PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Steamboat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Gorden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Ricky Steamboat has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Steamboat
vs
Gorden

178 cm
29
159 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
28
160 lbs
6 - 6 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

TWGC Champion
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricky Steamboat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jeff Gorden!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Stewart Dunkirk and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gorden tries to bum rush Steamboat with a series of wild strikes but Steamboat uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gorden fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Steamboat.
Gorden shoots in but Steamboat avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gorden misses with a takedown attempt
and Gorden takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gorden 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.
Gorden misses with a wild body shot.
Gorden misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Steamboat.
Gorden shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Steamboat but Steamboat pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ricky Steamboat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Gorden.
Steamboat misses with a body shot.
Gorden moves out of range as Steamboat strikes.
Gorden dives in and grabs Steamboat's left leg, looking for a takedown. Steamboat pushes down on Gorden's head and hops out.
Steamboat misses with a low kick as Gorden jumps back.
Gorden shoots in for a double leg but Steamboat sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gorden will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Steamboat lands with a slapping head kick.
Gorden shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Steamboat sprawls well. Steamboat wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gorden gets slowly back to his feet.
Gorden uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Steamboat.
Jeff Gorden seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gorden throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ricky Steamboat is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gorden has a takedown stuffed.
Gorden throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Steamboat swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gorden fails with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gorden dives in and grabs Steamboat's left leg, looking for a takedown. Steamboat pushes down on Gorden's head and hops out.
Gorden throws a right hand that misses
and Steamboat counters with an inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steamboat pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Steamboat lands a head kick!
Steamboat stuffs the takedown.
Steamboat throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gorden throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice sprawl there from Steamboat as Gorden shoots in.
Gorden shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Steamboat but Steamboat pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gorden throws a jab when Steamboat was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steamboat throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gorden with a poor takedown
and Steamboat counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gorden will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Steamboat throws a poor cross that misses

and Gorden counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Steamboat's guard now.
Steamboat can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gorden controls the pace.
Gorden pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Steamboat is keeping the position for now.
Gorden wants to control from the top but Steamboat keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steamboat 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.
Gorden trying to control but Steamboat is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gorden postures up in Steamboat's guard and throws a big left but Steamboat blocks it.
Steamboat controlling Gorden's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Steamboat thuds his right hand into Gorden's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Steamboat tries to sprawl but Gorden drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Steamboat trying to control from the bottom.
Steamboat is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Monsterous MMA - PIT Inc., so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Gorden controlling the action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ricky Steamboat will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Steamboat tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gorden was well out of range. Poor timing from Steamboat.
Gorden shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Steamboat sprawls well. Steamboat wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gorden gets slowly back to his feet.
Steamboat lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Gorden at a distance.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Gorden.

Gorden is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Steamboat's half guard.

Gorden seems to be working for a kimura but Steamboat defends the submission attempt.
Steamboat wants to control but Gorden is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gorden stalling.
Steamboat tries to get to full guard but Gorden has control of the leg.
Steamboat blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gorden.
Gorden trying to control the action but Steamboat is working from the bottom.
Steamboat is pressing down on Gorden's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gorden pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Steamboat is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gorden missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gorden stopping the sweep attempt from Steamboat.
Gorden 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.
Gorden pushing down on Steamboat's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Steamboat wants to get back to full guard.
Steamboat avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gorden.
Gorden has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gorden is keen to just control but Steamboat is a slippery customer.
Gorden not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Steamboat controlling the position well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gorden wants to control but Steamboat is keeping him busy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Steamboat takes a swing at Gorden's ribcage but misses.
Steamboat displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gorden.
Steamboat throws a looping overhand right but Gorden ducks down to avoid it.
Steamboat defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gorden.
Ricky Steamboat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Gorden.
Steamboat leaves Gorden with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Gorden feints and as Steamboat raises his hands in defense, Gorden changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Steamboat trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gorden controls from within his opponent's guard.
Steamboat is adopting a defensive guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Ricky Steamboat has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Steamboat tries to clinch but Gorden moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gorden.
Gorden closes the distance and clinches up with Steamboat, looking for a takedown. Gorden pushes Steamboat against the cage but Steamboat circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Gorden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Steamboat leaves Gorden with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
No luck for Gorden with that takedown attempt.
Gorden shoots and misses
and Steamboat counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Ricky Steamboat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Gorden.
Gorden will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Steamboat misses with a head kick.
Steamboat fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gorden has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Gorden throws a head kick that misses

and Steamboat counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Steamboat.

Steamboat breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Steamboat is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Steamboat misses with a right hand
and Gorden counters with a nice body shot.
Steamboat tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gorden throws a nice looking combination but Steamboat bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gorden is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Steamboat rather than just go for the knockout.
Gorden has his takedown stuffed
and Steamboat counters with a one-two to the body.
Gorden takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Steamboat ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gorden moves away.
Gorden shoots in but Steamboat avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Horrible takedown by Gorden or perhaps it was just good defense by Steamboat which made him look bad.
Steamboat scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Gorden shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Steamboat defends it nicely.
Gorden closes this distance looking for a takedown but Steamboat circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Steamboat.
Steamboat checks a low kick from Gorden.
Steamboat throws a right hand that misses
and Gorden counters with a nice body shot.
Gorden shoots in for a takedown but Steamboat shows good takedown defense.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gorden shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Steamboat as he avoids it easily.
Gorden fails with a takedown attempt.
Gorden slips a jab and a cross from Steamboat.
Steamboat stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gorden shoots in for a takedown but Steamboat shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A head kick misses from Steamboat.
Steamboat takes a swing at Gorden's ribcage but misses.
Gorden tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Steamboat swivels and escapes.
Steamboat misses the shot to the body.
Gorden shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Steamboat but Steamboat pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Steamboat looks for the body kick but Gorden saw that one coming.
Steamboat keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gorden.
Gorden has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Steamboat.
Gorden fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Steamboat avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gorden misses with a takedown attempt - Steamboat sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Gorden closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Steamboat's guard.
Gorden trying to control but Steamboat is working from the bottom.
Steamboat seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Steamboat not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gorden landing with the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steamboat is trying to keep Gorden in close.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Steamboat showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Steamboat 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ricky Steamboat!