PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Erich Cunningham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyn Stryker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Cunningham
vs
Stryker

158 cm
22
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Erich Cunningham!
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, Kyn Stryker!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Russell Pearce and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cunningham has managed to clinch.
Cunningham has had enough of the clinch but Stryker keeps him there for the moment.
Stryker looking to stall.
Cunningham trying to land knees to the body.
Cunningham is pushing Stryker up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Cunningham tries a knee to the head but Stryker blocks it.
Stryker on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stryker misses with a punch to the body.

Stryker is fighting off a takedown attempt but Cunningham is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Stryker to the mat. Stryker regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Cunningham avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Stryker wants to stand up but Cunningham is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cunningham makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stryker being controlled here, momentarily.
Cunningham lands a couple of digs.

Stryker is looking for a triangle but Cunningham pushes his legs off easily.
Cunningham is stalling in the full guard.
Cunningham could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Stryker looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cunningham makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Stryker being controlled here, momentarily.
Stryker not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cunningham engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Stryker ducks under a wild hook from Cunningham.
Stryker shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

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

Cunningham is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Stryker still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Stryker has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Cunningham is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stryker wants to control but Cunningham is keeping him busy.
Stryker tries to advance to mount but can't.

Stryker has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Stryker will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cunningham was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Stryker scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Erich Cunningham has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cunningham shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Cunningham was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Cunningham stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Stryker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cunningham as he jumps to the side.
Erich Cunningham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyn Stryker.

Stryker moves into the clinch.

Cunningham has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Stryker regains guard immediately.

Stryker manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cunningham pulls Stryker into guard.
Stryker trying to control the position from guard on top but Cunningham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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 Erich Cunningham will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Erich Cunningham's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Stryker clinches with his opponent.
Stryker stalling in the clinch but Cunningham improves position.

Stryker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Cunningham rushes Stryker and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cunningham can't break the clinch.
Cunningham is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Stryker pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cunningham wants to take the fight to the mat but Stryker manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Stryker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stryker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cunningham as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cunningham pushes Stryker up against the cage in a clinch.

Cunningham jumps guard and drags Stryker to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stryker wants to control from the top but Cunningham keeps moving.
Cunningham utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stryker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stryker wants to control from the top but Cunningham keeps moving.
Cunningham wants to get back to his feet but Stryker is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Stryker is looking to pass into half guard but Cunningham pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Cunningham is in guard.

Stryker preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cunningham lands a couple of digs.

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

Stryker tries to keep at a distance but Cunningham has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cunningham struggles to land a body shot inside as Stryker controls his hands.

Stryker has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Cunningham uses from the top position.
Erich Cunningham overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cunningham is looking to stand up but Stryker won't let him.
Stryker is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Stryker escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cunningham gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Stryker is working an open guard so Cunningham takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Cunningham as Stryker shoots in.
Stryker plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Kyn Stryker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stryker is breathing heavily.
Cunningham throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Stryker counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Stryker rushes Cunningham and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stryker tries to pull guard but Cunningham forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Erich Cunningham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyn Stryker.

Cunningham breaks from the clinch.
Stryker gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Cunningham counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Cunningham slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Cunningham seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Stryker for as long as he can get away with.

Cunningham stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cunningham has closed the distance and engaged Stryker in a clinch.

Cunningham pulls guard successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stryker trying to control but Cunningham is working from the bottom.
Cunningham is pulling down on Stryker's head. It's preventing any offense from Stryker, at least for the moment.
Cunningham wants to stand but Stryker is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erich Cunningham dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Erich Cunningham's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Cunningham gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Cunningham works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Stryker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cunningham slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stryker throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Cunningham is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stryker can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham trying to stand up but can't free himself from Stryker's guard.
Cunningham postures up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Cunningham sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Cunningham has closed the distance and engaged Stryker in a clinch.
Cunningham tries to pull guard but Stryker won't allow it.

Cunningham breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stryker doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Cunningham counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cunningham.
Cunningham has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Stryker is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stryker wants to sweep but no luck.
Cunningham is working Stryker over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Stryker lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Stryker gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Cunningham takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cunningham stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cunningham wants it to stay on the feet.
Stryker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Cunningham scores with a takedown into Stryker's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stryker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stryker working a defensive guard but Cunningham manages to pass into side control anyway.
Stryker is being controlled here.
Cunningham avoids the strikes from the bottom by Stryker.

Cunningham tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cunningham has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Stryker is looking to regain half guard here but Cunningham keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham taking a breather here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cunningham working the head with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cunningham staying calm.
Stryker is trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erich Cunningham showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cunningham, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erich Cunningham!