PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mertis Falandas (ranked 824 p4p, 1059 weight class) and Nicholaus Strauss (ranked 117 p4p, 146 weight class). Falandas kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Feed the Machine. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Falandas
vs
Strauss

185 cm
25
170
11 - 7 - 1

185 cm
23
182
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

FUClothing
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Mertis Falandas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nicholaus Strauss!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Francis DeMontford and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Falandas lands with a straight right. Strauss didn't see that one coming.
Strauss swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Strauss misses with an uppercut
and Falandas counters with a low kick, right behind Strauss 's knee.
Falandas missing with a left hand there. Strauss was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Strauss takes a swing at Falandas's ribcage but misses.
Strauss swings for the body but Falandas moves out of range.
Strauss throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A punch combination from Strauss misses.
Falandas looks to throw the jab but Strauss is out of range.
Strauss misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Falandas.
Strauss misses with a shot to the body
and Falandas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A punch combination from Strauss misses.
Strauss misses with a right hand
and Strauss takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Falandas looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Strauss is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

It looks like Mertis Falandas has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Strauss waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Falandas.
Strauss throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Strauss just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falandas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Strauss.
Strauss throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Falandas.
Falandas tries to counter by clinching up but Strauss breaks away and moves out of range.
Strauss is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Falandas rather than just go for the knockout.

Strauss closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Strauss.
Strauss scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Falandas lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Strauss's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Falandas stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A shot in the inside from Falandas.
Falandas fails to pull guard.
Strauss scores with a shoulder strike.
Strauss swings wildly with an uppercut but Falandas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Falandas lands with a light punch inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Strauss misses with a punch on the inside.
Strauss lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Falandas tries to land knees in the clinch but Strauss avoids the damage to the body.
Strauss lands a right hand that snaps the head of Falandas backwards.

Falandas manages to pull guard.

Falandas throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Strauss escapes and throws Falandas's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Strauss is looking to take a break and control but Falandas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Falandas is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strauss throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Falandas tries to improve position but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strauss moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Falandas tries to bench press Strauss off him but Strauss keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A lull in the action here as Strauss stalls from top position.
Falandas is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Falandas is working hard here to advance position.
Strauss taking a breather here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nicholaus Strauss dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mertis Falandas's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Strauss misses with a lunging right hand
and Falandas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Falandas lands a slapping body shot.
Strauss misses with a looping right.
Strauss scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Strauss throws a body shot but no joy.
Strauss rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Falandas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nicholaus Strauss seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice jab there from Strauss.
Falandas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
It seemed like Strauss was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Strauss circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nicholaus Strauss seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Falandas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Strauss manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Strauss tries to clinch but Falandas is having none of it.
Strauss jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Strauss moves into the clinch.
Strauss's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falandas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Strauss lands with a right to the head.
Falandas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Falandas swings wildly with an uppercut but Strauss uses good head movement to avoid it.
Falandas has a couple of punches blocked by Strauss.
Falandas misses with the head strike.
Falandas tries to throw a body punch but Strauss avoids it by throwing Falandas back against the cage.
Strauss lands with a light punch inside.
Strauss working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Strauss working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Falandas lands a right hand that snaps the head of Strauss backwards.
Falandas prevents a body shot from Strauss.
Strauss blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Falandas with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Strauss misses with the head strike.
Strauss just leaning against Falandas, taking a breather.
Falandas fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Falandas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Falandas digs a right hand underneath Strauss's ribcage. Strauss let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Strauss misses with a short punch on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Falandas throws a head punch that misses.
Nicholaus Strauss seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Falandas is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Strauss is defending well.
Strauss tries a body shot but Falandas blocks it.
Strauss is trying to maintain a safe position but Falandas gets an underhook and turns Strauss into the cage.
A short right from Strauss.
Falandas swings wildly with an uppercut but Strauss uses good head movement to avoid it.
Strauss lands a shoulder strike.
Strauss misses with the head strike.
Strauss stalling against the cage.
Falandas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Strauss can't find room to land a body shot as Falandas controls the action.
Strauss has Falandas pressed against the cage.
Strauss lands a left hand that snaps the head of Falandas backwards.
Strauss blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strauss tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Falandas's elbow.
Knees to the body from Falandas.
Falandas unloads a knee to the mid-section. Strauss lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Falandas misses with a body punch.
Falandas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Falandas lands with a right to the head.
A short right from Strauss on the inside.
Strauss softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Strauss misses with a punch to the body.
Falandas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Falandas tries a body shot but Strauss blocks it.
Falandas is trying to pull guard but Strauss turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mertis Falandas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Falandas.
Strauss misses with a punch to the body.
Falandas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short uppercut from Strauss.
Falandas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Strauss misses with a hook from the clinch.
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!
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Strauss has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Falandas lands with a light punch inside.
Falandas is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Strauss to keep the fight standing.
Strauss misses with some punches.
Falandas throws a head punch that misses.
Strauss lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Strauss lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Strauss lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Strauss lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Strauss.
Strauss tries to work over Falandas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Strauss throws a head punch that misses.
A left hand lands to the body for Strauss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Strauss swings wildly with an uppercut but Falandas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Strauss lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Strauss misses with a short punch on the inside.
Falandas throws a head punch that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Strauss.
Falandas misses with the head strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nicholaus Strauss showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mertis Falandas's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Strauss avoids the body shot from Falandas.
Strauss misses with a two punch combination.
Strauss on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Falandas tries to clinch there but Strauss circles away.
Falandas's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Strauss connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Falandas scrambles back to his feet.

Strauss darts in and clinches Falandas up against the cage.
Strauss prevents a body shot from Falandas.
Falandas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Strauss lands a shot to the body.
Falandas jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Strauss walks away with a smile on his face. Falandas gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Falandas takes the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Falandas jumps guard but Strauss turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Nice body punch from Strauss - that landed with a thud.
Falandas tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Strauss scores with a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strauss lands an uppercut.
Falandas lands a knee to the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Strauss.
Strauss is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Strauss is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Falandas has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Strauss avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mertis Falandas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strauss pressing his opponent against the cage.
Strauss tries to stall but Falandas uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A short left from Strauss.
Falandas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Falandas fails to pull guard.
Strauss misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Strauss.
Falandas throws a knee to the head but misses.
Falandas throws a punch but it's blocked by Strauss.
Mertis Falandas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strauss fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Falandas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Falandas blocking some punches.
Falandas scores with a shoulder strike.
A head punch on the inside from Falandas fails to land.
Falandas tries a body shot but Strauss blocks it.
Strauss lands a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Strauss scores with a shot to the side of Falandas's head.
A nice left hand lands by Strauss.
Strauss is working Falandas over against the cage.
Strauss effectively controlling the action here.
Strauss makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Falandas can't find room to land a body shot as Strauss controls the action.
Falandas throws a punch but it's blocked by Strauss.
Strauss taking a breather.
Strauss lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Falandas misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falandas misses with a punch on the inside.
Falandas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Strauss misses with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Falandas.
Falandas looking for a takedown.
Falandas misses with a hook to the ribs.
Strauss is trying to stall.
Falandas throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Strauss blocks it with crossed arms.
Nicholaus Strauss is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Strauss holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Falandas misses with a body punch.
Strauss effectively controlling the action here.
Falandas lands a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Falandas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Strauss takes a shot to the head.
Falandas tries to work over Strauss's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Falandas wants a takedown but no success here.
Falandas tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Strauss smiles and moves away.
Strauss keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Strauss connects with a body shot that sends Falandas's belly button to the back.
Falandas tests Strauss's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Falandas will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicholaus Strauss comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Strauss has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicholaus Strauss!
A less than humble Nicholaus Strauss misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.