PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jude Vader (ranked 4519 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Strasburg (ranked 4706 p4p, 0 weight class). Strasburg has chosen The Red - Chevelle as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Vader
vs
Strasburg

191 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jude Vader!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Max Strasburg!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Dean Styles and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Vader crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Strasburg - the referee stops the clock and Vader gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Strasburg. Vader manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Max Strasburg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vader displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Strasburg.
Good work by Vader as he checks the leg kick.
No luck for Strasburg with that takedown attempt.
Nice defenses there by Vader.
Strasburg just misses with a punch to the body.

Vader dives in and scores a takedown into Strasburg's guard.
Vader trying to control the position from guard on top but Strasburg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vader preventing the sweep.

Strasburg escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vader gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Vader trying to control but Strasburg is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Strasburg throws a looping overhand right but Vader ducks down to avoid it.
Vader drops down looking for a counter takedown but Strasburg sprawls and moves away.
Strasburg misses with a body kick.
Vader bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Vader has taken the fight to the clinch.
Vader changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Strasburg fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vader throws the kick towards the body but Strasburg avoids it.
And Strasburg tries to counter it with a takedown but Vader pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Strasburg tries to score with a low kick but Vader moves his leg out of the way.

Vader throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Strasburg tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Vader is in Strasburg's guard.
Vader wants to control from the top but Strasburg keeps moving.
Strasburg has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Vader has passed into side control.
Strasburg tries to improve position but can't.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Strasburg can do anything to dispel that myth.

Vader working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Vader is breathing heavily.
Vader tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strasburg is looking to regain half guard here but Vader keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Vader stands up.
Strasburg throws a leg kick but Vader checks it.
Strasburg waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Vader.
A clash of legs there as Vader blocks the low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Strasburg circles away from the clinch attempt.

Strasburg bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Strasburg throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Strasburg throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Vader works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Strasburg looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Vader with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Strasburg with the ground and pound but Vader uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Strasburg throws an elbow that misses. Vader uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Strasburg's guard. Nice move by Vader!

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Strasburg wants to improve his position but instead Vader has moved into half guard.
Strasburg tries to get to full guard but Vader has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Strasburg tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Vader is able to avoid easily.
Strasburg attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Vader has a takedown stuffed.
Strasburg misses with an attempted mid kick.
Vader fails to land the takedown.

Strasburg shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Strasburg showed some decent athleticism there.
Strasburg really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Vader. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Strasburg controlling the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strasburg wants to take a breather but Vader is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strasburg missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Strasburg throwing shots but Vader is blocking nicely.
Vader wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strasburg not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Strasburg wants to pass the guard but Vader is defending well.
Strasburg thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vader's head.
Well, if Strasburg is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Strasburg missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Strasburg connects with a nice short shot to Vader's temple.
Strasburg is trying to control. Vader wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Strasburg stalling.
Vader wants to control but Strasburg is keeping busy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Strasburg shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Strasburg trying to mount his opponent but Vader defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strasburg trying to control the pace.
Strasburg missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Strasburg trying to mount his opponent but Vader defends it.
Strasburg seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Vader does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Strasburg thows a huge punch but Vader dodges it nicely.

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.
Strasburg is trying to control the action in half guard but Vader is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vader fails in his attempt to clinch.
Strasburg throws a leg kick but Vader checks it.
Vader shoots for a takedown but Strasburg saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jude Vader. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strasburg throws a low kick but it's checked well by Vader.

Strasburg throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Vader was covering up waiting for the punch and Strasburg finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Strasburg wants to control from the top but Vader keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strasburg throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Strasburg showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Vader checks a leg kick.
Vader is looking to counter the offense by Strasburg and move into the clinch.
Vader fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Strasburg changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Vader has taken the fight to the clinch.
Vader misses with a punch on the inside.

Vader drags the fight down to the ground.
Strasburg is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Strasburg throws a strike but Vader rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vader trying to control the position from guard on top but Strasburg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Strasburg tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Strasburg trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Strasburg has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Vader can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Strasburg is looking to sweep but instead, Vader has passed into half guard.
Strasburg is looking to get back to full guard here but Vader has managed to pass to side control instead.
Strasburg tries to buck Vader off but Vader is having none of it.
Strasburg trying his best to control but Vader has mounted him.
Strasburg is desperately trying to improve his position but Vader has a good base and remains in mount.
Strasburg is still trying to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vader wants to control the pace but Strasburg is squirming around nicely.
Vader lands a couple of good shots and Strasburg has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Strasburg is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Vader punches the canvas rather than the man.
Strasburg can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strasburg is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Vader is persistently looking for the submission but Strasburg is defending it well.
Strasburg trying to control the action but Vader just sinks the hooks in.
Strasburg is in bad spot here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vader struggling to land strikes to the head as Strasburg covers up.
Strasburg tries to escape the position.
Strasburg looking very determined here, making life difficult for Vader.
Strasburg trying to control the hands but Vader breaks the grip.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
You can see the frustration on Strasburg's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jude Vader showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vader has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jude Vader!