PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Pauling (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hercules Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hercules Steel will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Pauling
vs
Steel

190 cm
21
193 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

190 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Daniel Pauling!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hercules Steel!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, John Mangel and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pauling is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Steel.
Steel shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pauling takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Pauling wants to slow Steel down by chopping away at his legs.
Steel takes one to the chin there.
Pauling looks to land a body kick but Steel moved away.
Steel shoots for a takedown but Pauling saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Pauling swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hercules Steel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Pauling tries to keep at a distance but Steel has taken the fight into the clinch.
Pauling lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Pauling breaks from the clinch.
Pauling swats away the attempt to clinch by Steel.
Steel throws a series of punches but Pauling moves out of range.
No luck for Steel with that takedown attempt.
Daniel Pauling has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hercules Steel.
Pauling throws a right and a left that Steel avoids nicely.
Steel shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pauling pinned against the cage. Pauling gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Some wild striking there from Pauling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel looks for a takedown but Pauling sprawls well.

Pauling closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Pauling looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Pauling tries for a kimura but Steel is defending well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Pauling is breathing heavily.
Steel is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Pauling goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Steel rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Pauling's guard! Nice work there by Steel!
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!

Steel gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pauling swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Steel doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Pauling counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Pauling won't allow Steel to sweep him here.
Pauling pushes down on Steel's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Pauling passes the guard and advances to mount!
Pauling moves to back control.

Pauling working for the choke.
Steel rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pauling is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Pauling wants to work for an arm triangle but Steel is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Pauling is working for a submission of some sort.
Steel is looking for a sweep. Pauling is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Pauling is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Steel has managed to free his arm - good work.
Steel wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel trying to hold on to Pauling's head to control him but Pauling postures up.

Pauling is looking for a kimura but Steel is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pauling to get the leverage.
Pauling wants to free his trapped foot but Steel is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Pauling is looking for a kimura here.
Steel has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pauling is working away from the top position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steel throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Pauling dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Steel slips under a jab from Pauling.
Pauling throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Steel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pauling cracks the inside of Steel's front leg.
A jab from Steel does it's job there.
Steel tries to clinch but Pauling is having none of it.
Steel throws a combination that misses

and Pauling counters with a takedown into side control.

Pauling tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Pauling tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Steel is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Pauling asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Pauling is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Steel has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pauling is trying to get an arm triangle but Steel is defending well.

Pauling working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Pauling tries to advance to mount but can't.
Steel is pushing Pauling's head away, looking to escape. Pauling manages to hold on to the position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pauling wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Steel, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Steel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Steel gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Steel is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Pauling has taken his back.

Steel defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Pauling is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Steel can do to turn this around?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Pauling is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Steel knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Steel for a finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steel preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Pauling.

Pauling is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Steel knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Steel for a finish.
Steel is in bad spot here.

Pauling has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Steel is in real trouble here. Pauling gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Steel is tapping out! Pauling wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Daniel Pauling!