PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stephan Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kiyoshi Tamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steel comes into the arena with Hammerfall-Last man standing blaring out of the sound system. 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.

Steel
vs
Tamura

171 cm
18
220 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Stephan Steel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kiyoshi Tamura!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body kick from Steel.
Tamura tries to clinch but Steel is having none of it.

Steel scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Tamura is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Steel is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Tamura can't escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Steel moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Tamura has worked his arm free - good work by Tamura!
Tamura takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Tamura tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steel working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Tamura gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamura is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tamura looks gassed!
Steel sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tamura defending well though.
Steel frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Steel lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Tamura tries to lock up and control but Steel gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tamura tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Steel landing shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Steel cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Tamura is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Tamura is wriggling around trying to escape.
Steel lands a heavy elbow.
Tamura bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Tamura should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Tamura stands and throws Steel's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Tamura is looking to take a break and control but Steel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Tamura working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel is not content to let Tamura control the position.
Steel is looking to regain half guard here but Tamura keeps moving and retains side control.
Steel is trying to control Tamura's posture but Tamura avoids it.
Steel sneaks back into half guard.

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.
Steel is trying to maintain the position but Tamura is very close to passing his half guard.
Steel tries to get to full guard but Tamura has control of the leg.

Steel looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Tamura pushes past his half guard into mount!
Steel is looking to get to half guard.
Steel on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Steel tries to get out of the position.
Tamura trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephan Steel dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tamura is looking to clinch but Steel is avoiding it.
Tamura goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Stephan Steel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tamura just misses with a punch to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Steel!
Steel fails with an attempt to clinch.
A swing and a miss from Steel.
Steel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Steel looks for a takedown but Tamura sprawls well.
Steel swinging wilding here.
Stephan Steel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Decent striking displayed by Tamura there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Steel fails to land with a series of punches.
Tamura tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Steel counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamura avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tamura thuds his right hand into Steel's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Steel shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Tamura's guard.
Steel has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Steel trying to control but Tamura is working from the bottom.
Steel landing some decent shots from guard.
Tamura manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Tamura wants to control the pace but Steel is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel is desperately trying to improve his position but Tamura has a good base and remains in mount.
Tamura blocks Steel's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Steel throwing hammer fists to the chest of Tamura. What's that going to do exactly?
Steel keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Tamura is working for a guillotine from mount but Steel frees his head quite easily.
Tamura moves to take his opponent's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tamura working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Tamura is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Steel has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Tamura is not going to allow Steel to sit and survive in this position.
Tamura controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Steel defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Tamura's arms.
Steel can't escape the position.

Tamura has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Steel is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kiyoshi Tamura showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Tamura avoids a punch combination nicely.

Tamura pushes Steel up against the cage in a clinch.
Tamura misses with the head strike.
Tamura throws a punch but it's blocked by Steel.
Tamura looking for a takedown.
Steel has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tamura is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Steel wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tamura has Steel pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Steel manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Steel breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tamura throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Tamura shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Steel as he avoids it easily.
Stephan Steel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kiyoshi Tamura.
Tamura fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tamura misses with a takedown attempt

and Steel decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tamura's guard.
Stephan Steel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Steel trying to move into half guard but instead Tamura has managed to sweep!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Tamura manages to pass to side control.
Steel is trying to maintain the position but Tamura is very close to passing his half guard.
Steel preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Tamura is tying to control. Steel wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Steel tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Tamura has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Steel tries to improve his position but instead Tamura has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Tamura patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Steel trying to control the hands but Tamura breaks the grip.
Steel turns into Tamura and is now in his guard.
Tamura avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Steel looking to sit in guard and control but Tamura gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Steel trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steel has his foot on Tamura's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tamura works his way back into a safe position though.
Steel is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Steel manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Steel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tamura showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Steel.
Steel misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Steel throws a leg kick but Tamura checks it.
Steel throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Tamura on the side of the head.

Tamura gets caught flat footed, as Steel shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Tamura has his foot on Steel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Steel works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tamura keeping moving, preventing Steel from controlling successfully.
Tamura working a defensive guard here.
Steel forces his way into half guard.
Steel moves nicely into side control.
Steel tries to move to mount but Tamura blocks the move with his legs.
Tamura manages to work his way to half guard, despite Steel's best efforts.

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 Stephan Steel.
I think Steel has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephan Steel!