PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fu Manchu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Steel
vs
Manchu

190 cm
20
260 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

191 cm
29
250 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Good knees
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jim Steel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fu Manchu!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Ren Mimura and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Manchu shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Steel napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Steel is trying to get back to half guard.
Manchu wants to take a breather but Steel manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Manchu.
Manchu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Manchu is looking to work some ground and pound but Steel has wrist control.
Manchu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Steel working a defensive guard but Manchu passes into half guard.
Steel keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Steel is not content to let Manchu control the position.
Manchu working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Steel is trying to stand up here but Manchu is controlling him well.
Steel avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Manchu.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Manchu prevents Steel from standing back up.
Manchu is taking a breather. Steel says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Manchu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manchu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Manchu seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Steel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Manchu looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Steel pushes Manchu off looking to stand but Manchu dives back in and keeps control.

Manchu is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Manchu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Manchu has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steel is defending against the submission attempts here by Manchu.
Manchu looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Steel gets back to full guard.
Steel working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Manchu.
Steel trying to control the position.
Manchu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Manchu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Steel looking for a sweep. Not yet Steel, not yet.
Steel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Manchu is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel is pulling down on Manchu's head. It's preventing any offense from Manchu, at least for the moment.
Manchu postures up and lands a big shot to Steel's brow.
Manchu throws a big elbow that misses.
Manchu not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manchu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Manchu passes Steel's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Steel wants to get back to full guard.
Manchu works his way into side control.
Manchu scoring with punches from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manchu with the ground and pound but Steel regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manchu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Steel's head.
Steel wants to get back to his feet.

Manchu is trying to work for a kimura but Steel is defending well.
Steel is in trouble now - Manchu has advanced to mount!
Manchu punishing his opponent with strikes.
Manchu dominating with strikes here.
Manchu trying to control but Steel is having none of it.
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.
Manchu landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Steel slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manchu is trying to control the action in half guard but Steel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fu Manchu dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Steel wants to land a leg kick but Manchu is out of range.
Manchu is looking to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Manchu.
Steel lands with a kick to the ribs.
Manchu shoots in looking for a takedown. Steel tries to sprawl out of it but Manchu keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Steel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A swing and a miss from Steel.
Manchu shoots in for a takedown but Steel shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jim Steel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fu Manchu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manchu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Manchu tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Manchu tries to close the distance and clinch but Steel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Steel swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Manchu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Steel.
Manchu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Steel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Manchu shoots in but no luck this time.
Steel avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Manchu shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Steel defends it nicely.
Steel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Steel lands a nice leg kick that just misses Manchu's sensitive parts.
Some wild striking there from Steel.
Manchu comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manchu on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Jim Steel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Steel throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Steel moves out of range of the strikes.
A big right from Manchu misses.
Steel misses the shot to the body.
Steel connects with a high kick.
Manchu shoots for a double leg takedown but Steel sprawls well. He's pushed Manchu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jim Steel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A nice leg kick lands there from Steel.
Manchu on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manchu lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Manchu.
Steel throws a series of punches but Manchu moves out of range.
Steel missing with a left hand there. Manchu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Manchu closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Manchu lands in his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Manchu throws a big right hand that misses.

Manchu drops back looking for a leg! Steel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Steel manages to kick Manchu off! Manchu jumps back into Steel's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Manchu looking to pass the guard.
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 Jim Steel will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Steel dodges the punch combination from Manchu.
Manchu shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Steel pinned against the cage. Steel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Steel swings for the body but Manchu moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel looks to land a combination but Manchu avoids it well.
Manchu misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Manchu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steel swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Manchu looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Jim Steel is winning the standup battle so far.
Manchu shoots in for a takedown but Steel shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jim Steel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fu Manchu.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Steel. Manchu shrugs it off though.
Some wild striking there from Manchu.
A shot to the liver by Steel. Beautiful body shot.
A cross from Steel lands.
Steel is looking to wear down Manchu with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Manchu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Steel finds it's target.
Manchu looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Steel is fending him off so far but Manchu persists. Nope, Steel circles away and we're back to standing.
Manchu connects with a body shot.
Manchu shoots in but Steel avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Manchu blocks the body kick.
Steel circles away from the clinch attempt
and Steel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel looks to land a combination but Manchu avoids it well.
Manchu takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Steel tries a head kick but it misses.
Steel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice defenses there by Manchu.
Steel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Manchu.
That kick from Steel tenderised Manchu's leg. Manchu is trying to keep his angry face on.
Steel throws a left and a right that both miss
and Manchu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel connects with an inside leg kick.
Manchu throws a right hand that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Manchu shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Manchu trying to control but Steel is working from the bottom.
Steel wants to stand up but Manchu is controlling him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Manchu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steel keeping moving, preventing Manchu from controlling successfully.
Steel controls Manchu momentarily but Manchu frees himself.
Manchu won't allow Steel to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Steel showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Steel!
After winning the bout, Jim Steel thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.