PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joey Bags (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ethan Strides (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bags comes to the cage accompanied by Princes of the Universe. Joey Bags could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ethan Strides's chin.

Bags
vs
Strides

190 cm
23
215 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

187 cm
26
203 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joey Bags!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ethan Strides!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Jonathan Paton and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strides is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Strides throws a sloppy head kick and Bags moves out of range easily.
Strides throws a head kick that misses.
Strides tries a head kick but it misses.
Bags misses with a wild combination.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Bags crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Strides - the referee stops the clock and Bags gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Strides. Bags manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Strides misses with the combination.
Strides avoids the body shot from Bags.
Good leg kick by Strides there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Bags fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Strides avoids it really well and circles away.
Strides lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Joey Bags has been cut.
Bags is looking to clinch but Strides is avoiding it.
Strides tries to clinch but Bags is having none of it.
Strides tries to clinch but Bags is having none of it.
Strides tries to clinch but Bags is having none of it.
Strides lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bags pushes Strides up against the cage in a clinch.
Knees to the body from Strides.
Strides is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Bags is breathing heavily.
Bags wants a takedown but no success here.
A right hand to the body from Strides.
Bags looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Bags. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strides lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Strides working Bags over with knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Strides.
Strides connects with a knee to the head.
Nice body punch from Strides.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Strides lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Strides unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Bags takes a knee right on the jaw!
Strides lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Strides putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Bags in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Strides lands a nice shot to the body.
Bags takes a knee right on the jaw!
Bags takes a knee right on the jaw!
Bags fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Strides connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bags's face.
Strides lands a knee to the head.
Strides scores with a knee to the head.
Bags is looking to break free of the clinch but Strides has double underhooks.
Strides lands a good knee to the midsection. Bags won't want to take too many of those.
Bags tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strides presses Bags against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A short body shot lands from Strides as the two fighters clinch.

Bags jumps into guard, dragging Strides to the mat.
Bags keeping full guard, as Strides tries to pass.
Strides working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Strides controls from within his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bags looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Bags has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Strides is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Bags.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strides slows the pace down.
Bags is looking for a sweep.

Strides decides to stand up, so the ref orders Bags to his feet.
A big right from Bags misses.
Strides tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Bags counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Strides keeping moving, preventing Bags from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Strides scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Strides lands a two punch combo.
Strides lands with a nice body kick.
Strides throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Bags looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
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!
Bags seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Strides does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Bags is working for a submission of some sort.
Strides won't allow Bags to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Strides dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Bags's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bags keeps the fight on the outside.
Bags dives in and grabs Strides's left leg, looking for a takedown. Strides pushes down on Bags's head and hops out.
Strides throws a head kick that half lands.

Bags forces Strides back against the cage and clinches.
Strides lands a shot to the body.
Bags's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Bags has had enough of the clinch but Strides keeps him there for the moment.
Strides is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Strides connects with a knee to the head.
Bags's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Bags misses with a punch on the inside.
Strides throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bagss head.
Strides unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bags lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Strides unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bags lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Strides lands an elbow inside.
Strides lands with a light punch inside.
Strides lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Bags takes a knee to the side of the body.
Strides scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Strides gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Bags takes an elbow to the temple.
Strides connects with a knee to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Strides lands an elbow just above Bags 's eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strides lands an elbow just above Bags 's eye.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Strides gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Bags tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Strides smiles and moves away.
Bags loads up on a big right hand but Strides slips the punch.
Ethan Strides seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Strides moves into range and clinches up with Bags.
Strides connects with a knee to the head.
Bags tries to pull guard but Strides won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Bags. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strides landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Bags looking for a takedown.
Strides lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Bags.
Bags is trying to break free.
Bags is trying to break the clinch but Strides is controlling him.
Strides creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Bags's defenses.
Nice elbow from Strides.
Strides misses with a knee strike.
Strides tries to work over Bags's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bags fails to pull guard.
Strides unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Strides lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Bags has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Strides is trying to keep an underhook but Bags manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strides is staying active underneath Bags, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Strides is defending against the submission attempts here by Bags.
Bags throws a strike but Strides avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Bags has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Strides has his hands on Bags's head, controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strides keeping moving, preventing Bags from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strides tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Bags drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Strides dives on top into guard.
Bags keeping full guard, as Strides tries to pass.
Bags working a defensive guard here.

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.
Strides tries to stand but Bags is controlling from the bottom.
Strides wants to control from the top but Bags keeps moving.
Strides pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bags is keeping the position for now.

Bags is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Strides defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Strides showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bags takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Strides tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bags paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bags throws a nice looking combination but Strides bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Donk. Bags catches Strides right on the button with a cross.
Bags blocks a head kick by Strides.
Strides stuffs the takedown.
Strides tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ethan Strides seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bags will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bags avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Strides fails with an attempt to clinch.
Strides misses with a double jab

so Bags counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Strides holds on and takes a little breather.
Bags pushing down on Strides's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strides manages to get to full guard.
Strides pulls Bags in close to his closed guard and prevents Bags from doing any damage or advancing position.
Strides is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bags prevents Strides from getting back to his feet.

That's two 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.
Bags pushes down on Strides's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Bags looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Bags is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Strides has managed to free his arm - good work.

Strides makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strides pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Strides closes the distance but Bags moves to the side
and Bags makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ethan Strides is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Strides will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bags tries to bum rush Strides with a series of wild strikes but Strides uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Strides tries to close the distance and clinch but Bags swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Strides tries to clinch but Bags moves away

and Bags holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ethan Strides seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Bags 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 Joey Bags. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bags is trying to break free.
Bags wants to get back to striking at distance but Strides won't allow it.
Strides lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Joey Bags has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Strides landing knees to the body.
Strides is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Strides comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

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.
Strides scores with a nice hook to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Bags's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Strides landing knees to the head.
Bags misses with a hook to the ribs.
A knee to the head by Strides.
Strides crunches a lovely knee into Bags's ribcage.
Strides blocks a body shot from Bags.
Bags tries to throw a body punch but Strides avoids it by throwing Bags back against the cage.
Bags misses with some punches.
Bags fails to pull guard.
Strides scores a nice knee to the body.
Strides unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bags lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Bags misses with a hook to the ribs.
Strides lands with a right to the head.
Still in the clinch, Strides scores with a nice short uppercut.
Bags tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Strides unloads a knee to the mid-section.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joey Bags showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Strides 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ethan Strides!