PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jushin Liger (ranked 24950 p4p, 3054 weight class) and Bengt Strom (ranked 656 p4p, 376 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Liger
vs
Strom

170 cm
27
165
3 - 4 - 0

170 cm
26
160
5 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

SMESH Nutrition 160Q

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jushin Liger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bengt Strom!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Lou da Vinci and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liger throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Liger closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Strom quickly recovers to half guard.

Strom makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Liger misses with a takedown attempt - Strom sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Liger shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Strom defends it nicely.

Liger shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Strom manages to escape and get back to his feet!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice takedown defense from Strom. No joy for Liger on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jushin Liger. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liger shoots in looking for a takedown but Strom manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Liger's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Liger scores with a takedown into Strom's guard.
Liger trying to control the position from guard on top but Strom is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Strom wants to sweep here but Liger controlling him for the moment.
Liger has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Strom is proving hard to escape from.
Liger postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strom is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Liger looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Liger trying to control but Strom is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strom wants to sweep here but Liger controlling him for the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Liger shoots in looking for a takedown. Strom tries to sprawl out of it but Liger keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Strom manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Liger dives in and grabs Strom's left leg, looking for a takedown. Strom pushes down on Liger's head and hops out.

Liger gets a double leg takedown into Strom's guard.
Liger postures up and lands a big shot to Strom's brow.
Liger trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Liger trying to control but Strom is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strom lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Strom throwing strikes from guard but Liger blocks nicely.
Strom trying to control the position from guard on top but Liger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Liger on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Liger tries to get out of the position.
Liger keeping full guard, as Strom tries to pass.
Liger 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Strom wants to control from the top but Liger keeps moving.
Strom trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Liger is trying to hold Strom in close to prevent damage but Strom has managed to pass into half guard.
Strom looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Liger makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Liger.
Strom trying to control but Liger is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bengt Strom dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Strom fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Liger sprawls well initially but Strom persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Strom trying to control the action but Liger is working from the bottom.
Liger trying to control from the bottom.
Liger is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Strom is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Liger is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Strom's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Strom's back!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Strom is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Liger working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Liger working for a choke but Strom is defending well.

Liger is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Strom defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strom trying to control the hands but Liger won't let him.

Liger looking for the choke from the back.
Strom just trying to survive but Liger is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

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.
Liger is looking to control Strom but Strom is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Liger looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Strom is controlling Liger 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
Strom wants to pass the guard but Liger is keeping the position.
Strom postures up in Liger's guard and throws a big left but Liger blocks it.
Strom wants to control from the top but Liger keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liger is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Strom wants to control but Liger is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Strom wants to improve his position but Liger is controlling well.
Liger has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Strom is in all sorts of trouble here.
Liger is looking to stand but Strom has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liger can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Strom is looking to escape.

Liger swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Strom is now in Liger's guard. A big mistake from Liger there, giving up the dominant position!
Strom stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Liger swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Liger wants to sweep here but Strom controlling him for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strom is stalling in the full guard.
Strom tries to free his leg and advance position but Liger is retaining full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jushin Liger dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Strom looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Liger!
Strom cracks Liger with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Strom is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Liger knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Strom trying to control the position but Liger is working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Strom seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Liger is trying to control Strom's posture but Strom avoids it.
Strom throws an elbow but Liger slips to the side and avoids it well.
Strom tries to move to mount but Liger blocks the move with his legs.
Liger manages to work his way to half guard, despite Strom's best efforts.

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.
Liger is looking to control Strom's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Liger avoid being mounted?
Strom trying to control the pace.
Strom tries to pass to full mount but Liger defends it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Strom tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Liger paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Liger shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Strom drives through with a takedown into Liger's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strom won't allow Liger to sweep him here.
Bengt Strom has got the better of the ground game so far.
Liger keeping moving, preventing Strom from controlling successfully.
Strom has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Strom looking to pass the guard.
Strom's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Liger has Strom pulled in close to control his posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Strom closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Liger did well to prevent Strom getting side control.
Still in half guard, Strom seems content to control.
Strom is looking to take a break and control but Liger is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Liger is trying to maintain the position but Strom is very close to passing his half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strom scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Strom is looking to advance position but Liger won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bengt Strom comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Strom has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bengt Strom!
The defeated Jushin Liger had this to say: 'Oh no'.