PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ben Steller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sabre Tooth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben Steller has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Steller
vs
Tooth

172 cm
26
151 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

170 cm
26
160 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

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 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Steller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sabre Tooth!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Eddie Farnsworth and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tooth tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Steller swivels and escapes.
Tooth misses with a takedown attempt - Steller sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Tooth scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Tooth working Steller over with strikes.
Tooth has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Steller taking some punishment here, with Tooth in his half guard.
Tooth trying to control the action but Steller is working from the bottom.
Tooth looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steller keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tooth not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tooth slows the pace down in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like Tooth might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Tooth trying to control from half guard but Steller is working away.
Steller on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Steller tries to get out of the position.
Tooth thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Steller's head.
Steller is doing well to control the position and prevent Tooth from advancing to side control.
Steller is not content to let Tooth control the position.
Steller wants to get back to full guard but Tooth has passed into side control.
Tooth wants to take a breather but Steller manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Tooth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tooth throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Steller controlling the position.
Tooth wants to control from the top but Steller keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Tooth fails with the takedown

and Steller counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ben Steller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sabre Tooth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Tooth not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tooth might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Steller haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Steller looking to sit in guard and control but Tooth gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Tooth distracts Steller with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tooth wants to control from the top but Steller keeps moving.
Tooth working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tooth wants to control from the top but Steller keeps moving.
Tooth in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tooth connects with a couple of short punches.
Tooth trying to control but Steller is working from the bottom.
Tooth controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Tooth is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tooth cracks Steller with a solid left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sabre Tooth dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tooth shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Steller but Steller pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Steller tries to counter with a takedown but Tooth is quick to defend against it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Steller.

Tooth tries to keep at a distance but Steller has taken the fight into the clinch.
Steller fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Steller has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tooth avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A short right from Steller.
Tooth is looking to take this one to the mat.
Tooth drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Steller gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ben Steller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sabre Tooth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steller lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tooth backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tooth.
Steller is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steller stops a takedown attempt from Tooth.

Steller has clasped his hands together around Tooth's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Tooth managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Steller.
Tooth is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Steller's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Tooth has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Steller is working away from the top position though.
Tooth is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Steller is staying active.
Tooth is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tooth wants to control but Steller is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tooth is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Steller's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Steller's back!
Tooth lands shots from the back.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Steller tries to roll but Tooth sticks to his back.
Steller takes a big shot to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tooth is working the ground and pound. Can Steller escape?
Tooth lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Steller knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tooth on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tooth is working the ground and pound. Can Steller escape?
A lull in the action here.
Steller takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Tooth struggling to keep hold of the position.
Tooth slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Tooth lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
A lull in the action here.
Steller is trying to remain composed but Tooth is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Steller's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Tooth landing with strikes.
Tooth trying to control.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Tooth controlling the positon.
Tooth is throwing shots to the body but Steller manages to wriggle free. Tooth pounces on him again and ends up in Steller's guard.
Tooth is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sabre Tooth showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

No luck for Tooth with that takedown attempt.
Tooth shoots in but no luck this time.

Steller drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Steller throwing strikes but missing.
Tooth tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tooth avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Steller postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tooth wants to sweep but no luck.
Steller postures up.
Tooth seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Tooth is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tooth lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Steller is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tooth trying to control the position from guard on top but Steller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sabre Tooth has got the better of the ground game so far.
Steller wants to hit a switch here but Tooth passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Steller there!
Tooth throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tooth working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Steller is in a horrible position here. Tooth smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Steller wants to control but Tooth is having none of it.
Tooth landing punches.
Steller tries to hold on but Tooth pushes him away.
Tooth trying to control but Steller is having none of it.
Tooth is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tooth content just to control the position here.
Well,Steller is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
Tooth landing shots from mount.
Tooth takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Tooth cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Tooth is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Tooth lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Tooth has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Steller's face.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tooth scoring with strikes but Steller is staying in there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tooth controlling the pace for now.
Tooth can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Steller is looking to escape.
Ben Steller has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tooth punishing his opponent with strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tooth working Steller over with strikes here.
Tooth lands a big elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sabre Tooth comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tooth 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight for Sabre Tooth!
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight for Sabre Tooth!
Judge John Roberts scores the fight for Sabre Tooth!

Sabre Tooth wins by unanimous decision!
Sabre Tooth spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.