PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Roddick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Steeler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Roddick
vs
Steeler

185 cm
22
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
22
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cain Roddick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mark Steeler!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Paulo Santos and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A left and a right from Steeler both land. Nice combination.
Mark Steeler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roddick looks for a takedown but Steeler sprawls well.
A right-left combo lands from Steeler.

Steeler clinches with his opponent.

Steeler manages to pull guard.
Steeler keeping full guard, as Roddick tries to pass.

Steeler pushes Roddick off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Steeler drives through and clinches with Roddick against the cage.
Steeler can't break the clinch.

Steeler is fighting off a takedown attempt but Roddick is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Steeler to the mat. Steeler regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Steeler wants to stand and escape but Roddick is having none of it.
Steeler pulls Roddick in to control the position.
Roddick prevents Steeler from getting back to his feet.
Steeler should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Roddick gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Steeler closes the distance and clinches.
Steeler throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Roddick blocks an elbow strike.

Steeler drags the fight down to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roddick throwing strikes from guard but Steeler blocks nicely.
Roddick trying to control but Steeler is working from the bottom.

Roddick thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Roddick trying to control the position from guard on top but Steeler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steeler is trying to stand up but he's not managed 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.
Steeler keeping moving, preventing Roddick from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Steeler lands a slapping body shot.
Roddick gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Steeler.
Roddick has a takedown stuffed.
Steeler throws a combination. Roddick tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Roddick showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Steeler.
Steeler throws a body kick that misses.

Roddick darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Roddick is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roddick seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Steeler does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Steeler tries to get to full guard but Roddick has control of the leg.

Steeler has one foot on Roddick's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Roddick. No joy for Steeler on that attempt.
A slapping leg kick lands for Steeler.
The fight stays on the outside here - Roddick looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Roddick blocks a head kick by Steeler.
Steeler lands a jab-cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Steeler moves out of range as Roddick throws a body kick.

Roddick fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Steeler sprawls well initially but Roddick persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Roddick escapes and gets back to his feet.
Roddick blocks a leg kick.
Steeler fails to land with a series of punches.

Roddick scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Roddick is keen to just control but Steeler is a slippery customer.
Roddick moves nicely into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roddick is looking to take a break and control but Steeler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steeler wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Roddick dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Roddick changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Steeler looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Steeler is trying to get back to half guard.
Steeler is trying to control Roddick's posture but Roddick avoids it.
Steeler pushes Roddick away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Roddick gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Roddick trying to control the position but Steeler is working away.
Roddick wants to control for a moment but Steeler uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Steeler wants to stand up but Roddick has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roddick is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Steeler seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Steeler throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Roddick.

Steeler closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Roddick to the mat! Roddick manages to get full guard.
Roddick bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Steeler's guard.
Roddick is stalling in the full guard.
Steeler keeping moving, preventing Roddick from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roddick sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Steeler's guard.
Roddick stalling away here and it's allowed Steeler to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Roddick pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Steeler is keeping the position for now.
Roddick is looking to stand up but Steeler won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steeler is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Roddick is controlling him.
Steeler trying to control the position here.
Steeler really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Roddick. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Roddick drops back, looking for a kneebar! Steeler looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Steeler looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Steeler!

Steeler decides to stand back up.
Steeler misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steeler misses with a jab, cross combination.

Steeler moves into the clinch.

Roddick wants the takedown. Steeler is fighting it off but Roddick persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Steeler's guard against the cage.
Steeler has control of Roddick's left arm, preventing Roddick from doing any damage.
Roddick tries to free his leg and advance position but Steeler is retaining full guard.
Roddick wants to control from the top but Steeler keeps moving.
Roddick prevents Steeler from getting back to his feet.
Roddick won't allow Steeler to sweep him here.
Steeler wants to stand and escape but Roddick is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Cain Roddick will probably get the nod.
That's time! Roddick's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Roddick feints and as Steeler raises his hands in defense, Roddick changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Roddick stops Steeler from standing up.

Roddick gets to his feet. Steeler looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Steeler jabs Roddick right on the nose. Roddick blinks but takes it well.
Steeler fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Steeler scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Steeler fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Roddick tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Steeler just stands there and leans against the cage.
Steeler digs a right hand underneath Roddick's ribcage. Roddick let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Roddick tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Steeler ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Steeler no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Steeler keeping full guard, as Roddick tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steeler keeping moving, preventing Roddick from controlling successfully.
Roddick being controlled here momentarily.
Roddick throws a strike but Steeler rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Steeler controlling from the top position.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Roddick here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Steeler stops Roddick from standing up.
Steeler is stalling in the full guard.
Roddick is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Roddick can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Steeler controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roddick looking to control.
Steeler is looking to stand up but Roddick won't let him.
Steeler is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Roddick gets a clinch.
Steeler avoiding damage as Roddick throws knees to the body.
Roddick avoiding damage.

Roddick jumps guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Steeler is stalling in the full guard.
Steeler would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Roddick pushes Steeler off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Roddick takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Steeler misses with a double jab.
Roddick closes the distance and clinches up with Steeler, looking for a takedown. Roddick pushes Steeler against the cage but Steeler circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mark Steeler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cain Roddick is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Steeler works over Roddick's head and body with a nice combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cain Roddick showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Roddick, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cain Roddick!