|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wille Thai (ranked 488 p4p, 927 weight class) and Cole Steel (ranked 70 p4p, 122 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
 |
|
 |
| 195 cm
44
212
41 - 31 - 0 |
|
193 cm
32
218
16 - 9 - 1 |
Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
|
Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
|
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 41 - 31 - 0, fighting out of London, Wille Thai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 1, fighting out of London, Cole Steel!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Daniel Blasius and Saam Ante.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice shot lands for Steel.
Steel throws a lazy uppercut
and Thai counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Steel makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Steel slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Steel stuffs the takedown.
Steel punishes Thai's body with a nice straight punch.
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!
Steel throws a lazy right hand but Thai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Steel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Steel scores with a nice right hand.
Thai looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Steel throws a lazy uppercut
and Thai counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Steel!
Steel prevents Thai from improving position.
Steel is trying to improve his position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel can't do much from the bottom here.
Thai is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Steel knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Thai looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Thai tries for a kimura but Steel is defending well.
Thai working away.
Thai tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Steel gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Steel works his way to full guard. Good work.
Thai tries to free his leg and advance position but Steel is retaining full guard.
Steel managing to control the position.
Thai pushes down on Steel's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Steel is looking to improve his position.
Thai is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Steel sees it coming and defends easily.
Thai working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Steel's thigh. Steel counters though and makes it back to full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Steel looking for a sweep. Not yet Steel, not yet.
Thai drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Steel dives on top into guard.
Thai is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Steel is aware though and is defending well.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Steel working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Thai has his foot on Steel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Steel works his way back into a safe position though.
Steel postures up and lands a big shot to Thai's brow.
Steel trying to control but Thai is working from the bottom.
Steel got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thai has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Steel has managed to get both his arms back between Thai's legs - danger averted.
Steel landing some decent shots from guard.
Steel slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Steel's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thai working for a triangle but Steel defends it easily.
Steel with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steel wants to control from the top but Thai keeps moving.
Steel sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Steel avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Thai is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Thai has his foot on Steel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Steel works his way back into a safe position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Cole Steel dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Thai moves out of range as Steel strikes.
Steel misses with a straight right.
Thai keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Steel.
Thai tries to move into range but Steel moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Steel lands with a good body shot.
Thai dives in and grabs Steel's left leg, looking for a takedown. Steel pushes down on Thai's head and hops out.
Steel 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.
Thai gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Steel connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
It looks like Wille Thai has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel throws a lazy right hand but Thai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A jab from Steel misses.
Thai drops down looking for a counter takedown but Steel sprawls and moves away.
Thai uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Steel.
Thai changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel throws an off balance right hand
and Thai counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Steel!
Steel is holding Thai down, trying to stall.
Steel manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Thai actively working from the bottom here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Steel lands a nice short elbow.
Steel is trying to control. Thai wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Steel content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Thai actively working from the bottom here.
Thai looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Steel wants to take a breather but Thai is having none of it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel lands strikes from half guard.
Thai looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Steel is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Thai doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Steel.
Thai looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Steel lands with a punch from half guard.
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 referee calls for the fighters to work.
Steel wants to take a breather but Thai is having none of it.
Steel lands with a punch from half guard.
Steel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thai manages to get to full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel trying to control the position from guard on top but Thai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Thai is on top in guard.
Steel lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thai looking for a guillotine here but Steel defends easily.
Thai escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Steel gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Thai throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thai keeping moving, preventing Steel from controlling successfully.
Wille Thai overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Steel looking to pass the guard.
Steel works over Thai with some ground and pound from guard.
Thai keeping moving, preventing Steel from controlling successfully.
Thai working for a triangle but Steel defends it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steel avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Steel scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Cole Steel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Wille Thai's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!
A big right from Steel misses.
Thai drops down looking for a counter takedown but Steel sprawls and moves away.
Steel throws a hook to the side of Thai's head but Thai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Steel looks to throw the jab but Thai is out of range.
Steel swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Steel falls off balance throwing a combination
and Thai counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Steel trying to control from the bottom.
Steel tries to get to full guard but Thai has control of the leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thai is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Steel!
Steel defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Thai.
Thai jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Steel manages to avoid the submission attempt.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel sneaks back into half guard.
Steel is looking to improve his position.
Thai is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Steel defends it well.
Thai is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Steel sees it coming and defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Steel manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Steel is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Steel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thai manages to get himself to full guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel controls from within his opponent's guard.
Thai looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Thai looking for a guillotine here but Steel defends easily.
Steel passes into half guard.
Steel is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Thai is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Steel pulls his head out easily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thai keeps working.
Thai is looking to improve his position.
Thai is not content to let Steel control the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Thai manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Thai has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Steel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Steel stands and throws Thai's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Thai is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Steel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thai keeps working.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel lands an elbow.
Steel lands an elbow.
Thai is looking for a sweep.
Thai is working hard here to advance position.
Thai on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Thai tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Steel creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Steel working the ground and pound from side control.
Steel grinds an elbow into Thai's temple.
Steel moves into full mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thai slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Thai is refusing to be controlled, as Steel sits in half guard.
Wille Thai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cole Steel is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
And that's the end of the fight!
Cole Steel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Steel has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cole Steel!
After winning the bout, Cole Steel thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
38% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
