PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Seth Strange (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kostya Tszyu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kostya Tszyu is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Strange
vs
Tszyu

178 cm
22
168 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

175 cm
21
161 lbs
7 - 3 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Sharon Needles Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Seth Strange!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kostya Tszyu!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Wesley Smith and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tszyu ducks under a wild hook from Strange.
Tszyu lands a jab to the head.
Strange uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tszyu.
Strange swings for the body but Tszyu moves out of range.
Strange throws a hook to the side of Tszyu's head but Tszyu sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Strange misses with a wild body shot.
Tszyu avoids the body shot from Strange.
Strange throws a body punch but Tszyu moves out of range.
Tszyu ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tszyu lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Strange missing with a left hand there. Tszyu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tszyu misses with a wild combination.
Strange takes one to the chin there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strange misses with a jab to the body
and Tszyu counters with a nice uppercut.
Tszyu lands an overhand right.
Strange throws a sloppy body shot
and Tszyu counters with a right hand to the body.
Strange throws a combination that misses
and Tszyu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Strange misses with a hook to the body
and Tszyu counters with a straight right hand.
Strange swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Tszyu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Strange swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Tszyu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Strange swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Strange swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Tszyu counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Strange throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tszyu sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tszyu dips to his left and cracks Strange with an uppercut!
Tszyu throws a hook to the side of Strange's head but Strange sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tszyu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Strange throws out the jab.
Tszyu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Strange.
Strange swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Tszyu counters with a shoot takedown. Strange fights it but they end up in guard.
Tszyu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Strange utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tszyu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Strange utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tszyu throws a big right hand that misses.
Strange utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tszyu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tszyu's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
The fighters circling - Strange throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Strange is looking to wear down Tszyu with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Strange moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A jab from Tszyu does it's job there.
Strange is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tszyu.
Nice defenses there by Tszyu.
Tszyu keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Tszyu's corner calls for a 1-2. Tszyu obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Strange misses with a jab to the body
and Tszyu counters with a stiff right hand.
Tszyu ducks under a wild hook from Strange.
Strange swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Tszyu cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A lazy left from Tszyu finds it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strange misses with a shot to the body
and Tszyu counters with a series of strikes. Strange will be more careful next time no doubt.
Strange misses with a body shot
and Tszyu counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Tszyu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A big left from Tszyu misses.
Strange misses with a body shot
and Tszyu counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Strange loads up on a big right hand but Tszyu slips the punch.
Tszyu works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Tszyu lunges at Strange with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Strange's hand.
Strange throws a left and a right that both miss
and Tszyu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tszyu is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Strange had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Strange swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Tszyu counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kostya Tszyu dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Strange misses with a double jab
and Tszyu counters with a straight right hand.
Strange misses with a combination

and Tszyu counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Strange utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tszyu controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Tszyu with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tszyu trying to control but Strange is working from the bottom.
Tszyu postures up in Strange's guard and throws a big left but Strange blocks it.
Tszyu trying to control but Strange is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tszyu postures up in Strange's guard and throws a big left but Strange blocks it.
Tszyu trying to control but Strange is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Strange swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Tszyu counters with a nice uppercut.
Strange misses the body punch
letting Tszyu counter with a right hand.
A big right from Strange misses.
Strange throws a left and a right that both miss

and Tszyu counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Tszyu is nestled in close to Strange, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Strange regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Tszyu.
Strange keeping moving, preventing Tszyu from controlling successfully.
Tszyu has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tszyu makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tszyu working some strikes from top position.
Tszyu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tszyu pushes down on Strange's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Tszyu missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Strange blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tszyu.
Strange blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tszyu.
Tszyu tries to pass to full mount but Strange defends it.
Tszyu missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Strange slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Tszyu trying to control but Strange is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strange avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tszyu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Strange.
Strange looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Tszyu slips under a jab from Strange.
Nice defenses there by Tszyu.
Seth Strange seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strange is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Tszyu throws a hook but Strange blocks it.
Strange loads up on a big right hand but Tszyu slips the punch.
Strange jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Strange ducks under a wild hook from Tszyu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Strange throws a sloppy body shot
and Tszyu counters with a series of strikes. Strange will be more careful next time no doubt.
A big right from Strange misses.
Strange misses the body punch
letting Tszyu counter with a right hand.
Strange digs a good hook to Tszyu's body.
Tszyu slips under a jab from Strange.
Left hook, right uppercut from Tszyu.
Nice shot lands for Tszyu.
Tszyu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Strange.
Tszyu moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Strange works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kostya Tszyu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Strange's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Tszyu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Strange.
Strange falls off balance throwing a combination
and Tszyu counters with a straight right hand.
Tszyu on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Strange throws out a loose jab but Tszyu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Strange throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Tszyu counters with a single leg into guard. Strange didn't expect that.
Tszyu chips away with some ground and pound.
Strange keeping moving, preventing Tszyu from controlling successfully.
Tszyu lands a couple of elbows.
Tszyu trying to control the position from guard on top but Strange is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tszyu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tszyu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tszyu trying to control but Strange is working from the bottom.
Tszyu works over Strange with some ground and pound from guard.
Tszyu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tszyu trying to control the position from guard on top but Strange is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tszyu is looking to work some ground and pound but Strange has wrist control.
Tszyu is looking to work some ground and pound but Strange has wrist control.
Tszyu throws a big right hand that misses.
Tszyu is looking to work some ground and pound but Strange has wrist control.
Strange working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tszyu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tszyu with a flurry of punches that miss.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Strange misses with a double jab
and Tszyu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Strange throws a hook but Tszyu blocks it.
Tszyu might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Tszyu steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Strange.
A shot to the body from Strange misses

and Tszyu counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tszyu.
Tszyu thows a big elbow that misses.
Tszyu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tszyu trying to control but Strange is working from the bottom.
Tszyu throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tszyu is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Strange working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tszyu.
Kostya Tszyu has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tszyu throwing strikes from guard but Strange blocks nicely.
Tszyu not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Seth Strange has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A big left from Tszyu misses.
Tszyu scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Seth Strange is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Strange throws a combination that misses
and Tszyu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

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.
Tszyu misses with a hook.
Strange falls off balance throwing a combination
and Tszyu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A shot to the body from Strange misses
and Tszyu counters with a stiff right hand.
Tszyu slips under a jab.
Strange swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Tszyu counters with a single leg into guard. Strange didn't expect that.
Tszyu trying to control the position from guard on top but Strange is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tszyu postures up and lands a big shot to Strange's brow.
Tszyu throwing strikes from guard but Strange blocks nicely.
Strange keeping full guard, as Tszyu tries to pass.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kostya Tszyu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tszyu 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kostya Tszyu!