PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Strikes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Lotus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lotus has chosen Eye of the tiger as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Strikes
vs
Lotus

186 cm
38
180 lbs
32 - 33 - 1

186 cm
39
183 lbs
28 - 41 - 2

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
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 32 - 33 - 1, fighting out of London, Carlos Strikes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 41 - 2, fighting out of London, Tommy Lotus!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, William Gold and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lotus tries to clinch up but Strikes circles away and keeps his distance.
Strikes half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Strikes throws a head kick that misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Strikes is defended easily by Lotus.
Donk. Lotus catches Strikes right on the button with a cross.

It looks like Carlos Strikes has been cut.
Strikes shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lotus but Lotus pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lotus throws a nice looking combination but Strikes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Strikes forces Lotus back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lotus is trying to push Strikes away but Strikes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Strikes manages to break the clinch.
Strikes misses with a takedown attempt - Lotus sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Strikes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lotus drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Lotus wants to pass the guard but Strikes is keeping the position.
Lotus won't allow Strikes to get back to his feet.
Lotus looking to pass the guard.
Lotus passes into half guard.
Lotus seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Strikes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lotus works his way into full mount!
Lotus tries to control but Strikes wriggling away.
Lotus controlling his opponent.
Lotus tries to control but Strikes wriggling away.
Lotus prevents Strikes from getting the reversal.

Lotus stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Lotus. No joy for Strikes on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Strikes lands but Lotus takes it in his stride.
Strikes looks to land a right hand but Lotus moved out of range.
Strikes swats away the attempt to clinch by Lotus.

Strikes tries to sprawl but Lotus drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Lotus trying to control from half guard but Strikes is working away.
Lotus prevents Strikes from standing back up.
Strikes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Lotus is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Strikes defends it well.
Lotus is stalling here. Strikes is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Lotus seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Strikes has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Lotus told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lotus manages to get back to half guard.

Lotus has one foot on Strikes's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get 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!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Strikes.
A nice combination there by Lotus.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Lotus dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Carlos Strikes's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Strikes tries a head kick but it misses.

Lotus moves into the clinch successfully.
Strikes lands a right hand.

Strikes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lotus shoots in and drives through. Strikes sprawls well.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A frustrated look appears on Lotus's face as he tries to break the clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Lotus is trying to push Strikes away but Strikes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lotus looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lotus being controlled against the cage.
Lotus wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lotus breaks from the clinch.
Lotus will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lotus.
Carlos Strikes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommy Lotus.
Lotus on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Strikes. Strikes obviously looking to wear him down.
Tommy Lotus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Lotus.
Strikes tries to clinch but Lotus is having none of it.
Lotus throws a counter combo.
Strikes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lotus is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Strikes lands a nice shot that snaps Lotus's head back.
Strikes throws a head kick but Lotus moves out of range.
Strikes looks for the body kick but Lotus saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Strikes gets caught napping as Lotus dives in and scores a takedown. Strikes manages to retain guard.
Strikes working a defensive guard here.
Lotus controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Lotus is continuing to stall.
Strikes keeping moving, preventing Lotus from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lotus is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Lotus stands up from Strikes's guard - Lotus perhaps looking for a knockout.
Nice sprawl there from Lotus as Strikes shoots in.
Strikes lands a head kick!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lotus.

Lotus is trying to get an arm triangle but Strikes is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strikes can't do much from the bottom here.
Lotus trying to control the position but Strikes is working away.
Strikes prevents Lotus from improving position.
Strikes being controlled for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Strikes tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tommy Lotus will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Carlos Strikes's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Lotus feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Strikes is trying to hold Lotus in close to prevent damage but Lotus has managed to pass into half guard.
Lotus content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Lotus is keen to just control but Strikes is a slippery customer.
Tommy Lotus has got the better of the ground game so far.

Lotus is looking for a kimura but Strikes is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lotus to get the leverage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lotus tries to stand but can't do so whilst Strikes controls his leg.

Lotus is trying to work for a kimura but Strikes is defending well.
Strikes looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lotus passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Strikes!
Strikes is working to get back to half guard.

Lotus goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Strikes turns into him and now he's in Lotus's guard.
Lotus wants to improve his position but instead Strikes has moved into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strikes wants to stand up but Lotus manages to regain full guard.
Lotus keeping moving, preventing Strikes from controlling successfully.
Strikes postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lotus wants to stand up but Strikes is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strikes postures up.
Lotus is pulling down on Strikes's head to control his posture.
Carlos Strikes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The adventures of Lotus the control monster continue. Boring.
Strikes wants to control from the top but Lotus keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Lotus has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Lotus has a takedown stuffed.
Strikes moves in looking to clinch but Lotus pushes him off.
Carlos Strikes is winning the standup battle so far.
Lotus is trying hard to land a takedown here. Strikes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lotus fails to land with a series of punches.
Strikes swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Lotus to counter with a crisp jab.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strikes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lotus.

Lotus shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Strikes is trying to defend but Lotus finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Tommy Lotus is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lotus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Strikes keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy Lotus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lotus winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy Lotus!
An out of breath Tommy Lotus thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.