PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kazai August (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valko Strange (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

August
vs
Strange

165 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kazai August!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Valko Strange!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
August tries to score a power double leg takedown but Strange sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten August somewhat.
August paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

August scores a takedown into full mount!
Strange slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
August trying to control from half guard but Strange is working away.
Strange wants to improve his position but August is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strange is positioning himself well to prevent August advancing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strange is trying to get back to full guard.

Strange looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

August closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
August seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Strange does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Strange looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
August is keen to just control but Strange is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
August is just content to waste time from the top position. Strange takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Strange can do anything to dispel that myth.
August trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Strange looking to hit a scissor sweep but August is one step ahead there.
Strange pulls August in close to his closed guard and prevents August from doing any damage or advancing position.
August wants to control from the top but Strange keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Strange.
August avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Strange tries to close the distance and clinch but August swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A right-left combo lands from August.
August tries to clinch

and Strange counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Strange controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Strange trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strange stopping the sweep attempt from August.
Strange is in close to August's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Strange wants to stand and escape but instead August has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Strange is controlling August's posture.
Strange tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Valko Strange will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

August gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Strange to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Strange stopping the sweep attempt from August.
Strange content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Strange must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Strange wants to stand but August has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
August trying to control the position.
Strange sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strange is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Strange trying to control the position from guard on top but August is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Strange lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
August trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Strange stays in close to August's body and controls the position.
Strange slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Strange is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and August defends it well.
Strange looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
August is trying to maintain the position but Strange is very close to passing his half guard.
Strange content to control rather than advance.
August is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strange stalling.
Strange is thwarting August's attempts to control the position.

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.
August avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Strange.
Strange stops August from getting back to his feet.
August tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Strange is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so August is just riding it out for now. Strange eventually gives up the hold.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
August moves into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valko Strange showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

August moves into the clinch.
August is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Strange will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning August up against the cage.

Strange jumps into guard, dragging August to the mat.
August preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
August postures up in Strange's guard and throws a big left but Strange blocks it.
August won't allow Strange to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
August trying to control but Strange is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
August leaves Strange with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Strange changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. August looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Strange takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A lull in the action here as Strange stalls from top position.
August is trying to work for a sweep but Strange has mounted him!
Strange takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
August is wriggling around trying to escape.
Strange breaks from August's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Strange scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish August?
Strange lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Strange controlling from mount.

Strange working for a guillotine from mount but August is in no mood to give up.
Strange controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
August tries to hold on but Strange pushes him away.
August tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Strange stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
August with a poor takedown

so Strange counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Valko Strange has got the better of the ground game so far.
Strange seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strange advances position into side control!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Strange cracks August with a big elbow.
August misses with a strike from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valko Strange comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Strange winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valko Strange!