PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bernie Strong (ranked 24440 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Walker (ranked 3072 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Strong
vs
Walker

164 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

177 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bernie Strong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tony Walker!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Ian Loll and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Walker gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Strong counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Walker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Strong avoids it really well and circles away.
Strong tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Walker manages to circle out of the way.
Strong avoids the head kick by Walker.
Walker looks for a takedown but Strong sprawls well.
Bernie Strong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Walker.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walker goes for a double leg but Strong avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Strong continues to drive forward.
As Walker backs away, Strong returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

Strong shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Strong is trying to control. Walker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walker holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Walker can do anything to dispel that myth.
Strong trying to control the pace.
Walker tries to roll over but Strong keeps him under control.
Strong is trying to control the action in half guard but Walker is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Walker is controlling Strong's trapped leg to prevent Strong from advancing to side control.
Walker wants to control but Strong is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Walker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Walker controlling the position for now.
Strong is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Walker wants to improve his position but Strong is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Walker flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Walker wants to control but Strong is keeping busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A shot to the liver by Walker. Beautiful body shot.
Walker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Strong throwing a counter right hand but Walker manages to avoid it.
Walker shoots and misses

and Strong counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Strong.
Strong taking a breather.

Strong jumps guard and drags Walker to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Strong might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walker looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Walker wants to stand but Strong has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Strong looking for a sweep. Not yet Strong, not yet.
Walker is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Walker must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Strong has his foot on Walker's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Walker works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Walker trying to control the position from guard on top but Strong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Walker sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Walker fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Strong is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Walker.
Walker lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Walker.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Walker misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bernie Strong will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Walker is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Walker will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Strong is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Walker.
Walker throws a leg kick but Strong sees it coming and moves out of range.
Walker changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Walker looks for a takedown but Strong sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walker shoots in for a takedown but Strong shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Walker just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromStrong.
Bernie Strong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Walker.
Walker just misses with a punch to the body.
Tony Walker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Strong fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Walker shoots in looking for a takedown but Strong manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Walker's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walker moves out of range of the strikes.
Walker wants to clinch but Strong slips to the side
and Strong counters with a good low kick that Walker was not able to check.

Strong gets a clinch.
Walker wants to break the clinch but can't.

Strong jumps guard.

Strong looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Walker looking to sit in guard and control but Strong gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Walker doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Strong postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walker being controlled here, momentarily.

Walker looking for a guillotine here but Strong defends easily.
Strong is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Strong wants to control from the top but Walker keeps moving.
Strong slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Walker has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Strong can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Strong wants to control from the top but Walker keeps moving.
Strong is stalling in the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Strong checks a leg kick nicely.
Tony Walker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strong misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Strong closes the distance and clinches up with Walker, looking for a takedown. Strong pushes Walker against the cage but Walker circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Walker shoots in for a takedown but Strong shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Walker moves in looking to clinch but Strong pushes him off.
Strong is looking to counter punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Strong swats away the attempt to clinch by Walker.
The fight stays on the outside here - Walker looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Strong keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Strong swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Walker tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Strong paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Walker bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Strong throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernie Strong dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Walker tries a head kick but it misses.
Walker darts in looking for a takedown but Strong gets double underhooks and turns Walker into the cage.
Strong feinted with a counter takedown.
Walker throws a head kick but Strong moves out of range.
Walker shoots in looking for a takedown. Strong tries to sprawl out of it but Walker keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Strong manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bernie Strong is winning the standup battle so far.
Walker moves in looking to clinch but Strong pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strong throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Walker's head.
Walker misses with a takedown attempt

and Strong counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Strong.
Bernie Strong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Walker.
Strong trying to land knees to the body.
Walker is trying to force a seperation but Strong has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Strong drags the fight down to the ground.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Strong is on top in guard.

Strong throwing strikes but missing.
Walker trying to control the position.

Walker is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Strong is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Strong accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walker working a defensive guard here.
Walker has Strong pulled in close to control his posture.

Strong stands up and waves to Walker to follow him.
The fighters circling - Strong throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Walker fails to land with a series of punches.
Strong stuffs the takedown.
Walker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Strong as he jumps to the side.
Walker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Strong closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Walker to the mat! Walker manages to get full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Strong stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Walker shoots for a double leg takedown but Strong sprawls well. He's pushed Walker's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Strong throwing a counter right hand but Walker manages to avoid it.
Walker misses with a takedown

and Strong counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Strong.
Walker is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Strong is defending well.
Walker has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Strong is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Walker fails to pull guard.
Walker is working for takedown but Strong is calmly controlling the position for now.
Strong taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Strong ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Strong no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strong not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Strong is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Walker controlling from the top position.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Strong manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Strong is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Walker's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A head punch on the inside from Walker fails to land.
Walker tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Strong smiles and moves away.
Tony Walker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bernie Strong is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Strong fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bernie Strong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Strong 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bernie Strong!