PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Monty Wallace (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Norman Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Norman Steel has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Wallace
vs
Steel

175 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

178 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Monty Wallace!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Norman Steel!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Jeff Smith and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steel tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wallace was well out of range. Poor timing from Steel.

Steel closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Steel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Wallace.
Steel bucks up and tries to throw Wallace off but instead Wallace has got his back!
Wallace not allowing Steel to control his hands.
Wallace has the hooks in. Steel is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Steel trying to get back to his feet but Wallace is in full control for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steel tries to roll but Wallace sticks to his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Steel is in bad spot here.
Wallace has good solid back control here.
Steel looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Wallace really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Steel.

Steel defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Wallace's arms.
Wallace really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Steel.
Steel tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Wallace.
Steel is trying to stand back up.
Wallace avoiding Steel 's attempts to control his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Wallace just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Steel wants to control his opponent's hands but Wallace gets his hands free.
Steel wants to get back to his feet.
Wallace controlling the position well here. Steel rolled but Wallace kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Steel tries to escape but Wallace has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wallace has good solid back control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monty Wallace dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Steel displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wallace.
Steel looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Norman Steel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Steel dives in and scores a takedown into Wallace's guard.
Steel looking to sit in guard and control but Wallace gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Wallace stops Steel from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wallace is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wallace gets to his feet. Steel looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Wallace fails with the takedown.
Steel steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Wallace.

Steel looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Wallace!
Wallace is looking to get back to his feet here but Steel is keeping cool and he's managed to take Wallace's back.
Wallace wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel is looking to control Wallace but Wallace is wriggling around and keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

Steel patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Wallace wants to control his opponent's hands but Steel gets his hands free.
Wallace is keeping busy.

Wallace is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.
Wallace shoots in for a takedown but Steel shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Monty Wallace. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Steel closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Steel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wallace fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Steel avoids it really well and circles away.
Steel stuffs the takedown.
Wallace throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Steel's waist but Steel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Wallace off to one side.
Steel leaves Wallace with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Steel drives through and clinches with Wallace against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wallace scores a nice knee to the body.

Steel has hold of one of Wallace's legs. Wallace is fighting the takedown attempt but Steel gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norman Steel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Steel.

Wallace sneaks out the side door and pushes Steel away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Wallace shoots and misses
and Steel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Wallace takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Steel feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steel wants to control from the top but Wallace keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wallace wants to sweep here but Steel controlling him for the moment.
Steel stands and throws Wallace's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Wallace tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Monty Wallace overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Wallace takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Steel postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Steel has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Steel shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Wallace is trying to defend but Steel finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Steel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wallace is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steel decides to return to a standing position.

Steel moves into the clinch.
Wallace has had enough of the clinch but Steel keeps him there for the moment.
Wallace pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Wallace utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Wallace scores a nice knee to the body.

Wallace pulls Steel into guard.
Steel trying to control but Wallace is working from the bottom.
Steel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wallace is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel stops Wallace from standing up.
Steel with a nice head shot there.
Wallace keeping full guard, as Steel tries to pass.

Steel stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steel displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wallace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Norman Steel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Steel has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Norman Steel!