PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Domenic Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor has chosen Beck-Loser as his entrance music. Joseph Steele has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Steele
vs
Taylor

183 cm
24
172 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
178 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joseph Steele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Domenic Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Russell Pearce and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Steele as he jumps to the side.
Taylor fails in his attempt to clinch.

Taylor moves into the clinch.
Steele tries for a takedown. No joy.

Taylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taylor.
Taylor tries to clinch up.
Taylor shoots in for a double leg but Steele sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Joseph Steele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Domenic Taylor.
Taylor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Steele tries to avoid it but Taylor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Steele to the ground. Steele escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
No luck for Steele with that takedown attempt.
Taylor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Steele rushes Taylor and presses him up against the cage.
Taylor is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Steele gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Steele turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Steele manages to end up in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor tries to buck Steele off but Steele is having none of it.
Taylor looks gassed!
Taylor manages to work his way to half guard, despite Steele's best efforts.
Steele tries to pass to full mount but Taylor defends it.
Taylor tries to kick Steele off but Steele keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steele looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Taylor tries to get to full guard but Steele has control of the leg.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Taylor wants to clinch

and Steele counters by moving into the clinch.
Steele has Taylor pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Taylor manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's two 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.
Taylor prevents a takedown attempt there.
Taylor cracks Steele with a nice body shot.
Steele tries to pull guard but Taylor won't allow it.
Taylor taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Taylor goes for a takedown attempt but Steele pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Taylor tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Steele counters with a shoot takedown. Taylor fights it but they end up in guard.

Taylor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Steele stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Taylor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Steele trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Taylor manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.

Taylor avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Steele keeping full guard, as Taylor tries to pass.

Steele is working an open guard so Taylor takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A punch lands to the side of Steele 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Taylor misses with a takedown attempt

and Steele counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Taylor tries to get to full guard but Steele has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taylor is defending against the submission attempts here by Steele.
Steele trying to control the action but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Taylor controlling the position for now.

Steele is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Taylor is just riding it out for now. Steele eventually gives up the hold.
Taylor wants to control but Steele is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Taylor gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Steele wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Taylor has him pressed against the cage.
Taylor is trying to drag Steele to the mat but Steele just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Steele has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Taylor is trying to keep an underhook but Steele manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Taylor trying to control but Steele postures up.
Taylor is trying to stand.
Taylor is holding on to half guard well.
Taylor is looking to improve his position.
Taylor gets full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Steele trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taylor is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Steele postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Taylor is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Steele, into his guard.
Taylor trying to control but Steele is working from the bottom.

Steele looking for subs off his back but Taylor has passed one foot through into half guard.
Steele is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two 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.

Steele looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Taylor is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Taylor trying to control the action but Steele is working from the bottom.
Steele tries to get to full guard but Taylor has control of the leg.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Taylor tries to clinch but Steele moves out of range.

Taylor has Steele up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Steele avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Taylor gets underhooks to prevent Steele's takedown attempt.
Steele stops a takedown attempt from Taylor.
Joseph Steele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Domenic Taylor.
Steele drops down looking for an ankle pick but Taylor pulls his leg out and moves away.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steele swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Taylor moves into range and clinches up with Steele.

Steele gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Taylor is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Taylor is keen to just control but Steele is a slippery customer.
Taylor prevents Steele from improving his position.

Taylor is trying to work for a kimura but Steele is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Steele keeps working.

Taylor is looking for a kimura here.
Taylor tries to pass the half guard into mount. Steele knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Steele manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Steele is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Taylor trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joseph Steele will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Steele shoots for a takedown but Taylor saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Steele circles away easily

and Steele counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Steele drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Taylor dives on top into guard.
Taylor wants to control from the top but Steele keeps moving.

Taylor is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Steele is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Taylor has his hands clasped together but Steele extends an breaks Taylor's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Steele.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Joseph Steele!