PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sean McNamara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Logan Strauss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McNamara's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Massive Attack - Teardrop (House M.D.). Strauss has chosen Immigrant song-Led Zeppelin as his entrance music. Sean McNamara has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

McNamara
vs
Strauss

180 cm
28
203 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

191 cm
26
210 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Determined

Firebird Designs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sean McNamara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Logan Strauss!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McNamara bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Strauss's face as McNamara controls the position.
McNamara is looking to take a break and control but Strauss is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Strauss tries to improve position but can't.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Strauss struggling a bit here.
McNamara wants to lay and pray for a moment but Strauss keeps working.
McNamara tries to advance to mount but can't.
McNamara happy to just control the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sean McNamara.
McNamara is looking to clinch.

McNamara has Strauss up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Strauss manages to break the clinch.

Strauss tries to keep at a distance but McNamara has taken the fight into the clinch.

McNamara has hold of one of Strauss's legs. Strauss is fighting the takedown attempt but McNamara gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Strauss throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
McNamara trying to control but Strauss is working from the bottom.

Strauss looking for submissions from the bottom but instead McNamara passes into side control.
Strauss is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on McNamara's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
McNamara stalling.
Nice strikes from McNamara there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McNamara content to control rather than advance.
McNamara seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Strauss for as long as he can get away with.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sean McNamara.
Some wild striking there from McNamara.
Strauss slips a jab and a cross from McNamara.
Strauss shoots in but no luck this time.
McNamara misses with a series of wild punches.
McNamara rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Strauss moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from McNamara.

McNamara tries to sprawl but Strauss drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strauss stops McNamara from getting back to his feet.

Strauss is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. McNamara doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Strauss.
McNamara trying to control but Strauss postures up.

Strauss seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Strauss is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but McNamara still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, McNamara has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
McNamara wants to control but Strauss is keeping him busy.

McNamara stands up and we're back to a striking position.
A right-left combo lands from McNamara.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean McNamara dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Strauss with a poor takedown

and McNamara counters with a shoot takedown. Strauss fights it but they end up in guard.
McNamara 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.
Strauss trying to control the position.

Strauss is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
McNamara 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.

Strauss has his foot on McNamara's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McNamara works his way back into a safe position though.
Strauss keeping moving, preventing McNamara from controlling successfully.

Strauss looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Strauss is breathing heavily.
McNamara is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sean McNamara.

McNamara shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Strauss manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
McNamara trying to control but Strauss is working from the bottom.
McNamara's corner is telling him to maintain position.
McNamara trying to control the position from guard on top but Strauss is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Strauss has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McNamara can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sean McNamara overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Strauss had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. McNamara defends it easily.
Strauss can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as McNamara controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sean McNamara.

Strauss tries to sprawl but McNamara drives through with a takedown into half guard.
McNamara looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Strauss actively working from the bottom here.
Strauss is refusing to be controlled, as McNamara sits in half guard.
McNamara takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
McNamara winds up and cracks Strauss with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
McNamara seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Strauss does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
McNamara is controlling the pace.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Strauss is refusing to be controlled, as McNamara sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Sean McNamara wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
McNamara misses with a takedown

and Strauss counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Strauss wants to advance to full mount but McNamara doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
McNamara not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McNamara wants to stand and escape but Strauss is having none of it.
McNamara is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Strauss is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! McNamara is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! McNamara has escaped and now he's on top!
McNamara has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McNamara content to stall in guard here.

Strauss looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
McNamara wants to control from the top but Strauss keeps moving.

Strauss is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McNamara is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McNamara is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
McNamara might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Sean McNamara has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
McNamara throws a body kick the misses

and Strauss counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sean McNamara will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

McNamara throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Strauss.
Strauss with a lazy takedown attempt
and McNamara counters with a three punch combo that has Strauss backing up. Strauss nods at McNamara to acknowledge the strikes.

McNamara moves into the clinch.
McNamara wants a takedown.

McNamara tightens his grip and picks Strauss up, before dumping him to the ground. Strauss manages to land in guard.

Strauss is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McNamara defends well.
McNamara sitting in guard here, content to control.
McNamara trying to control the position from guard on top but Strauss is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

We're going to have a standup here because Sean McNamara wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Excellent takedown into side control there by McNamara.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strauss is being controlled here.
McNamara wants to lay and pray for a moment but Strauss keeps working.
Strauss tries to improve position but can't.
Strauss is not content to let McNamara control the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
A lull in the action here as McNamara stalls from top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Sean McNamara just wasn't active enough.
McNamara misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McNamara throws a combination that misses

and Strauss counters with a takedown into side control.
Strauss in side control, throwing shots but McNamara defends.
McNamara is looking to get back to his feet here but Strauss is keeping cool and he's managed to take McNamara's back.
McNamara just trying to survive but Strauss is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Strauss is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. McNamara defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Strauss doesn't have the hooks in and McNamara manages to turn into his guard.
McNamara controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strauss keeping moving, preventing McNamara from controlling successfully.

Strauss had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. McNamara defends it easily.

Strauss looking for a guillotine here but McNamara defends easily.
McNamara controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sean McNamara.
McNamara falls off balance throwing a combination

and Strauss counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for McNamara!
McNamara tries to lock up and control but Strauss gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
McNamara is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Strauss goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now McNamara is on top in guard.
McNamara looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Strauss trying to keep a closed guard but McNamara is proving a slippery customer.

McNamara avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
McNamara stays in close to Strauss's body and controls the position.
Logan Strauss has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McNamara trying to control but Strauss is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sean McNamara.
Well McNamara has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sean McNamara!