PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pavel Svoboda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve McQueen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Svoboda
vs
McQueen

194 cm
23
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Pavel Svoboda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Steve McQueen!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Svoboda pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Svoboda shoots for a takedown but McQueen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The crowd cheers as Svoboda lands an impressive looking overhand right. McQueen doesn't seem phased though.

It looks like Steve McQueen has been cut.
Svoboda fails with a takedown attempt.
McQueen tries to clinch up.
No luck for McQueen with that takedown attempt.
Svoboda misses with a kick to the body.
Svoboda throws a right and a left that both miss.
McQueen fails to land the takedown.

McQueen gets a clinch.
McQueen has had enough of the clinch but Svoboda keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svoboda tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pavel Svoboda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McQueen slowing the pace effectively.
McQueen gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Svoboda.
A right hook to the body lands for McQueen.
McQueen wants to get back to striking at distance but Svoboda won't allow it.
McQueen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Svoboda pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Svoboda gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Svoboda seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McQueen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Svoboda perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
McQueen trying to control from the bottom.

Svoboda decides to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McQueen with a poor takedown

and Svoboda counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Svoboda tries to free his leg and advance position but McQueen is retaining full guard.
McQueen looking for a sweep. Not yet McQueen, not yet.
Svoboda looking to pass the guard.
Svoboda is working hard here to advance position.
Svoboda is breathing heavily.
McQueen looking to control.
McQueen wants to stand and escape but Svoboda is having none of it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
McQueen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Svoboda!
McQueen can't control as he wanted to and Svoboda manages to get the fight back to his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svoboda is looking to improve his position.
Svoboda wants to control but McQueen is keeping busy.

McQueen is looking for a kimura but Svoboda is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for McQueen to get the leverage.
Svoboda manages to get to full guard.
Svoboda seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McQueen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Svoboda working a defensive guard here.
Svoboda keeping moving, preventing McQueen from controlling successfully.

Svoboda is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McQueen is aware though and is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McQueen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Svoboda dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steve McQueen'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.

Svoboda tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Svoboda takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
A good leg kick by McQueen.
A head kick by Svoboda misses

and McQueen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
McQueen is looking to take this one to the mat.
Svoboda working hard to break the clinch.
McQueen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Svoboda's efforts to push away.
McQueen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Svoboda gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Svoboda is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables McQueen to keep the fight standing.

McQueen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

McQueen moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McQueen tries to score a body lock takedown but Svoboda shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Pavel Svoboda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve McQueen.
Svoboda wants to take the fight to the mat but McQueen manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Svoboda can't get the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

McQueen jumps guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McQueen is striking off his back. Svoboda thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
McQueen tries to roll over but Svoboda keeps him under control.
Svoboda wants to lay and pray for a moment but McQueen keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McQueen trying to control but Svoboda postures up.
McQueen preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

McQueen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Svoboda is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so McQueen is just riding it out for now. Svoboda eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svoboda tries to stand but can't do so whilst McQueen controls his leg.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Pavel Svoboda has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Svoboda is defended easily by McQueen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McQueen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Svoboda but Svoboda pushes him off and we're back to square one.
McQueen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Svoboda sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
McQueen ducks right into an uppercut from Svoboda.
McQueen shoots in looking for a takedown. Svoboda tries to sprawl out of it but McQueen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Svoboda manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Svoboda shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McQueen as he jumps to the side.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Svoboda shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Pavel Svoboda will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Steve McQueen's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Svoboda shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McQueen throws a sloppy head kick and Svoboda moves out of range easily.
Svoboda fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
McQueen scores with a head kick. Svoboda tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Pavel Svoboda has been cut.
McQueen tries to clinch up.
McQueen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

McQueen moves into range and clinches up with Svoboda.
Svoboda tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pavel Svoboda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McQueen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Svoboda walks away with a smile on his face. McQueen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svoboda slaps away a takedown attempt from McQueen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
McQueen tries to clinch but Svoboda moves away
and Svoboda counters with a one-two to the body.
Svoboda tries to close the distance and clinch but McQueen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Svoboda with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Svoboda looking to score a takedown here. McQueen is defending well but Svoboda drives through and ends up in McQueen's guard.
Svoboda trying to control but McQueen is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Svoboda wants to pass the guard but McQueen is keeping the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Pavel Svoboda wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Svoboda shoots in for a takedown but McQueen shows good takedown defense.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McQueen misses with a series of wild punches.
McQueen throws a head kick that misses.
Svoboda displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from McQueen.
Svoboda misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
McQueen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svoboda shoots for a double leg takedown but McQueen sprawls well. He's pushed Svoboda's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
McQueen shoots in for a takedown but Svoboda shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
McQueen tests Svoboda's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Svoboda misses with an attempted mid kick.
Svoboda is looking to clinch but McQueen is avoiding it.
McQueen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

McQueen gets caught napping as Svoboda dives in and scores a takedown. McQueen manages to retain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McQueen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Svoboda.
Pavel Svoboda overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Svoboda is fighting to break McQueen's control of his arms but McQueen is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
McQueen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McQueen is trying to control the position but Svoboda postures up.

Svoboda drops back looking for a leg! McQueen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and McQueen manages to kick Svoboda off! Svoboda jumps back into McQueen's guard.
Svoboda wants to get up but he can't break McQueen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pavel Svoboda showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Svoboda, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pavel Svoboda!