PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cian Huan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julius Strom (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.

Huan
vs
Strom

184 cm
18
189 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cian Huan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Julius Strom!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Strom fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Huan, pushing him back against the cage.
Huan wants to stall.
Strom is trying to break the clinch but Huan is controlling him.
Strom blocks the elbow strike.

Strom decides to pull guard.
Strom pulls Huan in to control the position.
Huan advances to half guard.
Strom tries to kick Huan off but Huan keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Huan missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Strom controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Huan wants to free his trapped foot but Strom is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Huan is trying to control the action in half guard but Strom is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huan stops Strom from getting back to his feet.
Huan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Strom defending well though.
Huan is trying to control the action in half guard but Strom is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Strom drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Huan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Strom on the ground.
Huan thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Huan 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.
Strom content to stall in guard here.
Strom wants to control from the top but Huan keeps moving.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Huan tries to strike from the bottom.
Huan wants to sweep here but Strom controlling him for the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Strom looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Strom looks gassed!
Huan throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Strom content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Strom stops Huan from getting back to his feet.
Strom is taking a breather. Huan says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huan misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Huan tries to get to full guard but Strom has control of the leg.
Strom is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Strom prevents Huan from improving his position.
Strom with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Huan tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Strom is thwarting Huan's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Strom bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Huan looking for a sweep but Strom has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Huan tries to lock up and control but Strom gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Strom sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strom connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
A nice elbow there by Strom.
Huan gets back to half guard.
Strom content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julius Strom dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Strom fails with the takedown.
A head kick misses from Huan.
Huan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Huan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Strom avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Huan throws a nice outside leg kick.
Cian Huan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Huan has a takedown stuffed.
Huan scores with a leg kick.
Huan lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Strom shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Huan is looking for a sweep. Strom is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huan is pressing down on Strom's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Huan wants to improve his position but instead Strom has moved into half guard.
Strom trying to control the pace.

Strom is trying to work for a kimura but Huan is defending well.
Huan is trying to maintain the position but Strom is very close to passing his half guard.
Strom slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Huan is trying to maintain the position but Strom is very close to passing his half guard.
Strom has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Huan is wriggling around trying to escape.
Strom looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Strom blocks Huan's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Strom avoids the attempt from Huan to control.

Strom is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Huan to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Huan shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Strom stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Strom on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Strom fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Huan sprawls well initially but Strom persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Strom moves into full mount! Huan won't be happy about that!
Huan tries to lock up and control but Strom gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strom looking to control and managing it successfully.
Huan really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Strom avoids the attempt from Huan to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strom looking to control and managing it successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Huan is looking to improve his position but Strom isn't that keen on the idea.
Strom content just to control the position here.
Huan is trying desperately to improve position.
Huan tries to hold on but Strom postures up.

Strom working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julius Strom showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Huan stuffs the takedown.
Huan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Strom shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Huan pinned against the cage. Huan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cian Huan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Huan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Huan throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Huan is looking to slow Strom down with leg kicks.
Strom fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cian Huan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Julius Strom.
Good shot there by Huan.
Strom looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Huan lands a nice leg kick that just misses Strom's sensitive parts.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Huan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Huan catches Strom with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huan defending well as Strom loads up on a big left hand.
Huan tests Strom's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Huan feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Strom's calf.
Strom looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Strom shoots and misses
and Huan makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Strom is trying hard to land a takedown here. Huan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Strom scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Strom content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Huan can't do much from the bottom here.
Huan is trying to escape the position but Strom is controlling the position.
Huan tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strom taking a breather here.
Strom working the ground and pound.
Huan is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Strom is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Huan is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Strom is chipping away with strikes.
Huan is pushing Strom's head away, looking to escape. Strom manages to hold on to the position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huan is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Huan is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Strom asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Strom looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Huan taking a bit of punishment here - Strom scoring with strikes.

Strom tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Huan wants to control but Strom postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Strom is trying to get an arm triangle but Huan is defending well.
Strom has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Strom controlling from mount.
Huan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Cian Huan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Julius Strom is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Strom with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Julius Strom.
I've got Strom winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julius Strom!