PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mikey Day (ranked 2771 p4p, 4067 weight class) and Anton Strålman (ranked 288 p4p, 375 weight class). Strålman has chosen Three Kings as his entrance music. Anton Strålman has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Day
vs
Strålman

170 cm
28
155
12 - 10 - 1

172 cm
33
148
23 - 19 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mikey Day!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Anton Strålman!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Wesley Smith and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Day shoots for a double leg takedown but Strålman sprawls well. He's pushed Day's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Day looking to score a takedown here. Strålman is defending well but Day drives through and ends up in Strålman's guard.
Strålman trying to keep a closed guard but Day is proving a slippery customer.
Strålman pulls Day in close to prevent any damage.
Day seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Day tries to free his leg and advance position but Strålman is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strålman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Strålman keeping full guard, as Day tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Day wants to control from the top but Strålman keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Strålman has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Day throws a hook but Strålman blocks it.

Strålman forces Day back against the cage and clinches.
Day wants a takedown.
Day is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikey Day. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strålman tries a body shot but Day blocks it.

Strålman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice defenses there by Strålman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strålman lands a jab to Day's midsection.
Some bone on bone action there as Day checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Day looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Day closes the distance and clinches.
Day changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Strålman fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Strålman scores with a jab.
Day throws a low kick but Strålman moves out of range easily.
Day is trying hard to land a takedown here. Strålman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Day gets a clinch.
Strålman is trying to break the clinch but Day has him pressed against the cage.
Day wants a takedown.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Strålman tries to throw a body punch but Day avoids it by throwing Strålman back against the cage.
Strålman is trying to break the clinch but Day has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Strålman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Day shoots and misses
and Strålman counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Day is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Day moves into range and clinches up with Strålman.
Day is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Strålman gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Strålman creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Strålman breaks the clinch.
No joy there for Day, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A countering left hand to the body from Strålman misses.

Strålman tries to keep at a distance but Day has taken the fight into the clinch.
Strålman wants to break free but Day has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Day pulls guard.
Strålman wants to stand but Day is controlling his posture from full guard.
Day looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Strålman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Strålman slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Day tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Day is pulling down on Strålman's head. It's preventing any offense from Strålman, at least for the moment.
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 Mikey Day will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Strålman attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Day tries to counter with a takedown but Strålman is quick to defend against it.

Strålman instigates a clinch.
A short right from Strålman.
Strålman tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Day can't get the takedown.
Strålman can't find room to land a body shot as Day controls the action.
Day looking for a takedown.

Day breaks from the clinch.

Strålman pushes Day up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Day taking a breather.
Strålman fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Day trying to stall but Strålman improves his position.

Day gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strålman 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.
Day trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Strålman trying to keep a closed guard but Day is proving a slippery customer.
We've been hearing good reports from Day's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Day trying to control but Strålman is working from the bottom.
Day is looking to pass into half guard but Strålman pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Strålman is in guard.

Strålman preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Day wants to improve his position but instead Strålman has moved into half guard.
Day won't allow Strålman to pass to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strålman is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Day tries to get to full guard but Strålman has control of the leg.
Strålman wants to stand up but Day is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Day works his way to full guard. Good work.
Strålman sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mikey Day overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Day looking for a sweep. Not yet Day, not yet.
Day controls Strålman momentarily but Strålman frees himself.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Day drives through and clinches with Strålman against the cage.
Day is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikey Day. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The referee is keeping an eye on Day - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Day is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Strålman gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Strålman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Day tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Strålman swivels and escapes.
Strålman misses with a few strikes there.

Day shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Strålman napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Day tries to move to mount but Strålman blocks the move with his legs.
Day wants to lay and pray for a moment but Strålman keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Strålman tries to buck Day off but Day is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Strålman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Day dives in for a single leg takedown but Strålman sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Day moves out of range of the leg kick from Strålman.

Day feints and as Strålman raises his hands in defense, Day changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Day trying to control the position from guard on top but Strålman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Day is stalling in the full guard.
Day wants to pass the guard but Strålman is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Day trying to control the position from guard on top but Strålman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Strålman tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Day controlling from the top position.
Day wants to control from the top but Strålman keeps moving.
Day is stalling in the full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Day clinches.
Day goes for a takedown in the clinch but Strålman prevents it.
Strålman can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Day is trying to pull guard but Strålman has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikey Day. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strålman is trying to push Day away but Day has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Day tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A right handed body shot lands from Day.
Strålman throws a head punch that misses.
Strålman looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Day has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Strålman is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Day tries to pull guard but Strålman holds him up against the cage and eventually Day drops back down to his feet.
Strålman lands a left hand.
Strålman can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strålman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Day is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Strålman scores with a nice hook to the head.
Strålman wants to stall.
Strålman working hard to break the clinch.
Day has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Strålman is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Strålman tries for a takedown but Day manages to get underhooks.
Strålman slowing the pace effectively.
Day has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Strålman avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Day is trying to pull guard but Strålman turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Day swings wildly with an uppercut but Strålman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Strålman is working Day over against the cage.

Strålman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Strålman throws a body punch but Day moves out of range.
Strålman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Strålman misses with a two punch combination.
Strålman changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Strålman tries to clinch but Day is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Day ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Strålman darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Strålman swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jab from Strålman.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anton Strålman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Strålman has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anton Strålman!
Anton Strålman decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.