PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zacharia Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Denton Thunder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steele comes into the arena with Rock You Like A Hurricane blaring out of the sound system. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Steele
vs
Thunder

176 cm
27
182 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

199 cm
21
215 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zacharia Steele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Denton Thunder!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Felipe Paraventi and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Thunder.
Steele tries a low kick but Thunder avoids it.
Steele staying out of range there.
Thunder avoids a kick to the body.
Thunder lands a really nice looking cross but Steele seems unphased.
Thunder swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Steele takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Steele lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Steele just misses with a punch to the body.
Steele attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Steele slips under a jab from Thunder.
Steele fails with a takedown attempt.
Thunder throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Thunder swings for the body but Steele moves out of range.
Steele jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Thunder avoids a kick to the body.
Thunder misses with an uppercut. Steele saw that one coming.
Zacharia Steele seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder staying out of range there.
Steele staying out of range there.
Steele throws a leg kick
enabling Thunder to counter with a crisp jab.
Thunder throws a leg kick which misses Steele's front leg but catches the back leg as Steele tries to avoid it.
A shot to the liver by Steele. Beautiful body shot.
Steele lands a leg kick that knocks Thunder off balance momentarily.
Good work by Steele as he checks the leg kick.
Steele ducks right into an uppercut from Thunder.
Thunder works the jab nicely.
Thunder shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Steele throws a leg kick that is checked
and Thunder counters with a straight right hand.
Steele throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Steele gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Thunder counters with a stiff right hand.
Steele checks a low kick from Thunder.
Both fighters circling a little - Thunder finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Thunder.
Nice jab there from Steele.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele is looking to clinch but Thunder is avoiding it.
Thunder tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Thunder looks to land a right hand but Steele moved out of range.

Steele fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Thunder sprawls well initially but Steele persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thunder won't allow Steele to pass to mount.
Steele is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Thunder!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thunder can't escape the position.

Steele wants to finish this one by submission but Thunder is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Steele.

Steele looking for a guillotine from mount but Thunder is having none of it.
Thunder wants to control but Steele is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder is desperately trying to improve his position but Steele has a good base and remains in mount.
Thunder prevents Steele from taking his back.
Thunder tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Steele is working for a guillotine from mount but Thunder frees his head quite easily.
Thunder is looking to get to half guard.
Steele avoids the attempt from Thunder to control.

Steele looking for a guillotine from mount but Thunder is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Thunder tries to reverse the position but Steele maintains control.

Thunder defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Steele.
Thunder wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Steele working for a choke but Thunder is defending well.

Steele looking for the choke but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zacharia Steele dominated that round.
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.

Thunder lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Steele connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Thunder throws a low kick, looking for Steele's leg but Steele calmly moves out of range.
Steele connects with a leg kick. Thunder looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A jab from Thunder does it's job there.
Steele connects with an inside leg kick.

Steele closes the distance and clinches.
Steele trying to land knees to the body.
Steele has a couple of punches blocked by Thunder.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Thunder.
Steele scores a nice knee to the body.
Thunder lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Steele tries to land knees in the clinch but Thunder avoids the damage to the body.
Thunder takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Denton Thunder has been cut.
Thunder misses with some punches.
Steele prevents a body shot from Thunder.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Steele here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder can't find room to land a body shot as Steele controls the action.

Thunder manages to break the clinch.
Thunder does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Steele uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thunder.
Steele avoids the body shot from Thunder.
Steele moves to clinch but Thunder breaks away
and Thunder counters with a stiff right hand.
Steele pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Thunder lands with an overhand left.
Steele throws a leg kick
and Thunder counters with a low kick, right behind Steele 's knee.
Steele scoring well with a low kick there.
Steele tries to clinch up but Thunder circles away and keeps his distance.
Steele attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Steele throws a predictable looking body shot
and Thunder counters with a stiff right hand.
Steele with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Steele takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Thunder connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunder fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Steele is out of range.
Thunder is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Steele throws a leg kick
and Thunder counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Steele lands with a thumping leg kick.
Steele lands with a nice body punch.
Thunder pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Thunder blocks a leg kick.
Steele thows a body shot but no joy.
Steele avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thunder throws a low kick but it's checked well by Steele.
Steele bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Steele cracks Thunder with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Denton Thunder seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Steele looks to land a right hand but Thunder moved out of range.
A clash of legs there as Thunder blocks the low kick.
Thunder's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Thunder cracks Steele with a good jab.
Thunder misses with a low kick.
Steele throws a leg kick that is checked
and Thunder counters with a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder throws a half hearted mid kick.
Thunder tries to clinch but Steele moves out of range.
Thunder connects with an inside leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Steele.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Steele 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 Thunder has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Thunder and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Steele swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Thunder counter with a right hand.
Good standup being displayed there by Thunder as he connects with a hook.
Steele fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Thunder checks it well.
A low kick from Thunder is predictable there
and Steele counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Steele misses with a body kick.
Steele misses with a wild body shot.
Thunder connects with a single shot there.
Thunder has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Steele throws a leg kick but Thunder moved away.
Thunder thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Steele if he has to take too many more of those.
Steele is looking to wear down Thunder with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Thunder moves in looking to clinch but Steele pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A low kick from Steele is predictable there
and Thunder counters with a thumping low kick.
Steele moves out of range of the body kick.
Steele does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Thunder fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Steele throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Steele throws a sloppy body shot
and Thunder counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Thunder doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Thunder pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Steele is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thunder will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steele sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Steele takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Thunder lands a slapping body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thunder stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Steele.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Denton Thunder will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Denton Thunder's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Steele misses with the body kick
and Thunder counters with a body kick that stops Steele in his tracks momentarily.
Thunder lands a jab to Steele's midsection.
Steele misses the body punch
and Thunder counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Thunder misses with a shot to the body
and Steele counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Thunder looks to land a body kick but Steele moved away.
Steele lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Steele fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Steele will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Steele lands with a good body shot.
Steele moves out of range of the strikes.
Thunder works the jab nicely.
Thunder pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The fighters circle momentarily. Thunder darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Steele keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thunder.
Thunder connects with a leg kick. Steele looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Steele connects with a solid leg kick.
Good work by Thunder as he checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Steele misses
and Steele takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thunder misses with a kick to the body
and Steele counters with a left to the body.
Steele misses with a shot to the body
and Thunder counters with a low kick, right behind Steele 's knee.
Thunder tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Steele was well out of range. Poor timing from Thunder.
Thunder checks a low kick from Steele.
Good work by Steele as he checks the leg kick.
Steele works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Thunder takes one on the button.
A clash of legs there as Thunder blocks the low kick.
Steele looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Steele looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Thunder is fending him off so far but Steele persists. Nope, Thunder circles away and we're back to standing.
Thunder takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Some bone on bone action there as Thunder checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Steele lands a nice leg kick that just misses Thunder's sensitive parts.
Steele misses with a leg kick
and Thunder counters with a nice uppercut.
Steele takes one to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunder misses with a low kick.
Steele throws a solid leg kick but Thunder takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Steele.
Steele throws a nice inside leg kick.
Thunder throws a hook to the side of Steele's head but Steele sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A solid body kick from Steele.
Thunder jabs Steele right on the nose. Steele blinks but takes it well.
Steele buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Thunder sizes up Steele with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Thunder takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Steele throws a leg kick
and Thunder counters with a right hand to the body.
Steele throws a sloppy body shot
letting Thunder counter with a right hand.
A punch lands to the side of Thunder 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A low kick from Steele misses
and Thunder cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A looping hook to the body misses from Steele. Thunder does a little dance to reset his feet.
Steele throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder misses with a hook. Steele ducked under it nicely.
Steele moves out of range of the body kick.
Steele throws a leg kick
and Thunder counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Steele.
Steele thumps Thunder with a low kick.
Thunder throws a jab when Steele was well out of range.
Thunder stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Steele.
Steele tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Thunder is able to avoid easily.
Steele ducks under a wild hook from Thunder.
Thunder scores with a hook to the body. Steele takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Thunder avoids the body shot from Steele.
Steele takes one to the chin there.
Thunder takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A swing and a miss from Thunder.
Steele fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thunder manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele throws a leg kick but Thunder sees it coming and moves out of range.
Thunder takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Steele scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Steele swings away with a body shot that misses
and Thunder counters with a left to the body.
Steele checks the leg kick nicely there.
Thunder checks a leg kick nicely.
Thunder checks a leg kick nicely.
Steele misses with a low kick.
Thunder checks the leg kick nicely there.
Steele throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Steele ducks under a wild hook from Thunder.
Steele throws a leg kick
and Thunder counters with a thumping low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steele uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thunder.
Steele tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Steele tried to score with a low kick but Thunder checks it.

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 Zacharia Steele.
I think Steele 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Denton Thunder!