PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Scott Steiner (ranked 2661 p4p, 4404 weight class) and Kook Soukine (ranked 97 p4p, 157 weight class). Steiner comes to the cage accompanied by STEINER BROS INTRO SONG. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Steiner
vs
Soukine

200 cm
25
300
1 - 2 - 0

208 cm
25
285
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Scott Steiner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kook Soukine!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Winston Alpacca and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Steiner looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Soukine!
Soukine is trying to control Steiner's posture but Steiner avoids it.
Soukine throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
You can see the frustration on Soukine's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Steiner thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Steiner working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Steiner tries for a kimura but Soukine is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Steiner tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Soukine is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Steiner has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Soukine manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Steiner keeping control of the position.
Soukine throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Steiner looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Soukine missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Soukine has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Steiner tries to get to full guard but Soukine has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soukine seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Steiner does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Steiner keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Steiner is trying is best to control the position here.
Soukine sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Steiner defending well though.
Steiner is trying is best to control the position here.
Soukine working the head and body with strikes.

Steiner looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Steiner is looking for a sweep. Soukine is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Steiner has hold of Soukine's hands but Soukine slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Soukine is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Soukine throwing shots but Steiner is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steiner is trying to get back to full guard.
Steiner on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Steiner tries to get out of the position.
Steiner controlling the position for now.
Steiner is looking for a sweep. Soukine is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Soukine seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Steiner does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Soukine fails with the takedown

and Steiner counters with a takedown into side control.

Steiner swings around for an armbar but Soukine sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Steiner's guard.
Soukine has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Steiner is proving hard to escape from.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Steiner holds on and takes a little breather.
Soukine trying to stand up but can't free himself from Steiner's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soukine landing some decent shots from guard.
Soukine would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Soukine cracks Steiner with a solid left hand.
Steiner pulls Soukine in close to prevent any damage.
Steiner has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Soukine is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Soukine cracks Steiner with a solid left hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Soukine moves in looking to clinch but Steiner pushes him off.
Soukine tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Steiner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Soukine shoots in but Steiner avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Steiner shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Soukine manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Soukine is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Soukine keeping moving, preventing Steiner from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steiner tries to free his leg and advance position but Soukine is retaining full guard.
Steiner trying to move into half guard but instead Soukine has managed to sweep!

Steiner has his foot on Soukine's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Soukine works his way back into a safe position though.
Soukine with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soukine missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Soukine trying to control the position from guard on top but Steiner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soukine throws a big right hand that misses.
Soukine lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Steiner working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Soukine.
Soukine in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Soukine stopping the sweep attempt from Steiner.
Steiner knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Soukine on the ground.
Soukine tries to stand but Steiner is controlling from the bottom.
Steiner looking for a sweep. Not yet Steiner, not yet.
Steiner has momentary wrist control but Soukine slips an elbow through the middle.
Soukine postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kook Soukine has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two 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.
Soukine trying to control the position from guard on top but Steiner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soukine postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Steiner feints and as Soukine raises his hands in defense, Steiner changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Soukine has his feet on Steiner's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Steiner gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Soukine throws a head punch that misses.
Steiner goes for a takedown attempt but Soukine pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Steiner displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Soukine.
Soukine goes for a double leg but Steiner avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Steiner continues to drive forward.
Steiner seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Scott Steiner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kook Soukine.

Steiner closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Soukine's guard.
Steiner wants to control from the top but Soukine keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soukine wants to stand but Steiner is controlling the position.
Soukine keeping moving, preventing Steiner from controlling successfully.
Soukine keeping full guard, as Steiner tries to pass.

Steiner has gone for a leg lock! Soukine slips out almost immediately though and dives into Steiner's guard.

Soukine trying to control the position from guard on top but Steiner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steiner looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Soukine is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Soukine postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Soukine postures up and lands a big shot to Steiner's brow.
Soukine throws a big right hand that misses.
Soukine trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Steiner is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Soukine pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Steiner is keeping the position for now.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kook Soukine will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Steiner slaps away a takedown attempt from Soukine, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Steiner circles away from the clinch attempt

and Steiner counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Soukine is trying to get back to full guard.
Steiner wants to advance to full mount but Soukine doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soukine has Steiner pulled in close to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Soukine has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Steiner off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Soukine tries to clinch there but Steiner circles away.
Soukine tries to clinch but Steiner is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Steiner closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Soukine did well to prevent Steiner getting side control.

Steiner is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Soukine defends it well.

Steiner wants to work for an arm triangle but Soukine is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Steiner seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Soukine does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Steiner is pressing down on Soukine's thigh, looking to free his foot. Soukine is holding on for now.
Steiner trying to control from Soukine's half guard. Soukine has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Steiner tries to free his leg and advance position but Soukine is retaining full guard.
Scott Steiner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Soukine has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Steiner has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Steiner has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Soukine after a bit of a struggle.
Steiner looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Steiner tries for a takedown but Soukine manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Scott Steiner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Soukine working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Steiner drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Steiner keeps control of Soukine as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Soukine is fighting off a takedown attempt but Steiner is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Soukine to the mat. Soukine regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
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!
Soukine wants to stand and escape but Steiner is having none of it.
Soukine is pulling down on Steiner's head to control his posture.
Soukine is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Soukine is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Steiner presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steiner has hold of one of Soukine's legs. Soukine is fighting the takedown attempt but Steiner gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Soukine pushes Steiner off and scrambles back to his feet.
Soukine throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Steiner's waist but Steiner gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Soukine off to one side.
Soukine goes for a double leg but Steiner avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Steiner continues to drive forward.

Steiner 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.
Steiner looking to pass the guard.
Soukine can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Steiner controls the pace.
Steiner has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steiner looking to sit in guard and control but Soukine gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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!
Soukine with a nice head shot there.
Soukine content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Soukine scoring with punches to the head and body.
Steiner wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Soukine scoring with some ground and pound.
Soukine lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Steiner working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Soukine doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Soukine manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kook Soukine is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Steiner wants to sweep here but Soukine controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kook Soukine comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Soukine winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kook Soukine!