PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Grecko Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Gracie
vs
Steel

190 cm
30
280 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

190 cm
24
260 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ultimate Fighting Gear

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 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Grecko Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jim Steel!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Steel rushes Gracie and presses him up against the cage.
Steel tries to throw a body punch but Gracie avoids it by throwing Steel back against the cage.
Steel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gracie avoids it.
Gracie struggles to land a body shot inside as Steel controls his hands.
Gracie is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Steel is keeping busy.
Steel using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Gracie throws a head punch that misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Steel being controlled against the cage.
Gracie avoiding damage as Steel throws knees to the body.
Gracie is looking to control Steel's arms but Steel gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gracie has his back to the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Grecko Gracie.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Steel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Steel fails with an attempt to clinch.

Gracie has managed to clinch.
Steel landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Steel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gracie is defending well for now.
Gracie tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Steel's elbow.
Gracie lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Gracie wants to break free but Steel has control.
Steel connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
A knee to the head by Steel.
Steel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gracie avoids it.
Steel keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gracie's efforts to push away.
Steel using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gracie has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel blocks an uppercut.
Steel lands a shoulder strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Steel using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Steel tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Steel lands a knee to the head.
Steel landing knees to the head.
Steel misses with a body punch.
Gracie tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Steel lands a nice knee to the body.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Steel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gracie avoids it.
Steel connects with a knee to the head.
Gracie avoiding damage as Steel throws knees to the body.
Gracie blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Steel landing knees to the body.
Steel utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A short right from Steel on the inside.
Steel lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Grecko Gracie has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Steel crunches a lovely knee into Gracie's ribcage.
Steel using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gracie has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Steel throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gracie blocks it with crossed arms.
Steel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gracie avoids it.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Steel lands a knee to the head.
Steel landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel scores with a shoulder strike.
Steel is leaning against Gracie and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Steel tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Steel lands a good knee to the midsection. Gracie won't want to take too many of those.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Steel obliges.
Steel tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Steel utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Steel crunches a lovely knee into Gracie's ribcage.
Steel stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Steel tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Steel landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Gracie on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Steel lands a knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Steel dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Grecko Gracie's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Steel tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Steel obliges.
Steel unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gracie lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Steel obliges.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steel missing with knees to the body.
Steel scores a nice knee to the body.
Steel throws a knee to the head but misses.
Steel landing knees to the head.
Steel lands a knee to the body.
Steel with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gracie on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gracie is defending well for now.
Steel putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gracie in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Steel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gracie.
Steel lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Steel working Gracie over with knees to the body.
Steel lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Steel lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Steel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gracie is defending well for now.
A knee to the head by Steel.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steel putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gracie in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Steel scores with a knee to the head.
Steel connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
Gracie working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel trying to land knees to the body.
Gracie on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Steel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Steel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gracie.
Steel looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Gracie is trying to stall.
Gracie managing to block the knees to the body from Steel.
Gracie doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gracie wants to break the clinch but can't.
Knees in the clinch landing for Steel.
Jim Steel seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Gracie takes a knee to the side of the body.
Steel is pressed up against the cage. Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Steel down to the mat. Steel avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Steel scores with a body shot.
Jim Steel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Steel closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Steel obliges.
Gracie avoiding damage as Steel throws knees to the body.
Steel tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.
Steel tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Steel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gracie.
Gracie blocks a body shot from Steel.
Steel scores with a knee to the head.
Steel landing knees to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Steel lands a knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Steel obliges.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie wants to get back to striking at distance but Steel won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel scores with a knee to the head.
Steel lands a good knee to the midsection. Gracie won't want to take too many of those.
Steel tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.
Steel with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Steel lands a shot to the body.
Steel working Gracie over with knees to the body.
Gracie managing to block the knees to the body from Steel.
Steel throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Steel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gracie.
Steel trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Steel tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Steel tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Steel.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Steel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Grecko Gracie's cut.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A telegraphed right hand from Gracie misses the target.
Steel moves out of range of the strikes.

Steel rushes Gracie and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Steel tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gracie.
Steel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gracie is defending well for now.
Steel scores with a knee to the head.
Gracie takes a knee to the side of the body.
Gracie managing to block the knees to the body from Steel.
Steel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gracie.
Steel scores a nice knee to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steel throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel lands a knee to the body.
Steel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gracie.
Steel working Gracie over with knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Steel.
Steel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gracie avoids it.
Steel lands a nice knee to the body.
Steel utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Steel lands a good knee to the midsection. Gracie won't want to take too many of those.
Steel throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie is trying to maintain a safe position but Steel gets an underhook and turns Gracie into the cage.
Gracie tries to work over Steel's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Steel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gracie.
Steel using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel throws a knee to the head but misses.
Steel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gracie.
Steel lands a good knee to the midsection. Gracie won't want to take too many of those.
Steel landing knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Steel.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Steel obliges.
Steel lands a nice knee to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Steel.
Steel digs a right hand into Gracie's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Gracie's gas tank.
Steel unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Steel connects with a knee to the head.
Steel trying to land knees to the body.
Steel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Grecko Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel with a knee to the head.
Steel putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gracie in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Gracie tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Steel's elbow.
A head punch on the inside from Gracie fails to land.
Gracie managing to block the knees to the body from Steel.
Steel lands a right hand.
Steel misses with a knee to the head.
Steel landing knees to the head.
Steel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gracie avoids it.
Steel tries to land a knee to the head but Gracie blocks with his arms.
Gracie avoiding damage as Steel throws knees to the body.
Steel tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.
Steel crunches a lovely knee into Gracie's ribcage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gracie.
Steel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gracie.
Steel working Gracie over with knees to the body.
Jim Steel is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steel landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Steel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gracie avoids it.
Steel looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Steel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Steel works on Gracie's body with a couple of short punches.
Steel using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gracie has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Steel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gracie avoids it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Steel blocking some punches.
Gracie tries to work over Steel's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gracie tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Steel's elbow.
Steel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gracie.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Steel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Steel has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 25:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 26:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Steel!
An out of breath Jim Steel thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.