PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between George Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kron Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steele comes to the cage accompanied by Freak On A Leash. Gracie has chosen The Bravery - time won't let me go as his entrance music. 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.

Steele
vs
Gracie

184 cm
23
214 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
210 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Improved boxing
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

White Gorilla Nutrition

Hell's Balls Fightwear
Convicted

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, George Steele!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kron Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, William Peck and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Gracie or perhaps it was just good defense by Steele which made him look bad.
Steele is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Steele keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
George Steele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kron Gracie.
Gracie shoots in and drives through. Steele sprawls well.
Steele is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Steele lands with a right hand.
Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gracie looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Steele moves into the clinch.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Steele smiles and moves away.
Steele tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Steele looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Steele closes the distance and clinches.
Steele lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Steele gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gracie.
A nice right hand lands inside from Steele.
Steele scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Steele connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Steele just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Steele holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
Steele scores with a shoulder strike.
Steele lands a knee to the head.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Steele holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Steele smiles and moves away.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Steele wants to stand but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracieis looking to pass into half guard but Steele pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Steele is in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie working for a triangle but Steele defends it easily.
Gracie looks gassed!
Steele sitting in guard here, content to control.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.

Gracie working for a triangle but Steele defends it easily.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Steele passes into half guard.
Steele is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Steele is controlling well.
Steele slows the pace down in half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Steele is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Gracie flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gracie manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gracie throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Steele trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gracie thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Steele preventing the sweep.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Steele trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Steele defends easily.
Steele controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Steele from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Steele controls the pace.
Steele stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Steele dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Steele tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Steele tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Steele shows good takedown defense.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Steele wants to get back to full guard.
Steele knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Steele preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Steele is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Steele avoid being mounted?
Gracie throwing shots but Steele is blocking nicely.
Steele is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie is pressing down on Steele's thigh, looking to free his foot. Steele is holding on for now.
Gracie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie fails with the takedown.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Steele throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gracie's head.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Steele circles away.
George Steele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kron Gracie.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A nice left hand lands by Steele.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Steele just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Gracie goes for a takedown in the clinch but Steele prevents it.
Steele throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gracies head.
Steele with a knee to the head.
Steele lands an elbow that stopped Gracie in his tracks for a moment.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Steele won't allow it.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Steele won't allow it.
A short uppercut from Steele.
Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Steele avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele landing knees to the head.
Gracie dodges an elbow strike from Steele.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Gracie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Steele smiles and moves away.
Steele throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.

Steele takes the fight into the clinch.

Gracie manages to pull guard.
Steele preventing the sweep.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Steele controls the pace.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Steele stands up from Gracie's guard - Steele perhaps looking for a knockout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steele stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Steele.
George Steele is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Steele looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Steele tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.

Steele has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Steele gets underhooks to prevent Gracie's takedown attempt.
Steele lands an uppercut.
Steele scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Steele lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Gracie drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Steele lands an elbow inside that Gracie shrugs off.
Steele tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Steele just stands there and leans against the cage.
Steele with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Steele tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie has Steele pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Steele manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gracie looking for a takedown.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Steele creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Steele tries to land a knee to the head but Gracie blocks with his arms.
Steele misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele misses with a knee strike.
Steele throws a knee to the head but misses.
Steele lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Steele lands a knee to the head.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Gracie jumps guard but Steele stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Steele lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Steele throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Gracie blocks an uppercut.
Steele tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Steele gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Steele tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Gracie jumps guard and drags Steele to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Steele stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Steele trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Steele looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Steele dominated that second round.
That's time! Steele's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Steele tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Steele tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Steele circles away.
Steele fails with an attempt to clinch.
Steele is looking to clinch.
Steele wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.
Gracie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Steele swivels and escapes.
Steele lands a glancing blow to the side of Gracie's head.

Steele rushes Gracie and presses him up against the cage.
Steele lands with a light punch inside.
Steele lands a knee to the head.
Steele lands with a light punch inside.
Steele connects with a knee to the head.
Steele with a knee to the head.

Gracie is rocked!
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Steele.
Gracie is still on wobbly legs! Can Steele finish him?
Steele with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Steele lands a left hand.
Steele lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Steele won't allow it.
Gracie seems to have recovered his senses.
George Steele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kron Gracie.
Gracie can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Gracie jumps guard but Steele stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Steele with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gracie jumps guard but Steele stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gracie jumps guard but Steele stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Steele smiles and moves away.

Gracie scores a takedown into full mount!

Gracie is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Steele is surviving well by controlling Gracie's body position as best he can.
Steele is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Gracie has hold of Steele's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Steele manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Gracie tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Gracie looking to ground and pound but Steele is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie working for a guillotine from mount but Steele is in no mood to give up.
Steele working to try and regain half guard.
Gracie misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Gracie avoids the attempt from Steele to control.
Gracie with the ground and pound from mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gracie thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele wants to control but Gracie is having none of it.
Steele sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Kron Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Steele won't allow it.
Gracie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Steele works his way to full guard. Good work.
Steele is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Steele is keeping the position.
Steele 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Steele saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice straight punches there by Steele. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Steele.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Steele.
Steele slow jab from Gracie misses its intended target.
Steele fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gracie shoots in and drives through. Steele sprawls well.
Steele tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Steele moves in looking to clinch but Gracie pushes him off.
Steele tries a head kick but it misses.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
George Steele seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Steele sprawls well.
Steele throws a head kick that Gracie semi-blocks.
Steele throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Steele clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Steele tries to clinch up.
Steele is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.
Steele throws a hook but Gracie avoids it easily.
Gracie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Steele is fending him off so far but Gracie persists. Nope, Steele circles away and we're back to standing.
Steele lands with a kick to the temple. Gracie shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Nice defenses there by Gracie.
The fight stays on the outside here - Steele looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
George Steele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kron Gracie.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Gracie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Steele's waist but Steele gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gracie off to one side.

Steele has closed the distance and engaged Gracie in a clinch.
Steele prevents the takedown attempt.
Steele makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Steele working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Steele lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Steele won't allow it.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Steele holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Steele.
Gracie jumps guard but Steele stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A short left from Steele.
Steele throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gracie blocks it with crossed arms.
Steele scores with a nice hook to the head.
Steele tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Steele tries to land a knee to the head but Gracie blocks with his arms.
Gracie looking for a takedown.
Steele looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Gracie jumps guard but Steele stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Steele prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gracie jumps guard but Steele stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Steele scores with a nice hook to the head.
Steele prevents the takedown attempt.
Steele throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gracie blocks it with crossed arms.
Steele throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Steele gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Steele tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Steele lands a knee to the head.
Steele looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Steele gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Steele lands a left hand.
Steele lands an uppercut.
Steele lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Steele scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Steele lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Steele pushes Gracie back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Steele lands a big knee from the Thai clinch and Gracie goes down hard! The ref takes a good look at him but he's still defending himself. Steele in side control.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Gracie seems a little lost for a moment, as Steele dominates the positioning.
Gracie is not content to let Steele control the position.
Gracie tries to bench press Steele off him but Steele keeps the position.
Steele cracks Gracie with a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Steele looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Steele tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Steele is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Steele tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Steele sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Steele tries a head kick but it misses.
Steele pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Steele tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Steele wants to clinch.
Steele looks to land a combination but Gracie avoids it well.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.
George Steele is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Steele wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Steele looks to throw the jab but Gracie is out of range.
Steele tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice takedown defense from Steele. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
Steele tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Steele is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Steele moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Steele had his way with Kron Gracie in 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Steele as Gracie shoots in.

Gracie scores a takedown into full mount!

Gracie jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Steele manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Gracie working away.
Gracie creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Steele sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Gracie is trying to ground and pound but Steele uses the momentary lack of control by Gracie to regain half guard.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Steele is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but Steele is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gracie is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Gracie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gracie is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Steele won't allow Gracie to pass to mount.
Steele keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gracie wants to free his trapped foot but Steele is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Steele keeping control of the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Steele.
Steele stuffs the takedown.
Steele fails in his attempt to clinch.
Steele connects with a looping right hand.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
George Steele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kron Gracie.
A big head kick from Steele and Gracie is sent sprawling to the canvas!

It looks like Kron Gracie has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steele thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Steele stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Steele from controlling successfully.
Gracie throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Steele is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gracie 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.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Steele throws a one two combo.
Kron Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie gets a takedown into half guard.
Gracie passes to full mount!

Gracie looking to secure an arm triangle but Steele defends it well.
Gracie prevents Steele from getting the reversal.

Steele defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Gracie.
Steele really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Steele avoids a series of strikes thrown by Gracie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie landing shots from mount.

Gracie working for a guillotine from mount but Steele is in no mood to give up.
Steele wants to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.
Steele regains half guard.
Gracie prevents Steele from standing back up.
Gracie thows a huge punch but Steele dodges it nicely.
Gracie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Steele controlling the position well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Steele keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

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 George Steele.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Steele, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 50:45
Judge William Peck scores the fight 50:44
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 50:44

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Steele!
George Steele is the new light heavyweight champion!