PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Max Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Rockhold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Rockhold has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Steele
vs
Rockhold

192 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

195 cm
21
210 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Nutrition Down Under

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Max Steele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Rockhold!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Richard Clark and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rockhold misses with a leg kick

and Steele counters with a takedown into side control.
Steele passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Rockhold!
Steele looking to control and managing it successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steele looking to ground and pound but Rockhold is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rockhold is working to get back to half guard.
Steele working Rockhold over with strikes here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele content just to control the position here.

Steele with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Rockhold really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Steele. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Steele tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rockhold blocking the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steele with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
A nice elbow there by Steele.
Steele tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Steele cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Steele postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rockhold looks a forlorn figure.
Steele controlling from mount.
Rockhold is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steele controlling from the full mount.
Steele working the ground and pound effectively.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Steele content just to control the position here.
Rockhold tries to lock up and control but Steele gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Steele with shots to the head and body - Rockhold looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Steele can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rockhold is looking to escape.
Steele scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Steele has hold of Rockhold's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Rockhold manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Steele controlling the pace for now.
Steele fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Steele dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Steele throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rockhold stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Steele instigates a clinch.
Rockhold wants to get back to striking at distance but Steele won't allow it.
Rockhold lands a right hand that snaps the head of Steele backwards.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rockhold as Steele tries to tie him up.
Our sources have told us that Steele has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Rockhold tries for a takedown but Steele manages to get underhooks.
Steele fails to pull guard.
Steele changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rockhold fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rockhold with a jab.
Steele is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rockhold can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rockhold uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Steele.
Rockhold unleashes a big counter combination but Steele bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Steele throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rockhold steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Steele.
Max Steele is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rockhold misses with a combination

and Steele counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele controlling the action here.
Rockhold is looking to control Steele's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rockhold avoid being mounted?
Rockhold wants to get back to full guard.
Steele works his foot free and advances to mount.
Steele with good strikes from the mount here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele trying to control but Rockhold is having none of it.
Rockhold takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Max Steele overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Steele takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Steele with a couple of short strikes.
Rockhold is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Rockhold is controlling an arm, preventing Steele from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Steele lands a big shot there that rocks Rockhold but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele manages to capitalize on a mistake by Rockhold to take his back!
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Steele is punishing Rockhold with some ground and pound.

Steele has managed to slip his arm under Rockhold's chin. This could be all over... yep, Rockhold is tapping out! Submission win for Steele.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Max Steele!