PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Henry Sinclair (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Strange (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henry Sinclair has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sinclair
vs
Strange

185 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
23
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Henry Sinclair!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ben Strange!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Bruno Hogan and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strange tries to clinch up.
Strange tries to clinch but Sinclair is having none of it.
Sinclair misses with a body kick.
Ben Strange seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strange tries to clinch there but Sinclair circles away.
Strange tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sinclair paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Strange wants to clinch up but Sinclair keeps it at a distance.
Sinclair tries to score a power double leg takedown but Strange sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sinclair somewhat.

Sinclair scores a takedown into full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strange tries to lock up and control but Sinclair gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Strange can't escape the position.
Strange tries to hold on but Sinclair postures up.
Strange is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Sinclair is staying active.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strange is in all sorts of trouble here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strange wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Sinclair.
Sinclair tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Sinclair is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Strange is surviving well by controlling Sinclair's body position as best he can.
Sinclair throwing strikes but Strange bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Strange seems keen to control Sinclair's posture.

Strange has his foot on Sinclair's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sinclair works his way back into a safe position though.
Sinclair wants to pass the guard but Strange is keeping the position.
Strange lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sinclair!
Sinclair is trying to escape the mount.
Sinclair slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sinclair is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Strange pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Strange seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sinclair does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sinclair wants to control but Strange is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sinclair is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Strange is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Strange is trying to work for a kimura but Sinclair is defending well.
Sinclair trying to control here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Strange instigates a clinch.
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 Henry Sinclair will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sinclair throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Strange's waist but Strange gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sinclair off to one side.
Strange tries to clinch but Sinclair is having none of it.
Strange fails with the takedown

and Sinclair counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Strange!
Strange just holding on.
Sinclair with the ground and pound from mount.

Sinclair is working for a guillotine from mount but Strange frees his head quite easily.
Strange tries to hold on but Sinclair pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strange tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sinclair can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Strange is looking to escape.
Sinclair content just to control the position here.

Sinclair is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Strange to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Strange shrugs it off.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Strange bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Sinclair has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Strange can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sinclair wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Strange is looking to work some ground and pound but Sinclair has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strange in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Strange wants to control from the top but Sinclair keeps moving.
Strange trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sinclair working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Strange.
Sinclair bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Strange's guard.
Sinclair stands and throws Strange's legs to the side, diving into side control.
You can see the frustration on Strange's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Strange is trying to get back to half guard.
Strange is trying to control Sinclair's posture but Sinclair avoids it.
Strange manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sinclair is trying to maintain the position but Strange is very close to passing his half guard.
Strange is trying to control the action in half guard but Sinclair is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Sinclair dominated that second round.
That's time! Sinclair's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Strange shoots and misses

and Sinclair counters with a shoot takedown. Strange fights it but they end up in guard.
Strange has Sinclair pulled in close to control his posture.
Strange is trying to control the position but Sinclair postures up.
Sinclair 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.
Strange looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Strange is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Strange wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sinclair wants to control from the top but Strange keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strange trying to keep a closed guard but Sinclair is proving a slippery customer.
Strange looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sinclair will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

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

Sinclair working for a triangle but Strange defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Sinclair working for a triangle but Strange defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strange throwing strikes from guard but Sinclair blocks nicely.
Strange with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sinclair not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Sinclair looking for a guillotine here but Strange defends easily.
Strange trying to control the position from guard on top but Sinclair is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Strange drops back looking for a leg! Sinclair is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sinclair manages to kick Strange off! Strange jumps back into Sinclair's 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sinclair circles away from the clinch attempt

and Sinclair counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Strange!
Strange wants to hold on but Sinclair pushes him away.
Henry Sinclair is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Strange manages to control the position for a moment.
Henry Sinclair overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sinclair tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ben Strange has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sinclair blocks Strange's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henry Sinclair showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sinclair, 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 30:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henry Sinclair!