PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yoshimora Chiba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Stridh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Chiba
vs
Stridh

175 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
19
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Yoshimora Chiba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Stridh!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, John Mangel and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stridh is looking to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stridh.
Stridh shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Chiba sprawls well. Chiba wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stridh gets slowly back to his feet.

Chiba rushes Stridh and presses him up against the cage.

Chiba has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Stridh regains guard immediately.
Chiba might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Chiba trying to stand up but can't free himself from Stridh's guard.
Stridh wants to sweep but no luck.
Stridh working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Chiba.
Chiba wants to stand but Stridh has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Chiba throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Chiba stands and steps away. Stridh gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Yoshimora Chiba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Chiba darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Chiba throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chiba lands with a punch from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chiba misses with a head shot. Stridh uses the momentum to regain guard.
Chiba knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Stridh on the ground.
Chiba postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Chiba has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stridh has a closed guard, preventing Chiba from standing up.
Stridh wants to sweep here but Chiba controlling him for the moment.
Stridh is pulling down on Chiba's head to control his posture.
Chiba won't allow Stridh to get back to his feet.
Chiba working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Chiba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stridh swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stridh working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Chiba.
Chiba has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Stridh is proving hard to escape from.
Chiba is breathing heavily.
Stridh is looking to stand up but Chiba isn't so interested in that idea.

Chiba decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Stridh, up you get!
Stridh avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Stridh looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Chiba!

Stridh is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Chiba has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stridh throws some wild stikes that Chiba manages to avoid easily.
Chiba has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Even with his hooks in, Stridh manages to miss with strikes from the back.

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.
Chiba covering up well under a series of strikes from Stridh.
Stridh misses with a punch to the head.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Chiba wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshimora Chiba dominated that round.
That's time! Chiba's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Chiba has closed the distance and engaged Stridh in a clinch.
Stridh is trying to drag Chiba to the mat but Chiba just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Stridh wants a takedown but no success here.
Chiba slows down the pace here.

Chiba manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stridh trying to control but Chiba is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chiba is looking to stand up but Stridh isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stridh gets to his feet - Chiba follows without any prompting.
Yoshimora Chiba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stridh closes the distance looking to clinch

and Chiba holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Stridh jumps guard but Chiba stands there with Stridh around his waist. Stridh gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Yoshimora Chiba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Stridh.

Stridh is fighting off a takedown attempt but Chiba is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Stridh to the mat. Stridh regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Chiba accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chiba postures up in Stridh's guard and throws a big left but Stridh blocks it.
Chiba thows a big elbow that misses.
Chiba tries to stand but Stridh is controlling from the bottom.
Stridh utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Chiba wants to stand but Stridh is controlling his posture from full guard.
Chiba in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Chiba throws and elbow that misses. Stridh uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Chiba's guard. Nice move by Stridh!
Stridh missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stridh changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Chiba tries to avoid it but Stridh manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Chiba to the ground. Chiba escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Chiba closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Stridh to the mat! Stridh manages to get full guard.
Stridh working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Chiba.

Stridh has his foot on Chiba's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Chiba works his way back into a safe position though.
Chiba loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stridh wants to sweep but no luck.
Stridh is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Stridh is keen to just control but Chiba is a slippery customer.
Chiba wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stridh is looking to advance position but Chiba won't allow it.

Stridh is looking for a kimura but Chiba is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Stridh to get the leverage.
Stridh throwing shots but Chiba is blocking nicely.
Stridh throwing shots but Chiba is blocking nicely.

Chiba kicks off Stridh and gets to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshimora Chiba dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Chiba misses with a takedown attempt

and Stridh counters with a shoot takedown. Chiba fights it but they end up in guard.
Stridh sitting in guard here, content to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stridh pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Chiba is keeping the position for now.
Yoshimora Chiba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Chiba keeping moving, preventing Stridh from controlling successfully.
Stridh is looking to stand up but Chiba won't let him.

That's two 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.
Chiba is looking to stand up but Stridh isn't so interested in that idea.
Stridh trying to control the position from guard on top but Chiba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stridh pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Chiba is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Chiba gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Stridh counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Stridh seems to be looking for submissions.
Stridh trying to control the action but Chiba is working from the bottom.

Chiba pushes Stridh off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stridh blocks a head kick by Chiba.
Chiba with a lazy takedown attempt

and Stridh counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshimora Chiba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stridh working the ground and pound.
Chiba is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Stridh asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Stridh slows the pace down.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Stridh comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Chiba 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoshimora Chiba!