PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kareem al Rashid (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Logan Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think al Rashid might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Highlight Reel. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

al Rashid
vs
Steele

178 cm
36
167 lbs
24 - 16 - 0

186 cm
33
165 lbs
19 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Zipp Zapp

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 24 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Kareem al Rashid!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Logan Steele!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Wagner Zegers and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

al Rashid tries to keep at a distance but Steele has taken the fight into the clinch.
al Rashid doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
al Rashid misses with a punch on the inside.

Steele has hold of one of al Rashid's legs. al Rashid is fighting the takedown attempt but Steele gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Steele seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
My spies in Vale Tudo Elite Sparring inform me that Steele has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
al Rashid is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
al Rashid keeping moving, preventing Steele from controlling successfully.
al Rashid can't keep his opponent in guard - Steele advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
al Rashid gets full guard.
Steele trying to control but al Rashid is working from the bottom.
Steele looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

al Rashid throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Steele escapes and throws al Rashid's legs to the side, diving into side control!
al Rashid is looking for a sweep.
Steele is looking to take a break and control but al Rashid is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
al Rashid tries to improve position but can't.
Steele trying to control the action but al Rashid is working from the bottom.
al Rashid manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
al Rashid trying to control from the bottom.
Steele prevents al Rashid from improving his position.

al Rashid looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele is looking to take a break and control but al Rashid is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Steele seems to be working for a kimura but al Rashid defends the submission attempt.
Steele is looking to take a break and control but al Rashid is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
al Rashid moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Steele is pushing down on al Rashid's leg trying to pass to half guard. al Rashid is fighting to maintain full guard but Steele has managed to sneak the leg through.
al Rashid wants to control but Steele is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steele trying to mount his opponent but al Rashid defends it.
Steele perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
al Rashid trying to control here.
Steele trying to mount his opponent but al Rashid defends it.

al Rashid actively working from the bottom here.
Steele wants to take a breather but al Rashid is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steele looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Steele is looking to take a break and control but al Rashid is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
al Rashid trying to control from the bottom.

Logan Steele has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Steele throws an overhand right that lands on al Rashid's shoulder, as al Rashid tries to avoid the shot.
Steele misses with a takedown attempt - al Rashid sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before al Rashid can pounce on him.
Steele closes this distance looking for a takedown but al Rashid circles away.
Steele tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but al Rashid paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A punch combination from Steele misses.
al Rashid lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
al Rashid throws a one two combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steele throws an overhand right that lands on al Rashid's shoulder, as al Rashid tries to avoid the shot.
Steele tries to clinch up.
al Rashid feints and then cracks Steele's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Steele down.
Steele lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Steele lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Steele cracks al Rashid with a good jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
al Rashid looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
An inside leg kick lands from al Rashid.
al Rashid lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Steele throws a hook to the side of al Rashid's head but al Rashid sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
al Rashid takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Logan Steele will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

al Rashid fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Steele.
Steele misses with a looping right.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for al Rashid.
al Rashid misses with a body punch.
al Rashid goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A shot in the inside from al Rashid.
al Rashid scores with an uppercut up the middle.
al Rashid lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Steele.
al Rashid working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

al Rashid has clasped his hands together around Steele's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
al Rashid is looking to take a break and control but Steele is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Steele is looking to reverse the position.
Steele gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

al Rashid is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Steele has managed to free his arm - good work.
al Rashid is keen to just control but Steele is a slippery customer.

Steele is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but al Rashid pulls his head out easily.
Steele moves into full guard.

al Rashid stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Steele pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
al Rashid ducks under a wild hook from Steele.
Steele shoots in looking for a takedown. al Rashid tries to sprawl out of it but Steele keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. al Rashid manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Steele shoots in for a takedown but al Rashid shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for al Rashid.
Steele with a nice cross.
al Rashid is looking to clinch.
Steele fails in his attempt to clinch.
Steele misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from al Rashid.
Good leg kick by al Rashid there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Steele checks a leg kick.
al Rashid looks to land a body kick but Steele moved away.
Steele will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Steele misses with a hook. al Rashid ducked under it nicely.
Steele thows a left - swing and a miss!
Logan Steele seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A nice leg kick lands there from al Rashid.
Steele moves into range and connects with a jab.
al Rashid will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
al Rashid slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
al Rashid pulls out of a head kick attempt.
al Rashid throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
al Rashid fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Steele on the side of the head.
Steele lands with a good body shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Steele is defended easily by al Rashid.
Kareem al Rashid has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Logan Steele.
Steele ducks down and throws a hook to the body but al Rashid moves away.
al Rashid misses with a low kick.
al Rashid throws a push kick but Steele slaps the foot to one side.
Steele's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Steele lands the left hand.
Good exchange - al Rashid coming out on top.
Steele displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as al Rashid throws out the jab.
Steele avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
al Rashid tries to close the distance and clinch but Steele swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Steele throws out a loose jab but al Rashid uses good head movement to avoid it.
al Rashid defending well as Steele loads up on a big left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al Rashid takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Steele looks to land a right hand but al Rashid moved out of range.
Steele tries to close the distance and clinch up but al Rashid swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Steele misses with an uppercut. al Rashid saw that one coming.
al Rashid lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
al Rashid is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
al Rashid tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Steele paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Steele closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
al Rashid looks like he's trying to stand up.

al Rashid actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Steele is trying to control. al Rashid wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
al Rashid trying to control but Steele postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kareem al Rashid dominated that second round.
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!

Steele works the jab nicely.
Steele scores with the left hand. al Rashid knows he should have avoided that one.
A chopping leg kick lands by al Rashid.
al Rashid displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Steele throws out the jab.
al Rashid tries to clinch but Steele moves out of range.
al Rashid throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Steele sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kareem al Rashid is winning the standup battle so far.
Steele blocks a low kick nicely.
al Rashid lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
al Rashid is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Steele, as that shot connected.
al Rashid lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Steele backs up against the cage.
Steele lands a slapping body shot.
Steele defending well as al Rashid loads up on a big left hand.
al Rashid throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Steele instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al Rashid goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
al Rashid fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
al Rashid is pressed up against the cage. Steele has hold of a leg and is looking to drag al Rashid down to the mat. al Rashid avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Steele looks to score with a jab to the body but al Rashid is just out of range.
Steele lands a jab to the nose.
Steele scores with the left hand. al Rashid knows he should have avoided that one.
Steele tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. al Rashid manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
al Rashid drops his hands momentarily and Steele takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
al Rashid scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Steele ducks down and throws a hook to the body but al Rashid moves away.
Kareem al Rashid is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Steele cracks al Rashid with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
al Rashid ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Steele moves away.
Steele takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Steele is trying hard to land a takedown here. al Rashid sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
al Rashid throws a quick inside leg kick.
al Rashid misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
al Rashid ducks right into an uppercut from Steele.
al Rashid pulls out of a head kick attempt.

al Rashid instigates a clinch.
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!

al Rashid works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Steele is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but al Rashid frees his head nicely. Oh but Steele has switched to an armbar! al Rashid is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Logan Steele!
During a confident post fight interview, Logan Steele thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.