PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Blake Steadhem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jun Ito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blake Steadhem could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Jun Ito's chin.

Steadhem
vs
Ito

181 cm
21
180 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
175 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Blake Steadhem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jun Ito!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steadhem lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ito circles away quickly and effectively.

Ito clinches up with Steadhem and pushes him back against the cage.

Ito jumps guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Steadhem has gone for a leg lock! Ito slips out almost immediately though and dives into Steadhem's guard.

Steadhem had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ito defends it easily.
Ito in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ito got a little sloppy there for a moment and Steadhem has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ito has managed to get both his arms back between Steadhem's legs - danger averted.
Ito stopping the sweep attempt from Steadhem.
Ito works over Steadhem with some ground and pound from guard.
Ito must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Steadhem working for a triangle but Ito defends it easily.

Steadhem looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Ito has picked Steadhem up and slammed him! Steadhem can't keep hold of the triangle and Ito manages to pass to side control!
An elbow from Ito crashes against the mat.
Steadhem is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ito working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Ito looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ito is looking to take a break and control but Steadhem is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Steadhem can't do much from the bottom here.
Steadhem regains half guard, as Ito was trying to land strikes.
Steadhem keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Steadhem. Ito does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ito lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Steadhem throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ito.

Ito instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ito holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Ito is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Steadhem is defending well for now.
Ito lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Steadhem tries to pull guard but Ito won't allow it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ito creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Steadhem fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ito looking for a takedown.

Ito pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Steadhem throws a series of punches but Ito moves out of range.
Ito tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Steadhem swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ito wants to clinch.
Ito fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Ito fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Steadhem, pushing him back against the cage.

Steadhem decides to pull guard.
Ito makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ito's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Steadhem working a defensive guard here.

Ito avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ito trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Steadhem had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ito defends it easily.
Ito is working Steadhem over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jun Ito dominated that round.
That's time! Steadhem's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ito takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Steadhem dips to his left and cracks Ito with an uppercut!
Steadhem shoots in for a takedown but Ito shows good takedown defense.
Nice cross by Steadhem.
Ito swinging wildly here.
Ito tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Steadhem paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ito stuffs the takedown attempt from Steadhem. Steadhem gets slowly back to his feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Steadhem throws a left and a right that both miss

and Ito counters by clinching up.
Steadhem jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ito walks away with a smile on his face. Steadhem gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blake Steadhem. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Steadhem swats away the attempt to clinch by Ito.
Ito is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ito is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Steadhem fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ito manages to avoid it.

Steadhem shoots in and bounces Ito off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Steadhem is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ito is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ito has escaped and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Steadhem had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ito defends it easily.
Ito missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Steadhem escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ito gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ito trying to stand up but can't free himself from Steadhem's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ito scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ito looking to pass the guard.
Steadhem working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ito.
Ito controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Steadhem working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ito doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ito manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steadhem is trying to keep Ito in close.

Steadhem has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ito can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

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

Steadhem escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ito gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four 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.
Steadhem keeping moving, preventing Ito from controlling successfully.
Ito wants to stand but Steadhem has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ito trying to control but Steadhem is working from the bottom.

Ito avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Steadhem dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Ito looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ito is looking to clinch.
Ito tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Steadhem was well out of range. Poor timing from Ito.
Steadhem lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Ito tries to clinch but Steadhem is having none of it.
Steadhem thows a body shot but no joy.

Steadhem closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Steadhem is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Steadhem is looking for a kimura but Ito is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Steadhem to get the leverage.
Ito looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steadhem is keen to just control but Ito is a slippery customer.

Ito makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Ito takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Steadhem throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ito counters with a three punch combo that has Steadhem backing up. Steadhem nods at Ito to acknowledge the strikes.
Steadhem swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Steadhem swats away the attempt to clinch by Ito.
Ito shoots in but Steadhem avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jun Ito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steadhem getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Ito takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Ito looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ito wants to stand up but Steadhem has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Ito takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Steadhem has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ito is working away from the top position though.

Steadhem is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ito pulls his head out easily.
Steadhem moves into full guard.
Ito forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ito tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Steadhem.
Steadhem is trying to get back to full guard.
Blake Steadhem overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ito with the ground and pound but Steadhem uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Steadhem throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Ito escapes and throws Steadhem's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Ito controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Steadhem is trying to improve his position.
Steadhem takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Steadhem looking for a sweep but Ito has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Ito lands with some strikes.
Steadhem is squirming around, avoiding Ito's attempts to control the action.
Ito tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jun Ito.
I think Ito 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jun Ito!