PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ethan Strides (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paddy MacDuff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Strides
vs
MacDuff

187 cm
23
203 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ethan Strides!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paddy MacDuff!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, John Roberts and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
MacDuff misses with a head kick.
Strides wants to clinch.
MacDuff fails with a takedown attempt.
Strides keeps the fight on the outside.
Strides clinches but MacDuff breaks the clinch

and MacDuff counters with a single leg into guard. Strides didn't expect that.
MacDuff working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
MacDuff pushing down on Strides's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Strides actively working from the bottom here.
Strides is looking for a sweep. MacDuff is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Strides has one foot on MacDuff's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Strides tries to clinch but MacDuff moves away

and MacDuff counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

MacDuff turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and MacDuff manages to end up in side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Strides is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacDuff trying to control the action but Strides is working from the bottom.
Strides gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strides is trying to defend against the ground and pound but MacDuff scores with a couple of nice shots.
MacDuff trying to mount his opponent but Strides defends it.
MacDuff prevents Strides from improving his position.
MacDuff trying to control from half guard but Strides is working away.

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.
Strides trying to control from the bottom.
Strides wants to improve his position but MacDuff is controlling well.
Strides moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
MacDuff prevents Strides from getting back to his feet.
MacDuff wants to pass the guard but Strides is keeping the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Strides tries to clinch but MacDuff moves away

and MacDuff holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Strides tries a knee to the head but MacDuff blocks it.
Strides looking to throw knees to the head but MacDuff is blocking nicely.
MacDuff has Strides pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Strides manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Strides tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Strides is breathing heavily.
MacDuff taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strides tries to land knees in the clinch but MacDuff avoids the damage to the body.
Strides using the Thai plumb to throw knees but MacDuff has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
MacDuff jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Strides walks away with a smile on his face. MacDuff gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ethan Strides has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paddy MacDuff.
Strides darts in trying to clinch

and MacDuff counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Strides on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
MacDuff works his way into full mount!
MacDuff trying to control but Strides is having none of it.
MacDuff controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strides keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
MacDuff tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
MacDuff working the ground and pound effectively.
MacDuff working the ground and pound effectively.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
MacDuff dominating with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paddy MacDuff dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

MacDuff gets in close and instigates a clinch.
MacDuff takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Paddy MacDuff has been cut.
MacDuff tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Strides smiles and moves away.
MacDuff avoids the head kick by Strides.
Strides moves in looking to clinch but MacDuff pushes him off.
MacDuff pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Strides wants to clinch but MacDuff slips to the side

and MacDuff counters by clinching up.
A knee to the head by Strides.
Strides tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Strides lands a nice knee to the body.
Strides tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Strides with a knee to the head.
Strides throws a knee to the head but misses.
Strides lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

MacDuff manages to break the clinch.

MacDuff bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Strides seems a little lost for a moment, as MacDuff dominates the positioning.

That's one minute gone in the round.

MacDuff is trying to get an arm triangle but Strides is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
MacDuff wants to control but Strides is keeping him busy.
Paddy MacDuff has got the better of the ground game so far.
Strides takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Strides is looking to regain half guard here but MacDuff keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
MacDuff has a takedown stuffed.
Ethan Strides is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Strides tries to clinch

and MacDuff counters with a takedown into side control.
Strides is not content to let MacDuff control the position.

MacDuff decides to stand up, so the ref orders Strides to his feet.

Strides has closed the distance and engaged MacDuff in a clinch.
Strides misses with a knee strike.

MacDuff turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

MacDuff decides to stand back up. MacDuff steps back and let's Strides get back to his feet.
Strides looks to clinch

and MacDuff counters with a shoot takedown. Strides fights it but they end up in guard.
MacDuff slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacDuff wants to control but Strides is keeping him busy.
Strides is trying to get back to his feet.
Strides is trying to work for a sweep but MacDuff has mounted him!
MacDuff trying to control but he's not successful this time.
MacDuff pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Strides is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four 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.
MacDuff dominating with strikes here.
Strides is working to get back to half guard.
MacDuff trying to control but Strides is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
BOOM! MacDuff connects with a massive shot to the dome!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paddy MacDuff showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Paddy MacDuff's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Strides wants to clinch but MacDuff slips to the side

and MacDuff counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Strides trying to control from the bottom.

Strides looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
MacDuff lands with a punch from half guard.
MacDuff is pressing down on Strides's thigh, looking to free his foot. Strides is holding on for now.
MacDuff is tying to control. Strides wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
MacDuff controlling the action here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
MacDuff wants to lay and pray for a moment but Strides keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacDuff lands with a punch from half guard.
Strides manages to get to full guard.
Strides being controlled here, momentarily.
MacDuff won't allow Strides to sweep him here.

Strides is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! MacDuff has his hands clasped together but Strides extends an breaks MacDuff's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Strides.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ethan Strides!