PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tommi Ritola (ranked 25145 p4p, 5159 weight class) and Alex Steel Iii (ranked 740 p4p, 612 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Ritola
vs
Steel Iii

200 cm
19
265
0 - 3 - 0

190 cm
18
280
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tommi Ritola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Steel Iii!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Chris Edwards and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ritola with the inside leg kick.
Steel Iii keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ritola.
Ritola moves away from the strike by Steel Iii.
Steel Iii has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ritola.
Steel Iii blocks a head kick by Ritola.
Steel Iii checks a low kick from Ritola.
Steel Iii misses with a combination
and Ritola counters with a left to the body.
Steel Iii scores with a hook.
Ritola connects with an inside leg kick.
Steel Iii waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ritola.
Steel Iii checks a leg kick.
Ritola staying out of range there.
Steel Iii ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ritola looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Ritola misses with a looping left.
Steel Iii scores with a jab to the body.
A clash of legs there as Steel Iii blocks the low kick.
Ritola uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Steel Iii.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steel Iii misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ritola fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Steel Iii checks it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ritola throws the kick towards the body but Steel Iii avoids it.
Steel Iii throws a hook to the side of Ritola's head but Ritola sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ritola fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ritola looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nice defenses there by Ritola.
Ritola blocks a jab.
Steel Iii throws a head kick but Ritola moves out of range.
Steel Iii moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Steel Iii throws a hook but Ritola avoids it easily.
A jab from Steel Iii misses.
Steel Iii scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ritola doesn't seem bothered though.
Steel Iii uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ritola.
Steel Iii throws an off balance right hand
and Ritola counters with an inside leg kick.
A jab from Ritola finds it's way through Steel Iii's defenses.
Steel Iii throws out a loose jab but Ritola uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ritola tries to score with a low kick but Steel Iii moves his leg out of the way.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ritola misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ritola throws a wild body kick that Steel Iii sees coming a mile off.
An inside leg kick from Ritola misses.
Ritola moves away from the strike by Steel Iii.
Steel Iii throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ritola uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Steel Iii.
Steel Iii misses with a two punch combination.
Ritola scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Steel Iii as he connects with a hook.
Ritola misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Steel Iii.
Ritola connects with a looping right hand.
Ritola slips under a jab from Steel Iii.
Ritola slips a jab from Steel Iii.
Ritola looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Steel Iii throws a hook but Ritola avoids it easily.
Ritola feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Steel Iii misses with an uppercut
and Ritola counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Steel Iii thinking.
Ritola throws a head kick but Steel Iii moves out of range.
Ritola connects with a single shot there.
Steel Iii takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ritola pivots, looking for a leg kick but Steel Iii is out of range and Ritola settles back down.
Steel Iii misses with a left hand
and Ritola counters with an outside leg kick.
Ritola jabs Steel Iii to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Steel Iii is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Ritola ducks under a wild hook from Steel Iii.
Steel Iii takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Steel Iii checks a low kick from Ritola.
Steel Iii lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Ritola takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Steel Iii tries to bum rush Ritola with a series of wild strikes but Ritola uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ritola throws a body kick that misses.
Ritola fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Steel Iii on the side of the head.
Ritola uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Steel Iii.
Steel Iii avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Steel Iii throws a lazy right hand but Ritola sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Steel Iii swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Steel Iii stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ritola.
Steel Iii cracks Ritola with a right hand to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steel Iii throws a sloppy head kick
letting Ritola counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel Iii swings widly with a right hand
and Ritola makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Steel Iii looks winded!
Ritola scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Ritola throws a leg kick which misses Steel Iii's front leg but catches the back leg as Steel Iii tries to avoid it.
Ritola throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ritola avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Ritola misses its target.
Steel Iii uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Nice defenses there by Ritola.
Ritola misses the shot to the body.
Ritola swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ritola shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Ritola fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Steel Iii on the side of the head.
Steel Iii waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ritola.
Ritola wants to land a leg kick but Steel Iii is out of range.
Steel Iii swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ritola lands a jab.
Steel Iii swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ritola is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Steel Iii throws a head kick that misses.
Ritola with a nice calf kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tommi Ritola dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ritola misses with a wild body shot.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ritola lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Steel Iii has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Steel Iii and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Ritola showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Steel Iii.
Ritola looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Ritola scores with a jab.
Ritola throws a front kick aimed at Steel Iii's knee but Steel Iii avoids it well.
Ritola blocks a head kick by Steel Iii.
Ritola ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Steel Iii moves away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Steel Iii! But no joy.
Alex Steel Iii seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steel Iii fails to land with a series of punches.
Steel Iii 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.
Ritola throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ritola.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ritola scores with a leg kick.
Ritola will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Steel Iii throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ritola counters with a straight right hand.
Ritola misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Steel Iii.
Ritola defending well as Steel Iii loads up on a big left hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ritola. Steel Iii does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel Iii lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Steel Iii falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ritola counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Steel Iii looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ritola tries to clinch but Steel Iii moves out of range.
Ritola throws a low kick, looking for Steel Iii's leg but Steel Iii calmly moves out of range.
A little jabbing left from Steel Iii on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Steel Iii misses with a hook. Ritola ducked under it nicely.
Ritola throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Steel Iii now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Ritola swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ritola looks to land a left hand but Steel Iii moved out of range nicely.
Steel Iii ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ritola moves away.
Steel Iii rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ritola counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Steel Iii will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ritola sizes up Steel Iii with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Ritola throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Steel Iii on the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ritola jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ritola throws a head kick that Steel Iii semi-blocks.
Ritola swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ritola wants to clinch.
Steel Iii misses with a few strikes there.
Ritola fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Steel Iii misses with an uppercut.
Steel Iii checks a low kick from Ritola.
Steel Iii throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Steel Iii rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ritola moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Steel Iii is breathing heavily.
Ritola works Steel Iii's body with a nice hook.
Steel Iii blocks a low kick nicely.
Steel Iii checks the leg kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ritola lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Steel Iii has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Steel Iii and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Steel Iii looks like he wants to counter punch here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ritola throws out a leg kick but Steel Iii moves out of range and Ritola only half commits.
Tommi Ritola is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ritola misses with a looping right.
Steel Iii throws out a counter right but Ritola avoids it with no problem.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Steel Iii might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Ritola has got the better of the exchanges.
Steel Iii slips under a jab from Ritola.
Steel Iii swings widly with a right hand
and Ritola makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Ritola misses with a hook.
Steel Iii pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ritola uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Steel Iii.
Ritola uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Steel Iii.
Ritola blocks a head kick by Steel Iii.
Ritola is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Ritola will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Steel Iii looks to throw the jab but Ritola is out of range.
Steel Iii's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Steel Iii avoids the head kick by Ritola.
Steel Iii defending well as Ritola loads up on a big left hand.
Steel Iii drops his hands momentarily and Ritola takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Steel Iii in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Ritola tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ritola scores with a jab to the body.
Ritola moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ritola throws a jab but it's blocked by Steel Iii.
Nice cross by Ritola.
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!
An inside leg kick lands from Ritola.
Ritola lands with an overhand left.
Ritola avoids the body shot from Steel Iii.
Steel Iii missing with a left hand there. Ritola was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Steel Iii on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ritola. Ritola obviously looking to wear him down.
Steel Iii misses with the combination.
Steel Iii tries a head kick but it misses.
Ritola does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ritola throws a chopping leg kick but Steel Iii manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Steel Iii looks to land a left hand but Ritola moved out of range nicely.
Steel Iii takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Ritola defending well as Steel Iii loads up on a big left hand.
Ritola throws a low kick but Steel Iii moves out of range easily.
An inside leg kick from Ritola misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tommi Ritola dominated that second round.
That's time! Ritola's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Steel Iii rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ritola counters with an inside leg kick.
Ritola throws a body punch but Steel Iii moves out of range.
Steel Iii throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ritola sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ritola takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Steel Iii takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Steel Iii throws a head kick but Ritola moves out of range.
Ritola throwing a counter right hand but Steel Iii manages to avoid it.
Steel Iii checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Ritola is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Steel Iii can do to turn this around?
A nice leg kick from Ritola, right into the meat of the thigh.
Steel Iii swings for the body but Ritola moves out of range.
Ritola throwing a counter right hand but Steel Iii manages to avoid it.
A slow jab from Steel Iii misses its intended target.
Ritola throws an overhand right that lands on Steel Iii's shoulder, as Steel Iii tries to avoid the shot.
Ritola jabs Steel Iii to the body, keeping him at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ritola is looking to slow Steel Iii down with leg kicks.
A telegraphed right hand from Steel Iii misses the target.
Steel Iii ducks under a wild hook from Ritola.
Steel Iii swings for the body but Ritola moves out of range.
Steel Iii fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ritola manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel Iii throws a shot from downtown. Ritola moves away and avoids it.
Ritola misses with a straight right.
Steel Iii takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ritola lands a nice hook to Steel Iii's body. Steel Iii takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Steel Iii moves away from the strike by Ritola.
Ritola moves out of range as Steel Iii strikes.
Ritola slips under a jab.
A punch lands to the side of Ritola 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Steel Iii throws a sloppy head kick
and Ritola connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ritola slips a jab and a cross from Steel Iii.
Ritola lands a jab to the nose.
Steel Iii defending well as Ritola loads up on a big left hand.
Ritola with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Steel Iii throws a lazy uppercut
and Ritola connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A nice leg kick from Ritola, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Good standup being displayed there by Ritola as he connects with a hook.
Ritola throws a jab when Steel Iii was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ritola throws a leg kick that misses.
Nice defenses there by Ritola.
Ritola does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Steel Iii has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Steel Iii tries a head kick but it misses.
Ritola connects with a looping right hand.
Ritola ducks under a wild hook from Steel Iii.
Ritola cracks a nice hook into Steel Iii's ribs.
Steel Iii throws a nice looking combination but Ritola bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ritola lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Ritola swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Steel Iii takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Steel Iii misses with an uppercut.
The fighters circling - Ritola throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
It seemed like Steel Iii was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Ritola connects with a single shot there.
Ritola slips a straight right by Steel Iii.
Ritola clobbers Steel Iii with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Steel Iii moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ritola thuds his shin into the meat of Steel Iii's side.
Ritola cracks Steel Iii with a good jab.
Steel Iii blocks a head kick by Ritola.
As Ritola backs off Steel Iii throws a huge counter combo but Ritola manages to avoid it all.
A big right from Steel Iii misses.
Steel Iii throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ritola sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ritola misses with a hook.
Steel Iii fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ritola dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Steel Iii. That did some damage!
Ritola walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Steel Iii checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Steel Iii looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ritola with a nice calf kick.
Tommi Ritola is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ritola steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Steel Iii.
Ritola scores with a jab.
Steel Iii throws a hook to the side of Ritola's head but Ritola sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ritola wants to land a leg kick but Steel Iii is out of range.
Ritola connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel Iii displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ritola throws out the jab.
Ritola staying out of range there.
A big right from Ritola misses.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ritola.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head kick misses from Steel Iii.
Ritola cracks Steel Iii with an open hand slap.
Steel Iii tries to move into range but Ritola moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Ritola thows a left - swing and a miss!
Steel Iii throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Steel Iii misses with a few strikes there.
Steel Iii bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A clash of legs there as Steel Iii blocks the low kick.
Steel Iii rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ritola moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Steel Iii uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ritola.
Ritola attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Alex Steel Iii has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ritola lands with a thumping leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommi Ritola showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ritola has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommi Ritola!