PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jack Strong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Faure (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Strong
vs
Faure

185 cm
28
192 lbs
12 - 10 - 1

192 cm
26
198 lbs
10 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 12 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jack Strong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Travis Faure!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Faure uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Strong looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Strong wants to stand and escape but instead Faure has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Faure stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Strong swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Strong looking to control.

Strong working for a triangle but Faure defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Faure trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Strong looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Faure pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Strong is keeping the position for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Strong not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Faure passes Strong's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Faure is looking for a kimura but Strong is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Faure to get the leverage.

Faure is looking for a kimura here.

Faure stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Strong to get to his feet.

Faure closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Strong did well to prevent Faure getting side control.
Strong is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Faure is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Faure is trying to work for a kimura but Strong is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Faure is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Strong as he works his way to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Faure drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Strong dives on top into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Faure has his foot on Strong's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Strong works his way back into a safe position though.
Strong throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Faure works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Strong cracks Faure with a solid left hand.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Faure is on top in guard.

Strong looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Strong holds on and takes a little breather.
Faure forces his way into half guard.
Strong regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strong is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Faure drops back looking for a leg! Strong is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Strong manages to kick Faure off! Faure jumps back into Strong's guard.
Strong can't keep his opponent in guard - Faure advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Faure wants to work for an arm triangle but Strong is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Strong actively working from the bottom here.

Faure looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Strong is looking to control Faure's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Strong avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strong is trying to get back to full guard.

Faure is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Strong trying to control here.

Faure is working for a submission of some sort.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Faure seems to be looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Faure dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Faure keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nice takedown defense from Strong. No joy for Faure on that attempt.
Faure throws a good cross that connects.
Strong shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Faure defends it nicely.
Strong takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Faure throws a body punch but Strong moves out of range.
Strong tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Faure manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Strong misses with a takedown attempt - Faure sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Strong. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Strong fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Faure, pushing him back against the cage.
Faure is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Strong gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Strong has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Faure uses from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strong not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Faure works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Strong tries to get to full guard but Faure has control of the leg.

Faure seems to be looking for submissions.

Faure is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Strong regains full guard. Nicely done.

Faure got a little sloppy there for a moment and Strong has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Faure has managed to get both his arms back between Strong's legs - danger averted.
Strong wants to stand up but Faure is controlling him.

Faure drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Strong dives on top into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Faure is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Strong defends well.
Strong works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Strong is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Faure works his way to full guard. Good work.
Faure preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Strong trying to control the position from guard on top but Faure is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Faure looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Faure looking for a guillotine here but Strong defends easily.
Faure is breathing heavily.
Strong with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Faure is on top in guard.

Faure drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Strong manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Faure has Strong in his guard.
Strong missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Faure working a defensive guard here.
Strong is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Strong trying to control but Faure is working from the bottom.

Strong decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Faure, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Faure as Strong shoots in.
Faure shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Strong pinned against the cage. Strong gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Strong shoots for a double leg takedown but Faure sprawls well. He's pushed Strong's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Strong takes one to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Strong takes one to the chin there.
Faure cracks Strong with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Strong tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Faure paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Faure takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Faure loads up on a big right hand but Strong slips the punch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Strong stuffs the takedown.
Strong shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Faure pinned against the cage. Faure gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Strong tries to clinch up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jack Strong will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Faure lands with a hook. Strong tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Strong takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Strong shoots in and drives through. Faure sprawls well.
Strong looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Strong throws a right and a left that both miss.

Strong looking to score a takedown here. Faure is defending well but Strong drives through and ends up in Faure's guard.
Strong works over Faure with some ground and pound from guard.

Faure throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Strong trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Strong stopping the sweep attempt from Faure.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Faure controls Strong momentarily but Strong frees himself.
Strong trying to control the position from guard on top but Faure is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Strong accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Faure throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Strong preventing the sweep.
Faure takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Strong trying to control the position from guard on top but Faure is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Faure looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Faure is looking for a triangle but Strong pushes his legs off easily.
Strong throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Faure works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strong trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Strong wants to get up but he can't break Faure's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Strong works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Faure gets full guard.
Travis Faure has got the better of the ground game so far.

Faure isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Strong stacks Faure on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Strong!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Strong working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Faure's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Strong throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faure is looking for a sweep.
Faure manages to work his way to half guard, despite Strong's best efforts.
Strong is looking to take a break and control but Faure is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Faure looking for submissions off his back.

Strong is trying to work for a kimura but Faure is defending well.
Strong looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Strong not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Strong trying to mount his opponent but Faure defends it.
Faure wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strong looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Strong is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Faure sees it coming and defends easily.
Strong landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Faure regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Strong.
Faure is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Strong throws a big elbow that misses.
Strong wants to control from the top but Faure keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Faure working for a triangle but Strong defends it easily.

Faure is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Strong is aware though and is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jack Strong.
I think Strong 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jack Strong!