PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Steel Iii (ranked 1925 p4p, 3204 weight class) and Marcel Thibodeaux (ranked 211 p4p, 335 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Steel Iii
vs
Thibodeaux

190 cm
23
280
5 - 4 - 0

194 cm
23
265
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Steel Iii!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marcel Thibodeaux!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Ben Hemmingworth and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux clobbers Steel Iii with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Thibodeaux throws a hook to the side of Steel Iii's head but Steel Iii sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A counter left hand to the body from Steel Iii misses its target.
Steel Iii blocks a head kick by Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Steel Iii looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Steel Iii misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thibodeaux.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circle momentarily. Steel Iii darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Thibodeaux throws a hook to the side of Steel Iii's head but Steel Iii sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Steel Iii works Thibodeaux's body with a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux misses with a hook
and Steel Iii counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Thibodeaux moves to clinch but Steel Iii breaks away
and Steel Iii counters with a stiff right hand.
Thibodeaux misses the body punch
and Steel Iii counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Steel Iii closes the distance and pushes Thibodeaux back into the cage.
Thibodeaux trying to stall but Steel Iii improves his position.
Nice body punch from Thibodeaux - that landed with a thud.
A nice right hand lands inside from Steel Iii.
Thibodeaux misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Steel Iii.
Thibodeaux is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Steel Iii is defending well for now.
Steel Iii fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thibodeaux lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Steel Iii backwards.
Thibodeaux misses with a punch on the inside.
Come on Steel Iii - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel Iii misses with a knee strike.
Steel Iii is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Thibodeaux is defending well for now.
Steel Iii blocks an uppercut.
Thibodeaux has a couple of punches blocked by Steel Iii.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steel Iii is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A nice right hand lands inside from Steel Iii.
Thibodeaux misses with the head strike.
Steel Iii blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Steel Iii creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Steel Iii creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Steel Iii managing to block the knees to the body from Thibodeaux.
Steel Iii working aggressively here.
Thibodeaux pushes Steel Iii back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Steel Iii has a couple of punches blocked by Thibodeaux.
Steel Iii pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Thibodeaux misses with a hook from the clinch.
Thibodeaux throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel Iii blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Thibodeaux lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Steel Iii tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thibodeaux tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Steel Iii blocks an uppercut.
Thibodeaux tries a body shot but Steel Iii blocks it.
Thibodeaux lands a nice uppercut.
Thibodeaux has Steel Iii pushed against the cage.
Thibodeaux misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux throws a punch but it's blocked by Steel Iii.
A nice left hand lands by Steel Iii.
Thibodeaux misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Steel Iii.
Steel Iii is struggling to control the position.
Steel Iii softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Thibodeaux lands a left hand that snaps the head of Steel Iii backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel Iii takes a shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steel Iii is trying to push Thibodeaux away but Thibodeaux has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Thibodeaux lands a body punch in the clinch.
Thibodeaux misses with a short punch on the inside.
Steel Iii is looking to control Thibodeaux's arms but Thibodeaux gets an underhook and turns him. Now Steel Iii has his back to the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Steel Iii scores with a shoulder strike.
Thibodeaux lands with a short shot to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steel Iii.
Steel Iii has Thibodeaux pressed against the cage.
Thibodeaux tries a body shot but Steel Iii blocks it.
Thibodeaux lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Thibodeaux blocks a body shot from Steel Iii.

Steel Iii's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Steel Iii dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marcel Thibodeaux will probably get the nod.
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.

Thibodeaux misses with a right hand
letting Steel Iii counter with a right hand.
Thibodeaux tries a head kick but it misses.
Thibodeaux pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Steel Iii misses with a hook
and Thibodeaux counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Thibodeaux fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Steel Iii scores with a hook.
Thibodeaux takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel Iii is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Thibodeaux.
Steel Iii throws a combination that misses
and Thibodeaux cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thibodeaux throws out a loose jab but Steel Iii uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Steel Iii paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Steel Iii appears to be looking for a big counter.
Steel Iii takes one on the button.
It looks like Steel Iii has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Steel Iii blocks a head kick by Thibodeaux.
Steel Iii feints a jab promting Thibodeaux to slip. Steel Iii then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Thibodeaux slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Steel Iii misses with a straight left.
Marcel Thibodeaux is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice shot lands for Steel Iii.
Steel Iii uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thibodeaux.
Steel Iii just misses with a punch to the body.
Thibodeaux throws a hook to the side of Steel Iii's head but Steel Iii sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Steel Iii.
Steel Iii lands a nice looking body shot.
Steel Iii throws a looping overhand right but Thibodeaux ducks down to avoid it.
Steel Iii throws a right hand that Thibodeaux ducks under and follows up with a left that Thibodeaux also avoids with ease.
Alex Steel Iii is winning the standup battle so far.
Thibodeaux uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Steel Iii has time to react.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steel Iii misses with a jab, cross combination.
Steel Iii throws a right and a left that both miss.
A little jabbing left from Thibodeaux on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Steel Iii throwing a counter right hand but Thibodeaux manages to avoid it.
Steel Iii blocks a head kick by Thibodeaux.
It looked like Steel Iii wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Thibodeaux has managed to clinch.
Steel Iii misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thibodeaux has a couple of punches blocked by Steel Iii.
Steel Iii misses with some punches.
Thibodeaux tries to throw a body punch but Steel Iii avoids it by throwing Thibodeaux back against the cage.
Steel Iii looking to throw knees to the head but Thibodeaux is blocking nicely.
Steel Iii with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thibodeaux lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Steel Iii misses with the head strike.
Steel Iii slows down the pace here.
Steel Iii lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Steel Iii taking a breather.
Steel Iii throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Thibodeauxs head.
Thibodeaux throws a punch but it's blocked by Steel Iii.
Steel Iii's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Steel Iii makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head punch on the inside from Thibodeaux fails to land.
Steel Iii lands a left hand that snaps the head of Thibodeaux backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steel Iii.
Steel Iii slows down the pace here.
Thibodeaux lands with a right to the head.
Thibodeaux throws a head punch that misses.
Steel Iii managing to block the knees to the body from Thibodeaux.
Steel Iii throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Steel Iii tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Thibodeaux avoids it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Alex Steel Iii will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Thibodeaux tries a head kick but it misses.
Steel Iii went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Steel Iii swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thibodeaux throws a big counter head kick but Steel Iii avoids it with no problem.

Steel Iii clinches up against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Steel Iii misses with a punch to the body.
Steel Iii blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Steel Iii breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Steel Iii keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thibodeaux has Steel Iii up against the cage in a clinch.
Thibodeaux tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thibodeaux working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Thibodeaux.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thibodeaux.
Steel Iii tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Steel Iii is keeping busy.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Steel Iii working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Steel Iii breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thibodeaux throws a head kick that misses.
Thibodeaux tries a head kick but it misses.
Steel Iii loads up on a big right hand but Thibodeaux slips the punch.
Thibodeaux throws a head kick that misses.
Steel Iii connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Thibodeaux momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux tries to clinch up.
Thibodeaux digs a good hook to Steel Iii's body.
Steel Iii swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Thibodeaux slips under a jab from Steel Iii.
Thibodeaux throws a fast counter high kick but Steel Iii manages to duck under it in time.
Thibodeaux throws a lazy uppercut
letting Steel Iii counter with a right hand.
A head kick misses from Thibodeaux.
It looked like Steel Iii wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Steel Iii.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel Iii just misses with a punch to the body.
Thibodeaux raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Thibodeaux throws a body shot but no joy.
Thibodeaux has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Steel Iii throws a right hand that misses
and Thibodeaux counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Steel Iii looks to land a combination but Thibodeaux avoids it well.
Jab, jab by Steel Iii - just one landing.
Thibodeaux misses with a straight left.
Steel Iii throws a big shot that misses.
Thibodeaux looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Thibodeaux throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Steel Iii looks to land a combination but Thibodeaux avoids it well.
Thibodeaux doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel Iii throws a big shot that misses.
Thibodeaux uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Steel Iii.
Thibodeaux ducks under a wild hook from Steel Iii.
Steel Iii paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Steel Iii moves away from the strike by Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux sizes up Steel Iii with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Thibodeaux slips a jab and a cross from Steel Iii.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Steel Iii lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Thibodeaux lands a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Alex Steel Iii.
I think Steel Iii 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Steel Iii!