PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Isaiah Sturridge (ranked 3555 p4p, 473 weight class) and Steve Stricker (ranked 2504 p4p, 0 weight class). Sturridge comes into the arena with 0 Eight - By: Sap blaring out of the sound system. Stricker has chosen 21 Savage feat. Future - X as his entrance music. Steve Stricker will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Sturridge
vs
Stricker

188 cm
24
220 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

199 cm
38
219 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Riner Clothing and Laundry (85%)

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Isaiah Sturridge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Stricker!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stricker on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Sturridge throws a lazy uppercut

and Stricker moves into the clinch.
Sturridge lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Steve Stricker has been cut.
Sturridge lands with a short shot to the head.
Stricker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Stricker misses with a punch on the inside.
Stricker prevents the takedown attempt.
Stricker working aggressively here.

Stricker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sturridge throws a series of punches but Stricker avoids them all with ease.
Stricker feints a counter leg kick.
Stricker misses with a two punch combination.
Stricker moves into range and connects with a jab.
Stricker goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Isaiah Sturridge has been cut.
We've been told by Sturridge's head coaches at BAD BOY MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stricker misses with a head kick.
Stricker throws a hook but Sturridge avoids it easily.
Sturridge fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Stricker is out of range.
Sturridge swings widly with a right hand
and Stricker cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sturridge lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nice jab there from Stricker.
A slow jab from Sturridge misses its intended target.
Stricker throws out a counter right but Sturridge avoids it with no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturridge pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Stricker ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Stricker scores with a nice body kick.

Stricker gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Stricker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sturridge.
Sturridge throws an elbow that misses. Stricker uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sturridge's guard. Nice move by Stricker!

Sturridge wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sturridge is trying to control the position but Stricker postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stricker wants to stand but Sturridge is controlling his posture from full guard.
Stricker postures up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sturridge is adopting a defensive guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stricker looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sturridge tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Stricker manages to circle out of the way.
Stricker has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Stricker throws a good cross that connects.
Sturridge will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Stricker! But no joy.
Sturridge misses with an uppercut. Stricker saw that one coming.
Steve Stricker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Stricker tries to sprawl but Sturridge drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Sturridge missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sturridge seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sturridge throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stricker kicks Sturridge off and gets back to his feet.
Sturridge stalks Stricker and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Stricker's face. Stricker staggers backwards, shaken.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sturridge misses with a looping left.
Stricker lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Sturridge throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stricker bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Stricker has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Nice straight punches there by Stricker. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Stricker.
Sturridge takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Sturridge chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Stricker can pounce on him.
Sturridge shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stricker as he avoids it easily.
Sturridge missing with a left hand there. Stricker was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stricker lands with an overhand left.
A head kick misses from Sturridge.
Sturridge connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Sturridge jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sturridge rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Stricker counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Steve Stricker will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Stricker uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Sturridge has time to react.
Sturridge lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Stricker scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A low kick from Sturridge is predictable there
and Stricker counters with a nice low kick that buckles Sturridge's knee momentarily.
Sturridge's corner calls for a 1-2. Sturridge obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Stricker connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Sturridge looking to score a takedown here. Stricker is defending well but Sturridge drives through and ends up in Stricker's guard.

Stricker uses the cage 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!
Some wild striking there from Sturridge.
A slow jab from Sturridge misses its intended target.
Steve Stricker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stricker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stricker ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Stricker connects with a nice looking jab.
Stricker swings for the body but Sturridge moves out of range.
Sturridge throwing a counter right hand but Stricker manages to avoid it.
Good leg kick by Stricker there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Sturridge throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturridge finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
No joy there for Stricker, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sturridge was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Sturridge throws a sloppy head kick and Stricker moves out of range easily.
Stricker ducks under a wild hook from Sturridge.
Stricker lands a nice looking body kick.
Sturridge tries to clinch up.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Stricker! But no joy.
Stricker throws a head kick but Sturridge moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Stricker.
Stricker scores with a hook to the body. Sturridge takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sturridge takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sturridge misses with a low kick.
Stricker fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sturridge looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Stricker lands an overhand right.
Sturridge attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Sturridge moves away from the strike by Stricker.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stricker. Sturridge does a little dance to reset his feet.

Sturridge has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Sturridge tries to pull guard but Stricker won't allow it.
A short right from Sturridge.
Stricker softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Stricker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sturridge throws a body shot but no joy.
Stricker ducks under a wild hook from Sturridge.
Stricker lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sturridge takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A slow jab from Sturridge misses its intended target.
Sturridge feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Stricker's calf.
Sturridge on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Sturridge gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Stricker throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Stricker lands a glancing blow to the side of Sturridge's head.

Sturridge is rocked!
Stricker throws a good cross that connects.
Oh Sturridge is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Stricker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sturridge has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stricker's corner calls for a 1-2. Stricker obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A head kick misses from Sturridge.
Sturridge takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Stricker moves out of range of the body kick.
Sturridge tries to clinch there but Stricker circles away.
Stricker walks forward and throws a big overhand right! Sturridge drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes! Stricker swarms on him with more punches until the referee wrestles him away from Sturridge's unconscious body! Wow, that was brutal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Steve Stricker!
Steve Stricker bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.