PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brannigan Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chance Birmbaum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Steele
vs
Birmbaum

178 cm
21
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
176 lbs
7 - 2 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Big heart

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Voodoo Nutrition

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brannigan Steele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Chance Birmbaum!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Birmbaum clinches with his opponent.
Birmbaum is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Steele is defending well.
Steele looking to slow down the pace here.
Steele is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Steele is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Birmbaum gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Steele stalling against the cage.
Birmbaum doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Birmbaum just leaning against Steele, taking a breather.
A nice left hand lands by Steele.
Birmbaum misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Steele.
Steele stalling in the clinch but Birmbaum improves position.
Steele tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Steele is trying to pull guard but Birmbaum has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steele looking to slow down the pace here.

Steele turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Steele manages to end up in side control.
Steele takes a little break here. Birmbaum wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Birmbaum wants to control but Steele postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birmbaum tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Steele has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Birmbaum can't do much from the bottom here.
Birmbaum prevents Steele from moving into mount.
Birmbaum manages to get back to half guard.
Steele missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Steele slips a nice elbow through Birmbaum's hands, connecting with Birmbaum's forehead.
Birmbaum is trying to maintain the position but Steele is very close to passing his half guard.
Steele is looking to take a break and control but Birmbaum is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birmbaum wants to improve his position but Steele is controlling well.
Steele is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Birmbaum tries to hold on but Steele postures up.
Steele lands a nice shot to the head.
Steele with shots to the head and body - Birmbaum looks very uncomfortable down there.
Birmbaum is trying desperately to improve position.
Steele has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Birmbaum's face.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steele scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele landing strikes from the mount.
Birmbaum is looking to get to half guard.
Birmbaum is bucking up trying to escape but Steele cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Steele lands a nice shot to the head.
Steele is landing with some decent strikes but Birmbaum is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Steele putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Birmbaum wants to hold on but Steele pushes him away.
Birmbaum is looking to get to half guard.
Birmbaum tries to hold on but Steele postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Birmbaum in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Steele landing strikes from the mount and Birmbaum is in trouble!
Birmbaum is looking to improve his position but Steele isn't that keen on the idea.
Steele working Birmbaum over with strikes here.

Birmbaum is rocked!
Steele lands a big shot there that rocks Birmbaum but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Steele lands a big shot there that rocks Birmbaum but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Birmbaum regains half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Steele lands a nice short elbow.
Steele has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Steele looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Birmbaum wants to control but Steele is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Birmbaum tries to keep at a distance but Steele has taken the fight into the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Birmbaum.
Birmbaum blocking some punches.
Steele avoiding damage as Birmbaum throws knees to the body.
Steele is trying to drag Birmbaum to the mat but Birmbaum just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Steele has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Birmbaum after a bit of a struggle.

Birmbaum wants the takedown. Steele is fighting it off but Birmbaum persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Steele's guard against the cage.
Birmbaum trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Steele is trying to keep Birmbaum in close.
Steele is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Birmbaum can do to turn this around?
Birmbaum's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Birmbaum accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Steele managing to control the position.
Steele looking to control.
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.
Steele is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Birmbaum is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Birmbaum chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Steele gets a clinch.
Steele is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Birmbaum is keeping busy.
Steele is trying to maintain a safe position but Birmbaum gets an underhook and turns Steele into the cage.
Steele misses with the head strike.
Steele lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Birmbaum tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Steele avoids it.
Steele managing to block the knees to the body from Birmbaum.
Steele working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Steele has Birmbaum pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Steele pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Birmbaum tumbling to the mat - Steele dives into Birmbaum's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Steele working some strikes from top position.
Birmbaum looking for a sweep. Not yet Birmbaum, not yet.
Steele throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Birmbaum works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Birmbaum looking for a sweep. Not yet Birmbaum, not yet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Birmbaum is on top in guard.

Birmbaum looking to pass the guard.
Birmbaum is looking to work some ground and pound but Steele has wrist control.
Steele looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birmbaum is pushing down on Steele's leg trying to pass to half guard. Steele is fighting to maintain full guard but Birmbaum has managed to sneak the leg through.
Steele trying to control from the bottom.
Birmbaum throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Well, if Birmbaum is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Birmbaum seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Birmbaum tries to pass to full mount but Steele defends it.
Steele makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Steele.
Birmbaum looking to sit in guard and control but Steele gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birmbaum working a defensive guard here.
Birmbaum tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Steele throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Steele preventing the sweep.
Steele is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Steele stopping the sweep attempt from Birmbaum.
Birmbaum is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Steele won't allow Birmbaum to sweep him here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Birmbaum is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Steele keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Birmbaum's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Brannigan Steele will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Steele fails with an attempt to clinch.
Birmbaum tries to counter by closing the distance.

Steele gets a clinch.
Steele avoids a wild elbow strike from Birmbaum.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Steele.
Steele wants to stall.
Birmbaum landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Steele working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Birmbaum misses with a hook to the ribs.
Birmbaum is looking to take this one to the mat.
Steele misses with some punches.
Birmbaum looking to stall.
Steele managing to block the knees to the body from Birmbaum.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Birmbaum letting Steele take a breather here.

Birmbaum turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Steele can't do much from the bottom here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Birmbaum wants to lay and pray for a moment but Steele keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Birmbaum tries to pass the half guard into mount. Steele knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Birmbaum throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Birmbaum lands a nice short elbow.
Steele trying to control here.
Steele controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Birmbaum is pressing down on Steele's thigh, looking to free his foot. Steele is holding on for now.
Chance Birmbaum has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Brannigan Steele is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Steele moves into full guard.
Steele lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Birmbaum looking to hit a scissor sweep but Steele is one step ahead there.

Birmbaum is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Steele trying to control the position from guard on top but Birmbaum is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birmbaum being controlled here, momentarily.

Steele avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Steele is stalling in the full guard.
Birmbaum wants to sweep here but Steele controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Steele pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Birmbaum is keeping the position for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Birmbaum avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Birmbaum tries to counter by closing the distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Steele looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Chance Birmbaum is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Steele is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Steele checks a leg kick.
Steele swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Birmbaum misses with a body kick.
Steele tries to close the distance and clinch up but Birmbaum swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Steele tries to clinch up but Birmbaum circles away and keeps his distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chance Birmbaum comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Steele 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Brannigan Steele!
A relieved looking Brannigan Steele thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.