the attempt.
Piano misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Steve seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Piano is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Steve on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Chris Steve's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Steve throws a body punch but Piano moves out of range.
Piano keeps the fight on the outside.
Piano has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Steve is looking to clinch but Piano is avoiding it.
Steve tries to clinch up.
Piano avoids the body shot from Steve.
Piano throws out a counter right but Steve avoids it with no problem.
Piano throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Piano throws a looping overhand right but Steve ducks down to avoid it.
Steve tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Piano manages to circle out of the way.
Piano 's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Steve connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Piano scrambles back to his feet.
Piano tries a head kick but it misses.
Steve seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Nice straight punches there by Steve. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Steve.
Piano keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve misses with a straight left.
Piano swats away the attempt to clinch by Steve.
Steve bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Steve slips a straight right by Piano .
Piano is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Steve.
Steve throws a body shot but no joy.
Piano 's jab looks to have found its range, popping Steve under the eye.
Steve tries a head kick but it misses.
Steve ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Steve tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Piano manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Steve throws a head kick but Piano moves out of range.
Piano swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Steve uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Piano has time to react.
Piano tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Steve was well out of range. Poor timing from Piano .
Piano might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Piano works Steve's body with a nice hook.
Steve swings for the body but Piano moves out of range.
Piano swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Steve drives through and clinches with Piano against the cage.
Steve presses Piano against the cage and delivers a mid-strength 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!
Piano throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steve misses with a hook to the ribs.
Piano tries to break the clinch but Steve is controlling the position.
Piano wants to break the clinch but can't.
Steve is working Piano over against the cage.
Nice elbow from Steve.
Steve lands a shoulder strike.

Piano breaks the clinch.
A lazy left from Piano finds it's target.

Jeez, Chris Steve's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Piano looks to land a right hand but Steve moved out of range.

Steve darts in and clinches Piano up against the cage.
Steve goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Piano breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Piano tries to keep at a distance but Steve has taken the fight into the clinch.
A body shot lands from Steve.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steve stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Steve keeps control of Piano as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Piano avoids the elbow strike from Steve, against the cage.
Piano avoids a wild elbow strike from Steve.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Piano dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Chris Steve's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Steve tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Steve scores with a push kick.
Steve lands a nice looking body kick.
Piano waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Steve.
Steve plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Steve wants to clinch up but Piano keeps it at a distance.
Steve is looking to wear down Piano with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Steve tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Piano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Steve slips a straight right by Piano .
Steve's corner calls for a 1-2. Steve obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Piano keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Steve.
Steve wants to clinch up but Piano keeps it at a distance.
Piano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Piano misses with a looping left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Piano needs to keep his hands up - Steve had a free shot at his head there.
Piano paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Steve uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Piano .
Steve is looking to counter the offense by Piano and move into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steve is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Piano throws a lazy head kick

and Steve counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piano is working Steve over against the cage.
Piano wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Steve misses with a hook to the ribs.
Steve pushes Piano back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Piano working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Piano escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Steve tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Piano manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Piano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Steve ducks under a wild hook from Piano .

Piano tries to keep at a distance but Steve has taken the fight into the clinch.
Piano doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Steve scores with a shot to the side of Piano 's head.
Steve lands a nice elbow.
Steve tries a body shot but Piano blocks it.
Still in the clinch, Piano scores with a nice short uppercut.
Steve prevents Piano from breaking the clinch.
Steve tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Piano 's elbow.
Piano wants to break free but Steve has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Piano manages to break the clinch.
Piano throws out a loose jab but Steve uses good head movement to avoid it.
Steve throws a head kick that misses.
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!
Piano keeps the fight on the outside.
Steve throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Piano now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Steve lands with a nice body punch.
Steve takes a swing at Piano 's ribcage but misses.
Piano throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A telegraphed right hand from Piano misses the target.
Piano is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Steve.
Steve tries to clinch but Piano moves out of range.
Piano let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Steve tries to close the distance and clinch up but Piano swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Steve throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Steve misses with a low kick.

Steve drives through and clinches with Piano against the cage.

Piano breaks from the clinch.
Piano avoids the body shot from Steve.
Piano looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Piano throws a jab when Steve was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve wants to clinch up but Piano keeps it at a distance.
Rick Piano seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Piano on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Steve buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Piano keeps the fight on the outside.

Piano gets tackled into the cage by Steve. Steve maintains the clinch.

Piano breaks the clinch.

Steve closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Steve.
Piano is trying to push Steve away but Steve has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Steve digs a right hand underneath Piano 's ribcage. Piano let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Piano escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Piano looks to land a right hand but Steve moved out of range.
Piano stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Steve.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Steve.

Steve moves into the clinch.
Steve can't find room to land a body shot as Piano controls the action.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Steve.
Steve lands a body shot.
Piano is breathing heavily.
A left hand lands to the body for Steve.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good body shot from Steve.
Steve struggles to land a body shot inside as Piano controls his hands.
Good body shot from Steve.
Steve tries a body shot but Piano blocks it.
Steve tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Piano blocks a body shot from Steve.
Piano is trying to break free.
Piano working hard to break the clinch.
Piano is trying to break the clinch but Steve is controlling him.
Piano looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Steve lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Steve lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Piano or not.
Piano wants to break free but Steve has control.
Steve lands with a light punch inside.
Steve stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Steve lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Steve.
Steve lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Piano blocks a body shot from Steve.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Steve dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Chris Steve's cut.
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.

Steve clinches up against the cage.

Piano pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A slow jab from Piano misses its intended target.
Steve wants to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Piano on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Piano circles away from the clinch attempt.
Piano lands a really nice looking cross but Steve seems unphased.
A swing and a miss from Piano .
Piano misses with an uppercut.
Steve tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Piano manages to circle out of the way.
Steve moves out of range as Piano strikes.
Steve fails with an attempt to clinch.
Steve lands a head shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Piano throws the left hand but Steve avoids the punch easily.
Steve is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Steve steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Piano .
Piano throws the left hand but Steve avoids the punch easily.
Piano takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Steve tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piano needs to keep his hands up - Steve had a free shot at his head there.
Steve keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Piano .
Piano pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Steve lands an overhand right.
Steve ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Piano takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Steve avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Steve moves into the clinch.
Steve makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on Piano 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Piano working hard to break the clinch.
Steve lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Steve lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Piano is trying to push Steve away but Steve has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Steve lands an elbow inside that Piano shrugs off.

It looks like Rick Piano has been cut.
Steve lands a damaging elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Steve.
Piano is trying to break the clinch but Steve is controlling him.
Steve lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Steve misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Piano has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Piano is looking to break free of the clinch but Steve has double underhooks.
Steve gets through Piano 's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Steve lands a damaging elbow.
Steve lands an uppercut.
Piano tries to work over Steve's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Steve lands an elbow that stopped Piano in his tracks for a moment.
Piano tries to circle away but Steve has him pinned against the cage.
Piano tries to break free but Steve pushes him back against the cage.
Piano throws a punch but it's blocked by Steve.
Piano wants to get back to striking at distance but Steve won't allow it.
Nice body punch from Steve.
Steve lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Piano or not.
A short uppercut from Steve.
Steve misses with a punch to the body.
Steve throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Steve gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Piano has had enough of the clinch but Steve keeps him there for the moment.
Steve tries to work over Piano 's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Piano is trying to break the clinch but Steve has him pressed against the cage.
Steve is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Piano can do to turn this around?
Piano is trying to break the clinch but Steve is controlling him.
Piano avoids a wild elbow strike from Steve.
Steve pushes Piano back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Steve goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Piano wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Steve lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Steve tries to throw a body punch but Piano avoids it by throwing Steve back against the cage.
Piano takes an elbow to the forehead.
Steve cracks Piano with a nice body shot.
Steve lands an uppercut.
Steve lands a hook to the side of the head.
Steve is leaning against Piano and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Steve works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A short left from Steve.
Steve struggles to land a body shot inside as Piano controls his hands.
Good body shot from Steve.
Steve lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Piano .
Steve scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Steve pushes Piano back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steve lands with a right to the head.

Piano is rocked!
Steve misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Piano blocks the elbow strike.
Steve throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Steve tries to work over Piano 's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Steve lands an elbow that stopped Piano in his tracks for a moment.
Piano is still on wobbly legs! Can Steve finish him?

That has opened up Rick Piano 's cut even more.
Nice elbow from Steve.
Clinched against the cage, Steve lands a big elbow that drops Piano ! The ref dives in to save him from more shots - Piano is complaining that he's OK but he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Chris Steve!
Chris Steve decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Rick Piano was interviewed post fight and said 'I need more roids!'.