PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nick Device (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Trent Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the ring it seems that Nick Device has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Nick Device seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Device
vs
Steele

180 cm
25
275 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
270 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Nick Device!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Trent Steele!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Daniel Bishop and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steele is looking to clinch but Device is avoiding it.
Trent Steele seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Device clinches up against the ropes.
Steele takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Trent Steele has been cut.
Device lands a right hand that snaps the head of Steele backwards.

Steele decides to pull guard.

Steele has his foot on Device's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Device works his way back into a safe position though.
Device trying to control but Steele is working from the bottom.
Device is looking to stand up but Steele won't let him.
Device knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Steele on the ground.
Steele pulls Device in to control the position.
Device trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Steele manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Device manages to get himself to full guard.
Steele wants to control from the top but Device keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Device wants to sweep but no luck.
Device can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Steele controls the pace.
Steele preventing the sweep.

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

Device avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Device trying to control the position from guard on top but Steele is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Device has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Steele 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.
Device controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Device trying to control the position from guard on top but Steele is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Device wants to stand but Steele is controlling his posture from full guard.
Steele avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Steele can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Steele avoids the head kick by Device.
Device wants to clinch up but Steele keeps it at a distance.
Device tries to clinch there but Steele circles away.
Device clinches but Steele breaks the clinch

and Steele counters with a single leg into guard. Device didn't expect that.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Device trying to keep a closed guard but Steele is proving a slippery customer.
Device keeping moving, preventing Steele from controlling successfully.
Device can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Steele controls the pace.
Steele stops Device from standing up.
Device striking off his back but it's not causing Steele any problems.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Device keeping moving, preventing Steele from controlling successfully.
Device looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Device keeping full guard, as Steele tries to pass.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Device tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steele swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Device displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Steele.
Device is looking to clinch.
Device is looking to clinch.

Steele darts in and clinches Device up against the ropes.
Device lands an elbow inside that Steele shrugs off.
Device tries to stall but Steele uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Steele manages to pull guard.
Device wants to control from the top but Steele keeps moving.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Device trying to stand up but can't free himself from Steele's guard.
Device controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Steele is adopting a defensive guard.
Device wants to stand but Steele is controlling his posture from full guard.

Device got a little sloppy there for a moment and Steele has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Device has managed to get both his arms back between Steele's legs - danger averted.

That's six 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.
Steele wants to sweep here but Device controlling him for the moment.
Device trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Steele tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Device holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Device lands with a light punch inside.
Device is pushing Steele up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Device scores with a nice hook to the head.
Device tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Steele smiles and moves away.
Device tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Steele is looking to clinch.
Device tries to clinch but Steele is having none of it.
Device doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Steele counters with a takedown into side control.
Device is trying to get back to his feet.
Device can't do much from the bottom here.

Steele is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Device has escaped the position, nice work there.
Device is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Steele's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Steele is thwarting Device's attempts to control the position.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Device is looking to escape.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Device clinches with his opponent.
Device's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Device is pressed up against the ropes. Steele has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Device down to the mat. Device avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Steele takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Device clinches but Steele breaks the clinch

and Steele counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steele wants to free his trapped foot but Device is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Device tries to kick Steele off but Steele keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Steele wants to take a breather but Device is having none of it.
Device is looking to control Steele's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Device avoid being mounted?

Device is defending against the submission attempts here by Steele.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Steele wants to lay and pray for a moment but Device keeps working.
Device is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Steele's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Steele's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trent Steele dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Trent Steele's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Device misses with a takedown

and Steele counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Device!
Steele looking to control but Device is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Steele with shots to the head and body - Device looks very uncomfortable down there.
Steele wants to control the pace but Device is squirming around nicely.
Steele unloads with some shots from mount but Device bucks and avoids them well.
Device tries to lock up and control but Steele gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Steele wants to control the pace but Device is squirming around nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Device wants to use the ropes to get back to his feet here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Device can't escape the position.
Steele content just to control the position here.
Device is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Steele is stalling here but it's allowed Device to get half guard.

Steele is looking for a kimura but Device is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Steele to get the leverage.
Device is controlling Steele's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Device is trying to stand.

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.
Device trying to control from the bottom.
Device tries to kick Steele off but Steele keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Steele sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Steele trying to control the action but Device is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Device misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Device throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Nick Device is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele swats away the attempt to clinch by Device.
Steele is trying hard to land a takedown here. Device sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Device rushes Steele and presses him up against the ropes.

Device breaks from the clinch.
Steele looks to clinch
and Device counters with a two punch combo.
Steele has his takedown stuffed
and Device counters with a head kick. That will keep Steele thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Device throws a nice head kick!
Device moves in looking to clinch but Steele pushes him off.
Device fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Steele takes the fight into the clinch.
Device softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele fails to pull guard.
Nick Device has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Trent Steele.
Steele looking for a takedown.
Steele takes a knee right on the jaw!
Device scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Device lands a nice knee to the body.
Device putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Steele in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Device stalling in the clinch but Steele improves position.
Device tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Steele smiles and moves away.

Steele gets a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Device pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Steele closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Steele is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Device is looking to escape.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Device trying to control from the bottom.
Device is looking to escape.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Device wants to get back to his feet.
Steele is thwarting Device's attempts to control the position.

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

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Device clinches.
Steele is trying to drag Device to the mat but Device just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Device unloads a knee to the mid-section. Steele lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Steele's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A right hand to the body from Device.

Device manages to break the clinch.
Steele misses with a takedown attempt - Device sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
No luck for Steele with that takedown attempt.

Device moves into the clinch.
Device jumps guard but Steele stands there with Device around his waist. Device gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Device lands with a short shot to the head.
Device lands an elbow just above Steele 's eye.
Device tries to pull guard but Steele won't allow it.
Steele fails to pull guard.
Device prevents a takedown attempt there.
Device works on Steele's body with a couple of short punches.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Steele as Device tries to tie him up.
Device is pressed up against the ropes. Steele has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Device down to the mat. Device avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Steele fails with a takedown attempt.
Device wants to clinch

and Steele decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Device's guard.
Device is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Steele wants to control from the top but Device keeps moving.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Device wants to stand up but Steele is controlling him.
Steele looking to pass the guard.
Steele is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Steele landing with the ground and pound.
Steele wants to control from the top but Device keeps moving.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Steele looking to pass the guard.

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

Device has managed to clinch.
Device lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Device has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Steele uses from the top position.
Device working a defensive guard here.
Steele pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Device is keeping the position for now.
Steele stops Device from standing up.

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 Nick Device.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for Trent Steele!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Trent Steele!
Judge William Gold scores the fight for Trent Steele!

Trent Steele wins by unanimous decision!