PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bernie Strong (ranked 6100 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Lion (ranked 3983 p4p, 208 weight class). Nick Lion will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Strong
vs
Lion

164 cm
24
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bernie Strong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nick Lion!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Alec Ball and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body punch from Lion.
Lion swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lion looks to land a combination but Strong avoids it well.
Strong jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
A right-left combo lands from Lion.
Lion looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lion looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lion feints a jab promting Strong to slip. Lion then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Strong slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Strong shoots and misses
and Lion makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lion throws a combination. Strong tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Strong slips a jab and a cross from Lion.
Strong attempts a counter takedown but Lion avoids it well and moves away.
Nice straight punches there by Lion. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Lion.
Strong fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lion swings for the body but Strong moves out of range.
Strong thinks about countering with a head kick.
Lion throws a nice looking combination but Strong bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lion has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Nice uppercut lands for Lion. That snapped Strong's head back.
Lion misses with a jab, cross combination.
Strong tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lion paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lion lands a jab to Strong's midsection.
Nice takedown defense from Lion. No joy for Strong on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bernie Strong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A punch combination from Lion misses.
Strong drops his hands momentarily and Lion takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Strong is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lion sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lion bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Strong's head.
Lion lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lion throws a series of strikes that have Strong backpedaling.
Nice sprawl there from Lion as Strong shoots in.

Strong has managed to clinch.
Lion tries to break the clinch but Strong is controlling the position.
Lion tries to break the clinch but Strong is controlling the position.
Lion has had enough of the clinch but Strong keeps him there for the moment.
Strong tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Strong tries to pull guard but Lion forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strong tries a body shot but Lion blocks it.
Strong fails to pull guard.

Lion breaks from the clinch.
Lion lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Lion.
Lion goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Nick Lion seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strong shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lion pinned against the cage. Lion gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Despite the aggression on Lion's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
A punch combination from Lion misses.
It appears Strong was looking to counter with a kick there.
Lion looks to land a combination but Strong avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lion connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Strong's hands.
Strong ducks right into an uppercut from Lion.
Strong closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lion circles away.
Nick Lion is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lion jabs at Strong's body.
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!
Lion with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Lion misses with a double jab

and Strong counters by moving into the clinch.
Lion wants to break the clinch but can't.
Strong fails to pull the fight into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Lion dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lion scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A combination from Lion does no damage.
Strong is looking to counter the offense by Lion and move into the clinch.
Lion has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lion misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lion has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Lion lands a two punch combo.

Strong darts in and clinches Lion up against the cage.
Lion wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Strong is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Lion to keep the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strong tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lion smiles and moves away.
Good shot there by Lion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strong throws a sloppy head kick
and Lion counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Lion.
Lion lands with a nice body punch.
Strong shoots in but Lion avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bernie Strong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lion moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Strong takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Strong is rocked!
Lion connects with a combination that backs up Strong into the cage. Lion lands a flurry of punches that gets past Strong's guard. Strong is down and the referee has seen enough. It is all over! Lion bursts into tears - this win obviously means a huge amount to him.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nick Lion!