PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Athrun Zala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zala comes to the cage accompanied by Drowning Pool - Bodies. Athrun Zala has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Zala
vs
Steele

185 cm
24
220 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

198 cm
24
221 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent 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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Athrun Zala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matthew Steele!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steele tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Zala manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Steele tries to clinch but Zala moves out of range.
Steele tries to clinch there but Zala circles away.

Zala closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Steele did well to prevent Zala getting side control.
Zala trying to pass the guard but Steele defending well.
Zala missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Steele is looking to improve his position.
Zala tries to pass to full mount but Steele defends it.
Steele wants to get back to full guard.
Zala is looking to advance position but Steele won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steele is trying to get back to full guard.
Nice strikes from Zala there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zala takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Steele is looking for a sweep. Zala is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zala sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Steele defending well though.
Zala lands strikes from half guard.
Steele regains full guard. Nicely done.
Steele working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zala.

Steele has his foot on Zala's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zala works his way back into a safe position though.
Steele keeping full guard, as Zala tries to pass.
Steele throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Zala landing with the ground and pound.
Zala looking to pass the guard.
Zala works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steele wants to improve his position but Zala is controlling well.
Zala wants to advance to full mount but Steele doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Steele throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steele can't keep his opponent in guard - Zala advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Steele is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zala pulls his head out easily.
Zala passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Steele!
Zala lands with some strikes.
Steele sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Steele is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Zala lands a nice short elbow.
Steele is trying to stand back up but Zala is controlling him
Steele looks gassed!

Zala 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.
Zala slips a nice elbow through Steele's hands, connecting with Steele's forehead.
Steele is looking for a sweep. Zala is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zala is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Zala works his way into full mount!
Zala is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Steele that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Steele takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Zala's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Athrun Zala!