PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ciprian Bogatu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cid Strife (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Strife comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Tool - Ticks and Leeches kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Bogatu
vs
Strife

180 cm
25
175 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

183 cm
23
170 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ciprian Bogatu!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cid Strife!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Eliza Hachem and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strife throws a leg kick but Bogatu sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Strife throws a low kick but Bogatu avoids it.
A head kick misses from Strife.
Strife tries to clinch there but Bogatu circles away.

Bogatu closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Strife to the mat! Strife manages to get full guard.
Bogatu throwing strikes from guard but Strife blocks nicely.
Bogatu trying to control the position from guard on top but Strife is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bogatu throws and elbow that misses. Strife uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bogatu's guard. Nice move by Strife!
Strife trying to control the position from guard on top but Bogatu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Strife looking to sit in guard and control but Bogatu gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bogatu seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Bogatu trying to control the position from guard on top but Strife is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bogatu looking to sit in guard and control but Strife gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Strife wants to stand but Bogatu is controlling his posture from full guard.
Bogatu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Strife is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Strife stays in close to Bogatu's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bogatu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bogatu pulls Strife in close to prevent any damage.
Bogatu being controlled here, momentarily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Bogatu holds on and takes a little breather.
Strife won't allow Bogatu to sweep him here.
Strife 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strife's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Bogatu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Strife is one step ahead there.
Strife trying to control but Bogatu is working from the bottom.
Bogatu looking for a sweep. Not yet Bogatu, not yet.
Bogatu is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Strife trying to control but Bogatu is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Cid Strife.
Strife throws a head kick that misses.

Bogatu shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Strife napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Bogatu trying to control the position but Strife is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bogatu throws an elbow but Strife slips to the side and avoids it well.
Bogatu working the head and body with strikes.
Strife is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
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.
Bogatu trying to control the position but Strife is working away.
Bogatu slows the pace down.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The strikes coming from Bogatu are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ciprian Bogatu dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Strife misses with a wild body shot.

Bogatu shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Strife manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Bogatu content to stall in guard here.
Bogatu throws and elbow that misses. Strife uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bogatu's guard. Nice move by Strife!

Bogatu is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Bogatu takes an elbow to the forehead.
Strife putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Bogatu in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Strife connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bogatu's face.
Bogatu goes for a takedown attempt but Strife pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A solid leg kick lands there for Strife.
Bogatu shoots in for a takedown but Strife shows good takedown defense.

Strife clinches up with Bogatu and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bogatu takes an elbow to the temple.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bogatu is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Strife pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ciprian Bogatu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strife with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Strife crunches a lovely knee into Bogatu's ribcage.
Bogatu takes an elbow to the forehead.
Strife is pressed up against the cage. Bogatu has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Strife down to the mat. Strife avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Strife lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Strife fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bogatu manages to avoid it.
Strife lands a nice leg kick that just misses Bogatu's sensitive parts.
Strife tries a head kick but it misses.
Strife fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bogatu shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Strife defends it nicely.
Strife is looking to slow Bogatu down with leg kicks.
Bogatu tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Strife swivels and escapes.

Strife lands a big head kick that sends Bogatu tumbling to the mat! Strife takes a step backwards and waves Bogatu back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Bogatu is rocked!
Cid Strife seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bogatu stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Strife.
Oh Bogatu is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Strife closes the distance and lands a brutal uppercut that knocks Bogatu out! We're looking at the replay now - he was out before he hit the floor!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Cid Strife!
Cid Strife is the new welterweight champion!