PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Graham Wellington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wellington has chosen Suffragrette City as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Steele
vs
Wellington

198 cm
27
221 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

190 cm
30
218 lbs
27 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matthew Steele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Graham Wellington!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shigeki Sano and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wellington scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Steele dives in and grabs Wellington's left leg, looking for a takedown. Wellington pushes down on Steele's head and hops out.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Steele.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Steele misses with the ground and pound.
Steele tries to score with some ground and pound. Wellington controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Wellington prevents Steele from moving into mount.
Wellington really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Steele. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Wellington is trying to get back to half guard.
Steele tries to advance to mount but can't.
Steele prevents Wellington from escaping the position.
Wellington can't do much from the bottom here.
Steele wants to control but Wellington is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wellington tries to buck Steele off but Steele is having none of it.
Steele wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wellington keeps working.
Steele has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Steele controlling the position.
Steele creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Steele throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Steele cracks Wellington with a big right hand but Wellington just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Steele goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Wellington has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Steele but great work by Wellington.
You can see the frustration on Steele's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele is looking to regain half guard here but Wellington keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wellington tries to stand but Steele is controlling his head.
Steele is looking for a sweep.

Wellington stands up and beckons Steele to his feet.
Steele shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Wellington sprawls well. Wellington wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Steele gets slowly back to his feet.
Wellington wants to clinch.
Steele closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wellington circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew Steele. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wellington displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Steele.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Steele.
Wellington cracks Steele with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Wellington on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A slapping leg kick lands for Wellington.
A big right from Wellington misses.
Steele changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wellington tries to avoid it but Steele manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wellington to the ground. Wellington escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Wellington cracks Steele with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Wellington lands a nice hook to Steele's body. Steele takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele moves out of range as Wellington throws a body kick.
Steele fails with a takedown attempt.
Wellington misses with a kick to the body.
Steele closes the distance and clinches up with Wellington, looking for a takedown. Steele pushes Wellington against the cage but Wellington circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Wellington slaps away a takedown attempt from Steele, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Wellington throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Steele shoots for a takedown but Wellington saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wellington keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wellington connects with a good right hand that stumbles Steele. Steele circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Matthew Steele 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.

Steele shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Matthew Steele seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wellington lands a nice looking kick to the body. Steele takes a step back to recover.
Steele will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Steele has his takedown stuffed
and Wellington counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew Steele. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Steele tries for a takedown but Wellington circles away easily
and Steele takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Steele is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Wellington.
Steele fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Wellington avoids it really well and circles away.
Graham Wellington seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Wellington defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Steele.
Wellington scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele dives in and grabs Wellington's left leg, looking for a takedown. Wellington pushes down on Steele's head and hops out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wellington ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Steele keeps the fight on the outside.
Wellington lands a head kick!
Steele fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Wellington stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Steele wants to clinch.
Wellington lands a slapping body shot.
Steele shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Wellington as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wellington clinches.
Steele has Wellington pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Wellington manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Steele prevents a body shot from Wellington.
Wellington gets underhooks to prevent Steele's takedown attempt.

Wellington escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Good standup being displayed there by Wellington as he connects with a hook.
Steele tries for a takedown but Wellington circles away easily
enabling Wellington to counter with a crisp jab.
Steele shoots in but Wellington avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Wellington digs a good hook to Steele's body.
Steele moves forwards but Wellington connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Wellington scores with a hook to the body. Steele takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wellington closes the distance and pushes Steele back into the cage.
Steele managing to block the knees to the body from Wellington.
A short right from Wellington.
Wellington gets underhooks to prevent Steele's takedown attempt.
Steele drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Wellington prevents the takedown attempt.
A short left from Wellington.
Wellington misses with a punch to the body.
Steele is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Wellington dodges an elbow strike from Steele.
Wellington misses with a body punch.
Wellington cracks Steele with a nice body shot.
Wellington lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Steele backwards.
Wellington has had enough of the clinch but Steele keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele throws a knee to the head but misses.
Wellington looking to throw knees to the head but Steele is blocking nicely.
Steele unloads a knee to the mid-section. Wellington lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wellington is working Steele over against the cage.
Wellington is trying to force a seperation but Steele has the dominant position.
Steele prevents a body shot from Wellington.
Wellington lands a knee to the body.
Steele lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Wellington is pressed up against the cage. Steele has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Wellington down to the mat. Wellington avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Wellington plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Steele wants to clinch
and Wellington counters with a nice low kick that buckles Steele's knee momentarily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Steele gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Wellington.
Steele on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Wellington lands a jab to Steele's midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Graham Wellington showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

A jab from Wellington does it's job there.
Wellington works over Steele's head and body with a nice combination.

Steele shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Steele showed some decent athleticism there.
Steele is keen to just control but Wellington is a slippery customer.
Wellington wants to control but Steele is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Wellington tries to roll over but Steele keeps him under control.
Steele trying to control from half guard but Wellington is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Steele takes one on the button.
Steele changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wellington tries to avoid it but Steele manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wellington to the ground. Wellington escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Steele looks for a takedown but Wellington sprawls well.
Steele tries to clinch but Wellington is having none of it.
Steele shoots in for a takedown but Wellington shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew Steele. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Steele shoots and misses
and Wellington counters with a nice body kick.
Wellington works the jab nicely.
Wellington lands an overhand right.
Wellington throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wellington lands a nice hook to Steele's body. Steele takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Wellington lands with a cross.
Steele fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wellington's corner calls for a 1-2. Wellington obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Wellington lands a right hook to the body.
The crowd cheers as Wellington lands an impressive looking overhand right. Steele doesn't seem phased though.
A shot to the liver by Wellington. Beautiful body shot.
Wellington lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Steele circles away quickly and effectively.
Steele tries for a takedown but Wellington sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Wellington throws a head kick that misses.
Wellington comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Matthew Steele is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wellington cracks Steele with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wellington lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Wellington.

Steele is rocked!
Wellington throws a monster overhand right that drops Steele! Wellington follows up with more strikes from mount and the fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:11 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Graham Wellington!