PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Blue Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Hartwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). William Hartwell has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Blue Steel's chin.

Steel
vs
Hartwell

178 cm
27
135 lbs
6 - 9 - 0

163 cm
21
145 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Good takedowns
Good knees
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Blue Steel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, William Hartwell!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steel shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hartwell as he jumps to the side.
Good exchange - Hartwell coming out on top.
Hartwell takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Steel dives in and grabs Hartwell's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hartwell pushes down on Steel's head and hops out.
Steel slips a jab and a cross from Hartwell.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Steel is defended easily by Hartwell.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blue Steel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hartwell throws out a powerful jab.
Steel shoots for a takedown but Hartwell saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hartwell's jab looks to have found its range, popping Steel under the eye.
Steel really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hartwell misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Steel dodges the punch combination from Hartwell.
Steel looks to clinch
and Hartwell counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hartwell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hartwell lands an overhand right.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hartwell. Steel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hartwell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Steel tries to clinch
enabling Hartwell to counter with a crisp jab.
Hartwell works Steel's body with a nice hook.
Hartwell tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Steel was well out of range. Poor timing from Hartwell.
Steel ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Steel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hartwell as he avoids it easily.
William Hartwell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hartwell defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Steel.
Hartwell circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hartwell defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Steel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hartwell.
Steel will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Steel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hartwell as he avoids it easily.
Hartwell with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Steel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
No luck for Steel with that takedown attempt.
Hartwell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Steel.
Steel fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hartwell avoids it really well and circles away.
Steel wants to clinch up but Hartwell keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hartwell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hartwell lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Steel backs up against the cage.
Hartwell looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hartwell misses the jab.
Hartwell throws a nice looking combination but Steel bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Steel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hartwell as he avoids it easily.
Hartwell slaps away a takedown attempt from Steel, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A combination from Hartwell does no damage.
No luck for Steel with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel fails to land the takedown.
Hartwell throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Hartwell. No joy for Steel on that attempt.
Steel uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hartwell.
Steel changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hartwell tries to avoid it but Steel manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hartwell to the ground. Hartwell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hartwell feints a jab promting Steel to slip. Hartwell then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Steel slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hartwell thuds his right hand into Steel's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Steel is rocked!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hartwell swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Steel moves into the clinch.
Hartwell stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Hartwell lands a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Hartwell dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hartwell lands a jab to Steel's midsection.
Hartwell tries to bum rush Steel with a series of wild strikes but Steel uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Steel slips under a jab.
Steel dives in and grabs Hartwell's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hartwell pushes down on Steel's head and hops out.
Blue Steel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hartwell swings for the body but Steel moves out of range.
Hartwell swinging wildly here.
Steel tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hartwell manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hartwell defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Steel.
Steel takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Hartwell fails to land with a series of punches.
Hartwell stuffs the takedown attempt from Steel. Steel gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blue Steel. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartwell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Steel.
Hartwell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Steel moves away.
Hartwell throws the left hand but Steel avoids the punch easily.
Hartwell changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hartwell throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hartwell stuffs the takedown attempt from Steel. Steel gets slowly back to his feet.
Hartwell looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Steel gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hartwell misses with a wild combination.
A big right from Steel misses.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Steel. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Hartwell. Beautiful body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Steel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hartwell throws a right and a left that both miss.
Steel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hartwell.
Sloppy strikes from Hartwell. Those never looked like landing.
Steel tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hartwell sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Steel somewhat.
Hartwell swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hartwell connects with a body shot.
Steel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hartwell.
Hartwell fails to land with a series of punches.
Steel shoots in but Hartwell avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hartwell!
Hartwell thows a body shot but no joy.
Steel walks into a stiff left hand from Hartwell.
Steel dives in and grabs Hartwell's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hartwell pushes down on Steel's head and hops out.
Hartwell swats away the attempt to clinch by Steel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel just misses with a punch to the body.
Steel moves in looking to clinch but Hartwell pushes him off.
Steel closes the distance and clinches up with Hartwell, looking for a takedown. Steel pushes Hartwell against the cage but Hartwell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hartwell misses with a double jab.
Steel shoots in for a double leg but Hartwell sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hartwell lands a nice hook to Steel's body. Steel takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hartwell swinging wildly here.
Hartwell misses with a combination

and Steel counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Steel is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Hartwell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

No joy there for Hartwell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Steel shoots in for a double leg but Hartwell sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Steel is looking to clinch but Hartwell is avoiding it.
Steel fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A combination from Hartwell does no damage.
Hartwell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Steel.
Steel misses with a takedown attempt - Hartwell sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blue Steel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Steel fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hartwell avoids it really well and circles away.
Hartwell misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartwell misses with a series of wild punches.
Hartwell lands with a nice body punch.
Hartwell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Steel.
Steel shoots in for a takedown but Hartwell shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Steel.
Hartwell swinging wildly here.
William Hartwell is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel moves out of range of the strikes.
Hartwell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Steel shoots in for a double leg but Hartwell sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hartwell misses with a series of wild punches.
Steel misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hartwell throws a series of punches but Steel avoids them all with ease.
Hartwell cracks Steel with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Hartwell ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hartwell misses with a two punch combination.
William Hartwell seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Steel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hartwell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hartwell tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Steel was well out of range. Poor timing from Hartwell.
Hartwell is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hartwell misses with a lunging right hand

and Steel counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Steel.
Knees to the body from Steel.

Hartwell manages to break the clinch.
Hartwell throws a series of punches but Steel avoids them all with ease.
Steel staying out of range there.
Hartwell throws a right hand that Steel ducks under and follows up with a left that Steel also avoids with ease.
Steel wants to clinch
and Hartwell counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Steel thinking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel fails with a takedown attempt.
A telegraphed right hand from Hartwell misses the target.
Hartwell throws a right hand that Steel ducks under and follows up with a left that Steel also avoids with ease.
Hartwell throws a jab when Steel was well out of range.
Hartwell tests Steel's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Steel takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Hartwell stuffs the takedown.
Blue Steel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steel takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

And that's the end of the fight!
William Hartwell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hartwell 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... William Hartwell!
William Hartwell thanked the fans post fight for their support.