PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jason Spezza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steel has chosen Ain't No Sunshine as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Spezza
vs
Steel

178 cm
23
162 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

183 cm
25
166 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry
Backyard Fighting

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jason Spezza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alex Steel!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, William Peck and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spezza throws a leg kick that misses.
Steel looks to throw the jab but Spezza is out of range.
Steel throws a jab when Spezza was well out of range.
Steel looks to land a combination but Spezza avoids it well.
A solid leg kick lands there for Spezza.
Spezza bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Spezza walks into a jab.
Spezza tries to land a leg kick but Steel saw it coming and moves away.
Spezza ducks under a wild hook from Steel.
Steel throws an off balance right hand

and Spezza counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Steel keeping full guard, as Spezza tries to pass.
Spezza prevents Steel from getting back to his feet.
Steel being controlled here, momentarily.
Spezza stops Steel from standing up.
Steel trying to keep a closed guard but Spezza is proving a slippery customer.
We've been hearing that Spezza has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Spezza pushing down on Steel's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spezza content to control rather than advance.
Steel wants to control but Spezza is keeping busy.
Steel felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Spezza is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Steel sees it coming and defends easily.
Steel tries to kick Spezza off but Spezza keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Spezza wants to lay and pray for a moment but Steel keeps working.
Spezza is thwarting Steel's attempts to control the position.
Steel is in trouble now - Spezza has advanced to mount!

Spezza working for a submission but Steel is keeping him at bay.

Spezza is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Steel can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel wants to control but Spezza is having none of it.
Spezza wants to control the pace but Steel is squirming around nicely.

Spezza looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Spezza can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Steel is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel is trying to escape the mount.
Steel wants to control but Spezza is having none of it.

Spezza jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Steel is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Steel and Spezza has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Spezza tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Steel wants to control but Spezza postures up.

Spezza thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spezza trying to control the action but Steel is working from the bottom.

Spezza is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Steel has escaped the position, nice work there.
Steel wants to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spezza is looking to take a break and control but Steel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Steel wants to get back to his feet but Spezza drags him back down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Spezza dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Steel uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Spezza.
Spezza slips a straight right by Steel.
A combination from Steel does no damage.
Spezza connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Steel throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Spezza counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Spezza.
Spezza blocks a jab.
Steel missing with a left hand there. Spezza was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Steel waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Spezza.
Spezza connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Horrible takedown by Spezza or perhaps it was just good defense by Steel which made him look bad.
Steel tries to bum rush Spezza with a series of wild strikes but Spezza uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Spezza scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Spezza defending well as Steel loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A cross from Steel lands.
Spezza moves out of range of the strikes.
Steel rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Spezza to counter with a crisp jab.
Steel tests Spezza's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Steel throws a poor cross that misses

so Spezza counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Spezza trying to control but Steel is working from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steel wants to sweep but no luck.
Spezza stops Steel from standing up.
Spezza wants to control from the top but Steel keeps moving.
Steel is looking to stand up but Spezza isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spezza wants to pass the guard but Steel is keeping the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Spezza is fighting to break Steel's control of his arms but Steel is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A slow jab from Steel misses its intended target.
Steel takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Spezza throws a push kick but Steel slaps the foot to one side.
A combination from Steel does no damage.
Steel throws an overhand right that lands on Spezza's shoulder, as Spezza tries to avoid the shot.
Spezza with a nice cross.
Steel connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Spezza looks for the body kick but Steel saw that one coming.
Steel misses with a hook
and Spezza counters with a nice leg kick.
Steel throws the left hand but Spezza avoids the punch easily.
Spezza defending well as Steel loads up on a big left hand.
Alex Steel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Steel pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Steel throws a right and a left that Spezza avoids nicely.
Steel waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Spezza.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel misses with a hook
and Spezza counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Spezza shoots in and bounces Steel off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Spezza trying to control the position from guard on top but Steel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steel is trying to keep Spezza in close.
Steel being controlled here, momentarily.
Steel controls Spezza momentarily but Spezza frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jason Spezza just wasn't active enough.
Spezza misses with a straight left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel misses with a double jab.
Alex Steel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spezza shoots in for a double leg but Steel sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Spezza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spezza looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Steel misses with a jab, cross combination.
The fighters circling - Steel throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Steel scores with a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steel is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Steel looks to land a left hand but Spezza moved out of range nicely.
Steel closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Spezza shoots in but no luck this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Steel checks a leg kick.
Spezza lands a jab to the nose.
The fighters circling - Steel throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Spezza throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Steel.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Spezza dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Spezza displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Steel throws out the jab.
Spezza misses with a leg kick.
Steel ducks under a wild hook from Spezza.
Jason Spezza is winning the standup battle so far.
Danga de danga de dang - Spezza scores with a four punch combination!
Spezza ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A telegraphed right hand from Spezza misses the target.
Spezza moves out of range as Steel strikes.
Steel fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Steel keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Spezza as he connects with a hook.
Spezza moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Steel throws a hook but Spezza avoids it easily.
Spezza shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Steel eats them both and turns towards Spezza to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
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!
Steel stuffs the takedown attempt from Spezza. Spezza gets slowly back to his feet.
Steel misses with an uppercut. Spezza saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel throws a right hand that Spezza ducks under and follows up with a left that Spezza also avoids with ease.
Spezza ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Steel avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Steel throws a jab when Spezza was well out of range.
A big left from Steel misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Steel misses the target.
Steel throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Spezza counters with an outside leg kick.
Sloppy strikes from Steel. Those never looked like landing.
Steel moves forwards but Spezza connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Spezza looks for a takedown but Steel sprawls well.
Steel might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Steel lands a lovely overhand right.
Steel lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Spezza circles away quickly and effectively.
Steel misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spezza fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Steel is out of range.
Spezza pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Spezza misses with an uppercut.
Steel checks a leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Steel.
Steel throws a lazy right hand but Spezza sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Steel throws a looping overhand right but Spezza ducks down to avoid it.
Steel checks a low kick from Spezza.
Spezza scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Spezza changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Steel tries to avoid it but Spezza manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Steel to the ground. Steel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Spezza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steel throws a big shot that misses.
Spezza lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Nice defenses there by Spezza.
Steel throws a looping overhand right but Spezza ducks down to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Spezza.
Steel scores with a jab. Spezza acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A jab lands there for Spezza.
Steel misses with a looping left.
Steel looks to land a left hand but Spezza moved out of range nicely.
Spezza lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Steel misses with an uppercut.
Steel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Spezza.
Nice uppercut there from Spezza.
Spezza takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Steel connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Spezza lands with a cross.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steel throws a right hand that Spezza ducks under and follows up with a left that Spezza also avoids with ease.
Spezza shoots in looking for a takedown but Steel manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Spezza's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spezza slips under a jab from Steel.
Steel tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Steel lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Spezza circles away quickly and effectively.
Steel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Steel misses with a wild combination.
Steel throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Spezza to counter with a crisp jab.
Alex Steel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Spezza staying out of range there.
Spezza connects with a leg kick. Steel looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Steel throws a jab but it's blocked by Spezza.
Steel swings widly with a right hand

and Spezza counters with a takedown into side control.

Spezza wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Steel, who protects the arm well.
Spezza wants to lay and pray for a moment but Steel keeps working.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Spezza thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Spezza showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Spezza has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Spezza!
Jason Spezza bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.