PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Counter Puncher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and New York Strangler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Puncher
vs
York Strangler

180 cm
18
155 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

175 cm
24
167 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Counter Puncher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, New York Strangler!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strangler shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Puncher pinned against the cage. Puncher gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Strangler misses with the combination.
Puncher waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Strangler.
Strangler shoots in but no luck this time.
Puncher just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Puncher lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Strangler circles away quickly and effectively.
Strangler throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Puncher's waist but Puncher gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Strangler off to one side.
Counter Puncher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of New York Strangler.
Strangler takes one to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Strangler darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Strangler missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Strangler uses his free foot to push down on Puncher's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Puncher.
Puncher knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Strangler on the ground.

Strangler moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Puncher has worked his arm free - good work by Puncher!

Strangler wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Puncher, who protects the arm well.
Strangler fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strangler tries to advance to mount but can't.
Puncher avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Strangler.
Puncher tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Strangler wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Puncher is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Puncher trying to hold on to Strangler's head to control him but Strangler postures up.
Strangler throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strangler throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Strangler shoots in but no luck this time.
Strangler changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Puncher tries to avoid it but Strangler manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Puncher to the ground. Puncher escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Strangler looks gassed!
Puncher stalks Strangler and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Strangler's face. Strangler staggers backwards, shaken.
Strangler drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Strangler scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Strangler is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Puncher knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Strangler creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Puncher sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puncher sneaks back into half guard.
Puncher is trying to maintain the position but Strangler is very close to passing his half guard.

Strangler is looking for a kimura but Puncher is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Strangler to get the leverage.
Strangler works his foot free and advances to mount.

Strangler moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Puncher has worked his arm free - good work by Puncher!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but New York Strangler will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Strangler closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Puncher throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Strangler sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Puncher swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Puncher.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Puncher connects with a nice looking jab.
Puncher looks to land a left hand but Strangler moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puncher throws a shot from downtown. Strangler moves away and avoids it.
Puncher connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Strangler looks for a takedown but Puncher sprawls well.
Puncher thows a body shot but no joy.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Strangler.
Strangler wants to control but Puncher is keeping him busy.
Puncher is trying to control Strangler's posture but Strangler avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strangler working the ground and pound.
Puncher dodges the ground and pound from Strangler.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Strangler tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Strangler has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Strangler working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Strangler is breathing heavily.
Strangler tries to advance to mount but Puncher instead regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strangler throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Puncher slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Strangler stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Puncher swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four 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.
Puncher working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Strangler.
Strangler wants to pass the guard but Puncher is keeping the position.
Strangler working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Puncher's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Strangler looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

New York Strangler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Strangler throws a combination that misses
and Puncher connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Puncher throws a body punch but Strangler moves out of range.
Strangler takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Strangler uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Puncher.

Strangler shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Strangler is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Strangler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Strangler in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strangler is in close to Puncher's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Strangler postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Strangler throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Puncher works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Strangler postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Puncher utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Puncher trying to control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Strangler moves out of range as Puncher strikes.
Strangler misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Puncher looks to land a right hand but Strangler moved out of range.
Strangler shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Puncher pinned against the cage. Puncher gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
No luck for Strangler with that takedown attempt.
Strangler looks to land a right hand but Puncher moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puncher scores with a jab to the body.
Puncher throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Strangler sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Strangler shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Puncher counter with a right hand.
Counter Puncher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of New York Strangler.
Puncher lands with an overhand left.
Strangler slips a jab from Puncher.
Puncher punishes Strangler's body with a nice straight punch.
Puncher tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Strangler was well out of range. Poor timing from Puncher.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Strangler rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Puncher moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Strangler changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Puncher tries to avoid it but Strangler manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Puncher to the ground. Puncher escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Puncher lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Strangler circles away quickly and effectively.
Counter Puncher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
New York Strangler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Strangler avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Strangler looks for a takedown but Puncher sprawls well.
Strangler moves away from the strike by Puncher.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nice sprawl there from Puncher as Strangler shoots in.

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 Counter Puncher.
I think Strangler has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 29:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!