PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Akeen Coker (ranked 76 p4p, 90 weight class) and Wilhelm Strauss (ranked 10 p4p, 13 weight class). Strauss is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Root Of All Evil. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Coker
vs
Strauss

180 cm
28
170
16 - 9 - 0

174 cm
34
170
24 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

HELLS BALLS RECOVERY
PWNAGE

Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Akeen Coker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Wilhelm Strauss!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yuuki Gou and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strauss throws a front kick aimed at Coker's knee but Coker avoids it well.
Strauss has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
A telegraphed right hand from Coker misses the target.
Strauss digs a good hook to Coker's body.
Strauss with a nice calf kick.
Coker scores with a sloppy right hand. Strauss should have avoided that one.
Coker swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A nice leg kick from Strauss, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice shot by Coker.
Strauss is looking to chop away at Coker's legs.
Coker lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Strauss tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Coker was well out of range. Poor timing from Strauss.
Strauss throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Strauss tries to clinch up but Coker circles away and keeps his distance.
A leg kick checked by Strauss.
Strauss connects with an inside leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Strauss checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
The fighters circling - Strauss throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Strauss tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Coker moves out of range as Strauss strikes.
Coker throws a leg kick

and Strauss counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coker prevents a body shot from Strauss.
Coker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Coker lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Strauss blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Coker jumps guard.
Coker seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Coker has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Strauss is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Coker.
Coker is trying to control Strauss's posture but Strauss avoids it.
Strauss moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Let's hope that Strauss has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strauss really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Coker. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Coker is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Strauss with the ground and pound but Coker regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Coker looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Coker wants to control but Strauss is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strauss slows the pace down in half guard.

Coker looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Coker has his hands clasped together around Strauss's back. He's all about the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strauss wants to pass the guard but Coker is defending well.

That's four 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.
Coker has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Strauss is working away from the top position though.
Strauss content to control rather than advance.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Strauss looks to land a combination but Coker avoids it well.
Strauss throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Coker throws a leg kick but Strauss sees it coming and moves out of range.
Strauss walks into a straight right hand from Coker.
Some bone on bone action there as Strauss checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Coker misses with a straight right.
Strauss attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Strauss drives through and clinches with Coker against the cage.
Strauss blocks a body shot from Coker.
Strauss misses with a punch on the inside.
Coker lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Coker prevents a body shot from Strauss.
Coker tries to work over Strauss's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
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 Akeen Coker will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Coker is looking to chop away at Strauss's legs.
Wilhelm Strauss has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A jab from Strauss misses.
Coker is looking to score with low kicks.
As Coker backs off Strauss throws a huge counter combo but Coker manages to avoid it all.
Coker scoring well with a low kick there.
Strauss throws a head kick that misses.
Akeen Coker is winning the standup battle so far.
Strauss rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Coker moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Coker lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Coker throws a leg kick
and Strauss counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A head kick misses from Strauss.
A nice leg kick lands there from Coker.
Coker checks a low kick from Strauss.
Coker uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Strauss.
Strauss thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strauss throws a leg kick
and Coker counters with a left to the body.
Coker throws a leg kick but Strauss sees it coming and moves out of range.
Coker moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Coker throws a front kick aimed at Strauss's knee but Strauss avoids it well.
Strauss checks a low kick from Coker.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Strauss uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coker throws a hook to the side of Strauss's head but Strauss sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Coker throws a chopping leg kick but Strauss manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Strauss displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Coker throws out the jab.
Strauss moves out of range as Coker strikes.
Coker lands a jab to the nose.
Coker scores with a leg kick.
Coker looks to land a body kick but Strauss moved away.
Strauss looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Coker throws a shot to the body.
Strauss waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Coker.
Coker fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Strauss manages to avoid it.
Strauss scores with a body shot.
Strauss cracks Coker with a right hand to the side of the head.
Coker pushes Strauss away with a front kick.
Coker lands with a cross.
Strauss avoids a kick to the body.
Strauss tries to counter by closing the distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Strauss lands a jab to the head.
Strauss moves out of range of the leg kick from Coker.
Strauss misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coker scores with a shot to the body.
Strauss fails to land with a series of punches.
Strauss throws the left hand but Coker avoids the punch easily.
Coker scores with a sloppy right hand. Strauss should have avoided that one.
Coker keeps Strauss at a distance using the push kick.
Strauss throws a right and a left that Coker avoids nicely.
Coker lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Strauss looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Coker just misses with a punch to the body.
Coker avoids the body shot from Strauss.
Strauss ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Coker throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Strauss takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Coker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Strauss moves away.
Coker throws a nice outside leg kick.
Strauss ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Coker doesn't manage to clinch there - Strauss circles away.
Strauss connects with a right hand. Coker shakes it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strauss tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Strauss misses with a double jab
and Coker counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Coker finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Coker takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Coker pivots, looking for a leg kick but Strauss is out of range and Coker settles back down.
Coker is looking to slow Strauss down with leg kicks.
The fight stays on the outside here - Coker looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Coker connects with a solid leg kick.
Strauss scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Coker misses with a shot to the body
letting Strauss counter with a right hand.
Coker lands a nice leg kick that just misses Strauss's sensitive parts.
Coker fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Strauss is out of range.
Strauss misses with an uppercut.
Coker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Strauss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strauss tries a low kick but Coker avoids it.
Coker throws a leg kick which misses Strauss's front leg but catches the back leg as Strauss tries to avoid it.
Strauss will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Coker connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Strauss's hands.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Strauss changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Coker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Coker lands with a shot to the body.
Coker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Coker cracks Strauss with a good jab.
Coker ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A looping hook to the body misses from Strauss. Coker does a little dance to reset his feet.
Strauss feints and then cracks Coker's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Coker down.
Coker attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Strauss tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Strauss takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Strauss moves out of range of the body kick from Coker.
Coker misses with a body shot.
Strauss tries to clinch but Coker is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akeen Coker dominated that second round.
That's time! Coker's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Strauss misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Coker swings for the body but Strauss moves out of range.
Strauss jabs Coker right on the nose. Coker blinks but takes it well.

Strauss rushes Coker and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Coker.
Strauss scores with a nice hook to the head.
Coker lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Strauss misses with a punch to the body.
Coker misses with a short punch on the inside.
Strauss misses with a hook to the ribs.
Coker blocks an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Strauss.
Still in the clinch, Coker scores with a nice short uppercut.
A right handed body shot lands from Strauss.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Coker tries to work over Strauss's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Strauss tries to work over Coker's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Strauss lands with a right to the head.
Coker tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short uppercut from Strauss.
Coker is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Strauss to keep the fight standing.
Strauss misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strauss misses with a hook to the ribs.
Strauss tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Strauss misses with a hook from the clinch.
Coker tries to throw a body punch but Strauss avoids it by throwing Coker back against the cage.
Strauss has a couple of punches blocked by Coker.
Wilhelm Strauss seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Strauss lands a hook that snaps the head of Coker backwards.
Strauss blocking some punches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Strauss.
Coker blocking some punches.
Strauss throws a punch but it's blocked by Coker.
Strauss tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Coker's elbow.
Coker misses with a short punch on the inside.
Strauss struggles to land a body shot inside as Coker controls his hands.
Strauss can't find room to land a body shot as Coker controls the action.
Coker lands a hook to the side of the head.
Strauss fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Strauss struggles to land a body shot inside as Coker controls his hands.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Coker.
Strauss tries to work over Coker's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Strauss misses with a hook to the ribs.
Coker lands a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coker blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Strauss lands a nice uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Strauss pushes Coker back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Strauss scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Coker makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Strauss's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Strauss goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Strauss throws a punch but it's blocked by Coker.
Coker lands a nice uppercut.
Strauss misses with a hook from the clinch.
Strauss misses with a hook to the ribs.
Strauss lands with a right to the head.
Strauss lands with a short shot to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Strauss.
Strauss misses with the head strike.
Coker blocks a body shot from Strauss.
Coker misses with a short punch on the inside.
Strauss lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Strauss lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Strauss lands a left hand.
Strauss unloads with a big right hand that wobbles Coker! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but Strauss is unloading with more strikes now! Coker drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Wilhelm Strauss!
A relieved looking Wilhelm Strauss thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.