PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chris Steve (ranked 43 p4p, 209 weight class) and Athos Knox (ranked 8 p4p, 28 weight class). Knox is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Click Click Boom | Saliva. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Steve
vs
Knox

175 cm
36
179
45 - 10 - 0

185 cm
28
188
15 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

HELLBENT
Conviction

Money Inc. (160Q with Proof ) 165$
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 45 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chris Steve!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Athos Knox!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steve throws a body punch but Knox moves out of range.
Knox lands a nice shot that snaps Steve's head back.

It looks like Chris Steve has been cut.
Knox lands with a cross.
Athos Knox seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Knox lands a body shot.
Knox throws a predictable looking body shot
and Steve counters with a solid body kick.
Steve misses with a leg kick
and Knox counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Steve tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Knox paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Knox misses with a right hand
and Steve counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Athos Knox has been cut.
Knox lands with an overhand left.
Crunch! Steve slams his shin into Knox's torso.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knox throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Steve sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Steve is looking to counter with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve scores with a nice strike.
Knox connects with a crisp jab.
Knox is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Knox misses with a left hand
and Steve counters with a stiff right hand.
Steve seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Steve steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Knox.
Steve was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Knox has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Steve.
Knox throws out a loose jab but Steve uses good head movement to avoid it.
Steve is looking to counter punch.
Steve throws a body kick that misses
and Knox counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Steve fails with an attempt to clinch.
Steve connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Knox looks to land a right hand but Steve moved out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steve tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Knox manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Knox throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Steve cracks Knox with a good jab.

Knox is rocked!
Steve lands a nice hook to Knox's body. Knox takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Knox takes a swing at Steve's ribcage but misses.
Steve thinks about countering with a body kick.
Steve throws the kick towards the body but Knox avoids it.
Steve is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Knox might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Knox rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Steve counters with a nice right hand that sends Knox toppling to the canvas! Knox scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Steve finish him?!
Knox is still on wobbly legs! Can Steve finish him?

That has opened up Athos Knox's cut even more.
Steve throws a sloppy head kick and Knox moves out of range easily.
Steve moves out of range of the strikes.
BOOM! Steve lands a beautiful left hook that drops Knox. Knox tries to recover but Steve is having none of it, landing more punishing shots from mount. One final crushing shot and Knox lies motionless on the canvas. The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Chris Steve!
Chris Steve retains his middleweight title!
An out of breath Chris Steve thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
Athos Knox was interviewed post fight and said '"If you haven't lost in this sport, you haven't fought the right guys yet." (Matt Hughes)'.