PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rap Reiplinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steele comes to the cage accompanied by Lil Wayne-Drop the World. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Steele
vs
Reiplinger

194 cm
33
288 lbs
23 - 23 - 0

199 cm
30
254 lbs
23 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 23 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ben Steele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rap Reiplinger!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steele throws a jab when Reiplinger was well out of range.
Steele with a hook.
Steele lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Steele.

It looks like Rap Reiplinger has been cut.
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!
Reiplinger fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Steele manages to avoid it.
Steele lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Steele looks to land a left hand but Reiplinger moved out of range nicely.

Steele lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Reiplinger sprawling to the canvas. Steele follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Reiplinger hang on?

Reiplinger is rocked!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Reiplinger wants to improve his position but Steele is controlling well.
Reiplinger is still in real trouble! Can Steele finish him?

Steele seems to be looking for submissions.
Steele prevents Reiplinger from improving his position.
Reiplinger seems to have recovered his senses.
Steele lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Reiplinger looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Reiplinger gets back to full guard.

Reiplinger working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Steele doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Steele manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Reiplinger is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele landing some decent shots from guard.
Steele lands a couple of elbows.
Steele wants to control from the top but Reiplinger keeps moving.
Steele cracks Reiplinger with a solid left hand.
Steele throws a big elbow that misses.
Reiplinger has momentary wrist control but Steele slips an elbow through the middle.
Steele postures up in Reiplinger's guard and throws a big left but Reiplinger blocks it.
Reiplinger keeping moving, preventing Steele from controlling successfully.

Reiplinger looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Reiplinger had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Steele defends it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Reiplinger looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reiplinger has momentary wrist control but Steele slips an elbow through the middle.

Reiplinger is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Steele defends well.
Steele landing with the ground and pound.

Reiplinger had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Steele defends it easily.
Reiplinger keeping moving, preventing Steele from controlling successfully.

Reiplinger escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Steele gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steele with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Steele drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Steele jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reiplinger is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Steele defends well.
Steele pushing down on Reiplinger's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Reiplinger is looking for a sweep. Steele is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Steele is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Reiplinger defends it well.
Reiplinger is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Steele's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Steele's back!

Reiplinger is persistently looking for the submission but Steele is defending it well.
Steele has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Steele is really stuck here.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele wants to get back to his feet.
Steele wants to control his opponent's hands but Reiplinger gets his hands free.

Steele defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Reiplinger's arms.
Steele wants to escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Steele is having to fend off submission attempts from Reiplinger, who is looking to sink in the choke. Reiplinger doesn't have the hooks in though and Steele manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Reiplinger keeping moving, preventing Steele from controlling successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Reiplinger has momentary wrist control but Steele slips an elbow through the middle.
Steele with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Steele trying to control the position from guard on top but Reiplinger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Steele dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rap Reiplinger's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Reiplinger misses with a two punch combination.
Reiplinger slips a jab and a cross from Steele.
Reiplinger tries to bum rush Steele with a series of wild strikes but Steele uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Reiplinger slips a jab and a cross from Steele.
Steele throws a shot from downtown. Reiplinger moves away and avoids it.
Steele misses the shot to the body.
Reiplinger 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 Reiplinger off to one side.
Reiplinger throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Reiplinger moves in looking to clinch but Steele pushes him off.
Reiplinger finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Reiplinger scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Reiplinger lunges at Steele with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Steele's hand.
Steele swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Reiplinger waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Steele.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele misses with a double jab.
Reiplinger takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That has opened up Rap Reiplinger's cut even more.
Reiplinger throws a nice looking combination but Steele bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Reiplinger takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Steele connects with a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Reiplinger connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Steele throws a right hand that Reiplinger ducks under and follows up with a left that Reiplinger also avoids with ease.
Ben Steele is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Steele scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Reiplinger is breathing heavily.
Steele avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Steele throws a series of punches but Reiplinger moves out of range.
A big right from Steele misses.
Reiplinger moves away from the strike by Steele.
Steele avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Reiplinger misses with a jab, cross combination.
Reiplinger takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele scores with a jab.

The cut above Rap Reiplinger's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Jab by Steele.
Reiplinger takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Steele throws a hook but Reiplinger blocks it.
Steele keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Reiplinger.
Ben Steele is winning the standup battle so far.
Reiplinger shoots in for a double leg but Steele sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Reiplinger takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Reiplinger tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Steele was well out of range. Poor timing from Reiplinger.
Steele scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Steele looks to throw the jab but Reiplinger is out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Steele. Those never looked like landing.
Reiplinger throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Steele stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Reiplinger takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Reiplinger ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Steele moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steele drops Reiplinger with a big left hand and mounts him. Reiplinger is in big trouble!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steele connects with a bit shot that sees Reiplinger covering up! More strikes from Steele and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Steele is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ben Steele!
Ben Steele spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.