PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rico Van-Plant (ranked 3275 p4p, 3544 weight class) and Stephen Steve (ranked 408 p4p, 441 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Stephen Steve was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Van-Plant
vs
Steve

183 cm
22
174
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
24
180
4 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rico Van-Plant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stephen Steve!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Lou da Vinci and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Steve drives through and clinches with Van-Plant against the cage.
Van-Plant changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Steve fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Van-Plant gets a takedown into half guard.

Van-Plant 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.
Van-Plant throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Steve can do anything to dispel that myth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steve has his hands clasped together around Van-Plant's back. He's all about the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van-Plant is looking for a kimura but Steve is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Van-Plant to get the leverage.

Van-Plant wants to work for an arm triangle but Steve is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Van-Plant is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Steve doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Van-Plant.
Steve tries to roll over but Van-Plant keeps him under control.
Steve is staying active underneath Van-Plant, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Steve is in trouble now - Van-Plant has advanced to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van-Plant is working for a guillotine from mount but Steve frees his head quite easily.
Van-Plant wants to control the pace but Steve is squirming around nicely.
Van-Plant landing punches.
Steve really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Van-Plant. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Steve sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Van-Plant with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Steve wants to get back to full guard.
Steve is trying to maintain the position but Van-Plant is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van-Plant is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Steve has managed to free his arm - good work.
Steve holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Van-Plant is keen to just control but Steve is a slippery customer.
Steve trying to control here.
Van-Plant passes the guard and advances to mount!
Steve holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Van-Plant tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Steve is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van-Plant working for a submission but Steve is keeping him at bay.
Steve tries to reverse the position but Van-Plant maintains control.
Van-Plant is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Steve is in real trouble.
Van-Plant throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Van-Plant seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Van-Plant looking to break Steve's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Steve remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Van-Plant will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Steve breaks Van-Plant's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Van-Plant is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Steve defends well.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Van-Plant looking to hit a scissor sweep but Steve is one step ahead there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Van-Plant dominated that round.
That's time! Van-Plant's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Steve chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Van-Plant fails with a takedown attempt.
Steve throws a body shot but no joy.

Steve gets caught napping as Van-Plant dives in and scores a takedown. Steve manages to retain guard.
Van-Plant wants to control from the top but Steve keeps moving.
Van-Plant missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steve utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Van-Plant wants to control from the top but Steve keeps moving.
Van-Plant is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Steve can do to turn this around?
Steve working a defensive guard but Van-Plant passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve trying to control here.
Steve is looking for a sweep. Van-Plant is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Van-Plant trying to mount his opponent but Steve defends it.
Van-Plant not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steve is pressing down on Van-Plant's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Van-Plant won't allow Steve to sweep him here.
Van-Plant tries to free his leg and advance position but Steve is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Van-Plant thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

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.
Van-Plant preventing the sweep.

Van-Plant stands up and waves to Steve to follow him.

Van-Plant 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.
Van-Plant working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Steve holds on and takes a little breather.
Van-Plant preventing the sweep.
Steve utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Van-Plant slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rico Van-Plant overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van-Plant thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Van-Plant content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Van-Plant working the strikes but Steve uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Van-Plant is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Steve is looking for a sweep. Van-Plant is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Van-Plant is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van-Plant is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Steve has managed to free his arm - good work.

Van-Plant is trying to work for a kimura but Steve is defending well.
Van-Plant prevents Steve from improving his position.

Steve is defending against the submission attempts here by Van-Plant.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Steve is defending against the submission attempts here by Van-Plant.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Van-Plant dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

Steve scores with a jab to the body.
Van-Plant shoots in for a double leg but Steve sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Steve throws a body punch but Van-Plant moves out of range.
Van-Plant checks a leg kick.

Van-Plant moves into the clinch successfully.

Steve breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Steve closes the distance and clinches.
Knees to the body from Steve.
Steve gets through Van-Plant's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Steve manages to break the clinch.
Steve scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Van-Plant doesn't seem bothered though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Steve 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 Van-Plant has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Van-Plant and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Van-Plant misses with a takedown attempt

and Steve counters by clinching up.
Steve utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Steve keeps control of Van-Plant as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Steve scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Steve controlling the action here for a moment.

Steve breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Van-Plant gets a double leg takedown into Steve's guard.
Steve wants to sweep here but Van-Plant controlling him for the moment.
Steve trying to control the position.
Stephen Steve has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve pulls Van-Plant in close to his closed guard and prevents Van-Plant from doing any damage or advancing position.
Steve controls Van-Plant momentarily but Van-Plant frees himself.
Steve pulls Van-Plant in close to his closed guard and prevents Van-Plant from doing any damage or advancing position.
Steve looking to control.
Steve looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Steve keeping moving, preventing Van-Plant from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van-Plant tries for a takedown but Steve sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rico Van-Plant. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Steve fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Van-Plant manages to avoid it.
Rico Van-Plant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Van-Plant is defended easily by Steve.
Van-Plant shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Steve defends it nicely.
Rico Van-Plant is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Van-Plant wants to clinch up but Steve keeps it at a distance.
Van-Plant wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Steve.
That kick from Steve tenderised Van-Plant's leg. Van-Plant is trying to keep his angry face on.
Van-Plant tries to clinch up.
Steve misses the shot to the body.
Steve pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Steve misses the shot to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steve throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Van-Plant blocks a head kick by Steve.
Steve swings away with a leg kick that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Steve comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Van-Plant 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rico Van-Plant!
A victorious Rico Van-Plant thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.