PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Blake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Strikes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Blake
vs
Strikes

175 cm
17
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
33
180 lbs
26 - 28 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Blake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 28 - 1, fighting out of London, Carlos Strikes!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Andrew Berry and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blake looks for a takedown but Strikes sprawls well.

Strikes closes the distance and pushes Blake back into the cage.
Strikes tries to circle away but Blake has him pinned against the cage.

Strikes breaks from the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Blake is defended easily by Strikes.
Blake is trying hard to land a takedown here. Strikes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Blake. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strikes looks to land a combination but Blake avoids it well.

Strikes closes the distance and clinches.
Strikes lands a body punch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Strikes.
Strikes stalling in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strikes receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Strikes tries to break the clinch but Blake is controlling the position.
Strikes is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Blake jumps guard but Strikes turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Strikes landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Strikes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Blake has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Strikes connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Michael Blake has been cut.

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

Strikes moves into range and clinches up with Blake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Strikes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Strikes gets a clinch.

Strikes breaks from the clinch.

Strikes drives through and clinches with Blake against the cage.
Blake is trying to pull guard but Strikes turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Strikes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Strikes throws a sloppy head kick and Blake moves out of range easily.
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!
Strikes displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Blake.
Blake tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Strikes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strikes connects with a high kick.
Blake has a takedown stuffed.

Blake drives through with a takedown into guard.
Blake throwing strikes but missing.
Blake in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Blake drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Strikes dives on top into guard.
Strikes throwing strikes but missing.
Strikes trying to control but Blake is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blake working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Strikes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Strikes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Blake being controlled here, momentarily.
Strikes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Strikes trying to stand up but can't free himself from Blake's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Strikes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Blake's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Strikes scores with a three punch combo!
Blake tries to score a power double leg takedown but Strikes sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Blake somewhat.
Blake tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Strikes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Blake avoids a punch combination nicely.
Strikes throws a head kick that half lands.
Strikes misses with a head kick.
Blake shoots in but Strikes avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Blake tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Strikes defends well and Blake ends up having to push Strikes into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Blake. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strikes lands a shot to the body.

Strikes breaks from the clinch.
Michael Blake seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blake shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Strikes sprawls well. Strikes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Blake gets slowly back to his feet.
Blake shoots in but no luck this time.
Carlos Strikes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blake fails with a takedown attempt.

Blake closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Strikes's guard.
Blake wants to pass the guard but Strikes is keeping the position.
Strikes pulls Blake in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strikes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Blake is controlling him.
Blake with a flurry of punches that miss.
Blake throwing strikes from guard but Strikes blocks nicely.

Strikes pushes Blake off and scrambles back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blake shoots in looking for a takedown but Strikes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Blake's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Strikes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Carlos Strikes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blake shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Strikes as he jumps to the side.
Carlos Strikes seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Blake scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Strikes is trying to control but can't.
Strikes wants to improve his position but Blake is controlling well.
Strikes is still trying to improve position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strikes gets full guard.
Strikes trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Blake postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Strikes is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Blake, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strikes wants to control from the top but Blake keeps moving.

Blake throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Strikes escapes and throws Blake's legs to the side, diving into side control!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Strikes is staying tight to Blake's torso, preventing him from escaping.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Strikes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Michael Blake's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Blake is trying hard to land a takedown here. Strikes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Blake drives through with a takedown into guard.
Blake might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Strikes working a defensive guard here.
Strikes pulls Blake in to control the position.

Blake is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Strikes is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Strikes has escaped and now he's on top!

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strikes's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Strikes trying to stand up but can't free himself from Blake's guard.

Strikes avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Blake working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Strikes has passed into half guard!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blake tries to get to full guard but Strikes has control of the leg.
Strikes is taking a breather. Blake says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Blake tries to roll over but Strikes keeps him under control.

Carlos Strikes has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Strikes stuffs the takedown.
Blake blocks a head kick by Strikes.
Strikes scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Strikes has Blake up against the cage in a clinch.

Strikes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Strikes clinches.
Strikes pressing his opponent against the cage.
Strikes tries to break free but Blake pushes him back against the cage.
Blake takes a knee to the side of the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Strikes dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The crowd are getting on Strikes's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carlos Strikes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Strikes 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carlos Strikes!
A relieved looking Carlos Strikes thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.