PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Soz Sztrova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cevada Bacon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sztrova comes to the cage accompanied by In Flames - Delight and Anger. Soz Sztrova is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Sztrova
vs
Bacon

190 cm
31
215 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

190 cm
27
213 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ Purple 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 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Soz Sztrova!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Cevada Bacon!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Daniel Bishop and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sztrova tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bacon defends well and Sztrova ends up having to push Bacon into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sztrova lands a shoulder strike.

Sztrova tightens his grip and picks Bacon up, before dumping him to the ground. Bacon manages to land in guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Sztrova 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.
Sztrova has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sztrova throwing strikes from guard but Bacon blocks nicely.
Bacon is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sztrova working some strikes from top position.

Sztrova drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sztrova jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Bacon looking for a sweep. Not yet Bacon, not yet.
Sztrova trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Sztrova is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Bacon is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Bacon has escaped and now he's on top!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Sztrova has his foot on Bacon's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bacon works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bacon stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sztrova swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Sztrova is looking for a triangle here but Bacon uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Sztrova throws Bacon to one side and escapes!
Bacon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bacon enables Sztrova to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bacon manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sztrova throwing strikes from guard but Bacon blocks nicely.
Bacon avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Sztrova has gone for a leg lock! Bacon slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sztrova's guard.

Sztrova is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Sztrova working for submissions but it's allowed Bacon to get to half guard.

Sztrova manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Bacon keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Bacon is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sztrova creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Sztrova turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Sztrova manages to end up in side control.
Bacon is trying to control Sztrova's posture but Sztrova avoids it.
Bacon is trying to improve his position.
Bacon can't do much from the bottom here.

Sztrova is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bacon knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Bacon's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Sztrova is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bacon knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Sztrova is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bacon knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sztrova in side control, throwing shots but Bacon defends.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sztrova is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bacon knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Sztrova stands up and beckons Bacon to his feet.

Bacon shoots in and gets a takedown into Sztrova's guard.
Bacon won't allow Sztrova to sweep him here.
Bacon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sztrova is keeping the position for now.

Sztrova working for a triangle but Bacon defends it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sztrova wants to stand up but Bacon is controlling him.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bacon wants to get up but he can't break Sztrova's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Soz Sztrova dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sztrova shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sztrova was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Sztrova working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Sztrova is trying to get an arm triangle but Bacon is defending well.
Sztrova works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Sztrova thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bacon is trying to control Sztrova's posture but Sztrova avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sztrova goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Bacon rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Sztrova's guard! Nice work there by Bacon!
Bacon prevents Sztrova from getting back to his feet.

Sztrova looking for subs off his back but Bacon has passed one foot through into half guard.
Bacon stops Sztrova from getting back to his feet.

Sztrova actively working from the bottom here.

Sztrova makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Bacon shoots for a takedown but Sztrova saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bacon tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Bacon.

Sztrova looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Sztrova is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bacon is looking for a sweep. Sztrova is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bacon is trying to control but can't.

Sztrova wants to work for an arm triangle but Bacon is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sztrova throwing shots but Bacon is blocking nicely.

Sztrova is working for a kimura but Bacon is defending it quite comfortably.

Sztrova is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bacon tries to kick Sztrova off but Sztrova keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Sztrova is working for a kimura but Bacon is defending it quite comfortably.
Bacon moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sztrova postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bacon trying to keep a closed guard but Sztrova is proving a slippery customer.

Sztrova drops back looking for a leg! Bacon is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bacon manages to kick Sztrova off! Sztrova jumps back into Bacon's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sztrova works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Sztrova wants to work for an arm triangle but Bacon is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Sztrova seems to be looking for submissions.

Sztrova is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bacon is just riding it out for now. Sztrova eventually gives up the hold.
Bacon is looking for a sweep. Sztrova is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Soz Sztrova dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Bacon fails with the takedown.
Sztrova shoots in looking for a takedown but Bacon manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sztrova's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sztrova shoots and misses

and Bacon counters with a shoot takedown. Sztrova fights it but they end up in guard.

Sztrova has an active guard here but Bacon has managed to pass into half guard.
It looks like Bacon is going to stand back up.

Sztrova is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bacon pulls his head out easily.
Sztrova is trying to stand.
Bacon prevents Sztrova from improving his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sztrova is trying to stand.
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!
Sztrova is trying to escape back to his feet but Bacon uses the scramble to pass into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bacon is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sztrova knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sztrova gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Bacon in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Sztrova regains half guard.
Sztrova is refusing to be controlled, as Bacon sits in half guard.

Bacon decides to return to a standing position.
Bacon tries a head kick but it misses.
Soz Sztrova is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sztrova tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bacon defends well and Sztrova ends up having to push Bacon into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Soz Sztrova. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sztrova has hold of one of Bacon's legs. Bacon is fighting the takedown attempt but Sztrova gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sztrova missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sztrova is looking to work some ground and pound but Bacon has wrist control.
Bacon working a defensive guard here.
Sztrova with a nice head shot there.
Bacon avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sztrova throws a big right hand that misses.
Soz Sztrova overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sztrova throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bacon is trying to keep Sztrova in close.
Sztrova works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Sztrova is working for a kimura but Bacon is defending it quite comfortably.

Sztrova is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bacon doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sztrova.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sztrova is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bacon defends it well.

Sztrova is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bacon defends it well.
Bacon is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sztrova tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bacon knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Sztrova is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bacon is just riding it out for now. Sztrova eventually gives up the hold.

Sztrova is looking for a kimura here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bacon is trying to get back to full guard.

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 Soz Sztrova.
Well Sztrova 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight for Soz Sztrova!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Soz Sztrova!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for Soz Sztrova!

Soz Sztrova wins by unanimous decision!
Our winner, Soz Sztrova, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.