PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Steeler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and abbas shahid (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Steeler
vs
shahid

193 cm
23
275 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

194 cm
22
264 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mark Steeler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, abbas shahid!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Matheus Silva and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
shahid loads up on a big right hand but Steeler slips the punch.
A nice combination there by Steeler.
shahid tries to clinch but Steeler is having none of it.
shahid tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Steeler paws at him with a jab and circles away.
shahid misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Steeler scores with the left hand. shahid knows he should have avoided that one.
Steeler steps to the side to avoid the strikes from shahid.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steeler avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
shahid lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

It looks like Mark Steeler has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steeler shoots in for a takedown but shahid shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
shahid is looking to clinch but Steeler is avoiding it.
shahid keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Steeler listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
shahid throws a lazy right hand but Steeler sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
shahid stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Steeler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
shahid throws a looping overhand right but Steeler ducks down to avoid it.

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.
Steeler lands with a nice combination. shahid backs away looking to recover.
Steeler could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Some wild striking there from Steeler.
Steeler avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Steeler. No joy for shahid on that attempt.
shahid tries to clinch up but Steeler circles away and keeps his distance.
Steeler fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
shahid waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Steeler.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Steeler.
Steeler displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as shahid throws out the jab.
Steeler shoots for a double leg takedown but shahid sprawls well. He's pushed Steeler's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Steeler lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

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.
Steeler shoots in and drives through. shahid sprawls well.
No joy there for Steeler, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Steeler tries to score a power double leg takedown but shahid sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Steeler somewhat.
Steeler ducks under a wild hook from shahid.
Steeler fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but shahid is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

abbas shahid dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mark Steeler's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

shahid throws a sloppy head kick and Steeler moves out of range easily.
shahid throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Steeler shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has shahid pinned against the cage. shahid gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mark Steeler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
shahid shoots in but Steeler avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
shahid stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and shahid wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steeler is trying hard to land a takedown here. shahid sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Steeler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
shahid just misses with a punch to the body.
Steeler misses with a head kick.
shahid is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
shahid throws a shot from downtown. Steeler moves away and avoids it.

That's two 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.
shahid misses with a leg kick.
The fighters circling - Steeler throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
shahid displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Steeler.
Steeler fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
shahid wants to clinch up but Steeler keeps it at a distance.
Steeler steps to the side to avoid the strikes from shahid.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steeler throws a leg kick but shahid checks it.
Steeler throws a sloppy head kick and shahid moves out of range easily.
Steeler fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
shahid looks to land a left hand but Steeler moved out of range nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Steeler.
shahid falls off balance throwing a combination
and Steeler counters with a left and a right that stings shahid.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Steeler misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Steeler goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Steeler will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
shahid throws a left and a right that both miss
and Steeler counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Steeler slips under a jab.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
shahid throws a sloppy head kick and Steeler moves out of range easily.
Steeler avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

abbas shahid showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mark Steeler's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

shahid misses with an uppercut. Steeler saw that one coming.
Steeler connects with a body shot.
shahid throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Steeler counters with a nice double leg into side control. shahid won't be happy with that.
shahid prevents Steeler from moving into mount.
Steeler in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
shahid wants to get back to his feet but Steeler drags him back down.
Steeler working the ground and pound but shahid is defending the strikes.
shahid seems a little lost for a moment, as Steeler dominates the positioning.

Steeler decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for shahid, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
shahid throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and shahid takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
shahid swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Steeler cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
shahid takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Steeler fails to land the takedown.
Danga de danga de dang - Steeler scores with a four punch combination!

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.
shahid misses with an uppercut. Steeler saw that one coming.
Steeler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A slow jab from shahid misses its intended target.
shahid checks a leg kick.
Steeler blocks a head kick by shahid.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
shahid needs to keep his hands up - Steeler had a free shot at his head there.
Steeler misses with a takedown attempt
and shahid counters with a left and a right that stings Steeler.
Steeler shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Steeler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
shahid clinches but Steeler breaks the clinch
and Steeler counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Steeler has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steeler misses with a two punch combination.
shahid throws a hook but Steeler avoids it easily.
shahid tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Steeler counters with a nice double leg into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mark Steeler.
I think shahid has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... abbas shahid!