PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rick Steen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oliver De Groot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Steen
vs
De Groot

178 cm
19
168 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rick Steen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Oliver De Groot!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Albert Achterberg and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Steen is defended easily by De Groot.
De Groot pivots, looking for a leg kick but Steen is out of range and De Groot settles back down.
De Groot stuffs the takedown attempt from Steen. Steen gets slowly back to his feet.
Steen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has De Groot pinned against the cage. De Groot gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Steen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
De Groot tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Steen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
De Groot throws a head kick but Steen moves out of range.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from De Groot - that will leave a mark!
Steen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? De Groot is fending him off so far but Steen persists. Nope, De Groot circles away and we're back to standing.
Steen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by De Groot. De Groot obviously looking to wear him down.
Steen misses with a low kick.
Steen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. De Groot looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Steen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Steen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from De Groot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Groot throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Steen.
De Groot attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

De Groot moves into range and clinches up with Steen.
Steen is trying to pull guard but De Groot turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Steen has De Groot pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. De Groot manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
De Groot working hard to break the clinch.

Steen manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

De Groot decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

De Groot throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Steen was covering up waiting for the punch and De Groot finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Steen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. De Groot defends it easily.
Steen is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
De Groot wants to stand but Steen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
De Groot is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Steen has De Groot pulled in close to control his posture.
De Groot wants to stand but Steen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Steen thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Steen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

De Groot decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Steen, up you get!
De Groot shoots in looking for a takedown. Steen tries to sprawl out of it but De Groot keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Steen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
De Groot lands with a kick to the temple. Steen shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Ouch! a nice leg kick from De Groot, right into the meat.
De Groot blocks a head kick by Steen.
De Groot is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for De Groot.
De Groot fails in his attempt to clinch.
Steen fails to land the takedown.
De Groot tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Groot thumps Steen with a low kick.
Steen checks the leg kick nicely there.
De Groot scores with a leg kick.
De Groot feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Steen's calf.
De Groot misses with a few strikes there.
Steen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but De Groot swivels and escapes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Steen tries to close the distance and clinch up but De Groot swats him away and circles back towards the center.
De Groot dives in and grabs Steen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Steen pushes down on De Groot's head and hops out.
De Groot scoring well with a low kick there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steen blocks a head kick by De Groot.

De Groot has Steen up against the cage in a clinch.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Steen is looking to take this one to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oliver De Groot dominated that 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.

Steen wants to clinch.

Steen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with De Groot, pushing him back against the cage.

De Groot escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Steen clinches up against the cage.

Steen manages to break the clinch.
Steen throws a leg kick that is checked
and De Groot counters with an outside leg kick.
De Groot lands a head kick. Steen smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Oliver De Groot seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
De Groot shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Steen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Steen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. De Groot tries to avoid it but Steen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag De Groot to the ground. De Groot escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
De Groot avoids a kick to the body.
No luck for Steen with that takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by De Groot.
Nice takedown defense from De Groot. No joy for Steen on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Steen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
De Groot shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Steen pinned against the cage. Steen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
De Groot tries to clinch up.
De Groot wants to clinch up but Steen keeps it at a distance.
A nice inside leg kick there by De Groot. That's going to slow Steen down.
Steen is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
De Groot throws a nice head kick!
De Groot doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Steen counters with a stiff right hand.
De Groot misses with a jab, cross combination.
De Groot lands a leg kick that knocks Steen off balance momentarily.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steen stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows De Groot to get to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
De Groot lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
De Groot throws a right and a left that both miss.

Steen moves into the clinch successfully.
De Groot landing knees to the body.
De Groot is trying to break free.
De Groot is trying to force a seperation but Steen has the dominant position.
De Groot avoiding damage as Steen throws knees to the body.

De Groot's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by De Groot. De Groot obviously looking to wear him down.
De Groot tries for a takedown but Steen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Steen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? De Groot is fending him off so far but Steen persists. Nope, De Groot circles away and we're back to standing.
De Groot feints and then cracks Steen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Steen down.
De Groot scores with a head kick.

Steen gets a clinch.
Steen can't get the takedown.
De Groot looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Steen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. De Groot is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
De Groot tries to land a knee to the head but Steen blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steen jumps guard but De Groot turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Steen tries to circle away but De Groot has him pinned against the cage.

De Groot pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Steen stuffs the takedown.
A nice leg kick lands there from De Groot.
De Groot cracks the inside of Steen's front leg.
Rick Steen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
De Groot dodges the punch combination from Steen.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from De Groot, right into the meat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
De Groot shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
De Groot shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Steen pinned against the cage. Steen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
De Groot fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Oliver De Groot will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

De Groot tries to clinch but Steen moves out of range.
Steen tries to bum rush De Groot with a series of wild strikes but De Groot uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

De Groot tries to keep at a distance but Steen has taken the fight into the clinch.

Steen manages to pull guard.
De Groot has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Steen is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

De Groot avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Steen pulls De Groot in close to his closed guard and prevents De Groot from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Groot wants to stand and escape but instead Steen has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Steen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Rick Steen has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Steen throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A shot to the liver by De Groot. Beautiful body shot.

De Groot gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Steen tries to pull guard but De Groot won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Groot prevents the takedown attempt.

De Groot breaks the clinch.
De Groot lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
De Groot lands a leg kick that knocks Steen off balance momentarily.
De Groot tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
De Groot throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Steen's head.
De Groot chopping away at his opponent's legs.
De Groot moves in looking to clinch but Steen pushes him off.
De Groot stuffs the takedown attempt from Steen. Steen gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Steen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
De Groot closes this distance looking for a takedown but Steen circles away.
De Groot lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
De Groot moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Groot tries a low kick but Steen avoids it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Steen.
Steen 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.

De Groot fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Steen to the ground. De Groot is now in Steen's guard.

De Groot gets to his feet - Steen follows without any prompting.
Oliver De Groot is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
De Groot bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
De Groot throws a right and a left that both miss.
A head kick misses from Steen.
De Groot keeps Steen at a distance using the push kick.
Steen fails with a takedown attempt.
De Groot throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Steen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Steen closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into De Groot's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steen tries to free his leg and advance position but De Groot is retaining full guard.
Steen slips nicely into half guard.
De Groot is staying active underneath Steen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Steen is looking for a kimura but De Groot is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Steen to get the leverage.
Rick Steen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Oliver De Groot comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got De Groot winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oliver De Groot!