PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Strong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Townsend (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Strong could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Brian Townsend's chin.

Strong
vs
Townsend

175 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

183 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Strong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Brian Townsend!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A left and a right from Strong both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Brian Townsend has been cut.
Strong misses with a jab, cross combination.
Strong throws a right hand that Townsend ducks under and follows up with a left that Townsend also avoids with ease.
Strong throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Strong looks to land a combination but Townsend avoids it well.
Townsend dodges the punch combination from Strong.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Townsend.
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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Strong is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Townsend has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Strong swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sloppy strikes from Strong. Those never looked like landing.
Mike Strong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Townsend throws a right hand that Strong ducks under and follows up with a left that Strong also avoids with ease.
A combination from Strong does no damage.
Strong misses with a jab, cross combination.
Strong avoids a punch combination nicely.
Strong fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strong misses with a jab, cross combination.
Townsend is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Strong.

Strong gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Townsend has Strong pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Strong manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Townsend throws a knee to the head but misses.
Strong is trying to push Townsend away but Townsend has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Townsend wants to break the clinch but can't.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Townsend tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Strong breaks the clinch.
Strong moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Townsend changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Strong looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Townsend controlling the position.
Strong parries the strikes from Townsend easily there. Townsend is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Strong to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Townsend cracks Strong with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Strong is trying to improve his position.
Townsend creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Strong sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Townsend decides to stand back up.
Townsend shoots in but Strong avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mike Strong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brian Townsend.
Strong stalks Townsend and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Townsend's face. Townsend staggers backwards, shaken.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Townsend explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Strong tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Townsend paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Strong's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Strong duly obliges.
Strong is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Strong looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Strong feints a jab promting Townsend to slip. Strong then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Townsend slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Strong keeps the fight on the outside.
Strong scores with a one two! Townsend had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Strong gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Townsend to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Townsend working some strikes from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mike Strong will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Brian Townsend's cut.
That's time! Strong's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A nice combination there by Strong.
Strong throws a nice looking combination but Townsend bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Strong gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Townsend showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Townsend postures up in Strong's guard and throws a big left but Strong blocks it.

Townsend drops back looking for a leg! Strong is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Strong manages to kick Townsend off! Townsend jumps back into Strong's guard.
Townsend sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Townsend loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Townsend controls from within his opponent's guard.
Townsend has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Brian Townsend hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Strong throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Townsend tries to clinch but Strong moves out of range.

Strong pushes Townsend up against the cage in a clinch.
Townsend has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Strong avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Strong is trying to force a seperation but Townsend has the dominant position.
Townsend is trying to pull guard but Strong has him pressed against the cage.
Townsend tries to circle away but Strong has him pinned against the cage.
Strong lands a right hand.
Strong wants to break the clinch but can't.
Townsend controlling the action here for a moment.
Townsend tries to pull guard but Strong holds him up against the cage and eventually Townsend drops back down to his feet.
Mike Strong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brian Townsend.
Strong is trying to force a seperation but Townsend has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strong looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Strong tries to circle away but Townsend has him pinned against the cage.
Strong wants to get back to striking at distance but Townsend won't allow it.
Strong gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Townsend.

Strong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Townsend darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Townsend tries to pass to full mount but Strong defends it.
Strong is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Townsend not doing much here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Brian Townsend has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Strong tries to clinch up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Townsend showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Brian Townsend's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A punch combination from Strong misses.
Strong throws a nice looking combination but Townsend bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Strong throws a right hand that Townsend ducks under and follows up with a left that Townsend also avoids with ease.
Strong tries to clinch but Townsend moves away

and Townsend counters by clinching up.
Strong wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Strong is trying to break the clinch but Townsend has him pressed against the cage.
Strong wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Townsend has him pressed against the cage.
Townsend is looking to take this one to the mat.

Townsend breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Townsend shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Townsend slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strong on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Townsend trying to control the pace.

Townsend decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Townsend is looking to clinch.
A punch combination from Strong misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strong misses with a series of wild punches.
Strong throws a series of punches but Townsend avoids them all with ease.
Strong misses with a few strikes there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Strong tries to bum rush Townsend with a series of wild strikes but Townsend uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Strong throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Townsend is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Townsend dives in and scores a takedown into Strong's guard.
Townsend chips away with some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Townsend pushing down on Strong's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Strong is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Townsend scores with a couple of nice shots.

Townsend stands up from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Strong, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Townsend looking to score a takedown here. Strong is defending well but Townsend drives through and ends up in Strong's guard.
Strong is looking to stand up but Townsend isn't so interested in that idea.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Townsend accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Townsend is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Townsend is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Townsend gets to his feet - Strong follows without any prompting.
Strong misses with a jab, cross combination.

Strong gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Strong can't keep his opponent in guard - Townsend advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Townsend is figuring out what he wants to do next.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian Townsend comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Townsend 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Townsend!