PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Valko Strange (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Morris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morris is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Get Like Me. Valko Strange has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Strange
vs
Morris

175 cm
22
154 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

160 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Big heart

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Valko Strange!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tyler Morris!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strange doesn't manage to clinch there - Morris circles away.
Strange fails with an attempt to clinch.
Strange shoots in for a double leg but Morris sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Morris closes the distance but Strange moves to the side

and Strange holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Strange holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Strange is trying to drag Morris to the mat but Morris just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Strange misses with an elbow over the top.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morris is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Strange wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Valko Strange. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morris letting Strange take a breather here.
Strange seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Strange for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Strange is trying to drag Morris to the mat but Morris just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Strange changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Morris fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Morris shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Strange moves into the clinch.
Morris has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Strange is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Strange prevents the takedown attempt.
Strange fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Strange.

That's two 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.
Morris avoids the elbow strike from Strange, against the cage.
Morris avoiding damage as Strange throws knees to the body.
Strange is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Valko Strange.
Morris shoots and misses

and Strange counters by moving into the clinch.
Strange wants a takedown but no success here.
Strange gets underhooks to prevent Morris's takedown attempt.

Strange has Morris pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Strange pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Morris tumbling to the mat - Strange dives into Morris's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strange looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strange trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Morris is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Morris keeping moving, preventing Strange from controlling successfully.
Morris looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Strange throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Morris works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

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.
Strange's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Morris has Strange pulled in close to control his posture.
Strange throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Morris keeping full guard, as Strange tries to pass.
Strange working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Strange has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Strange is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valko Strange dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Strange looks to land a left hand but Morris moved out of range nicely.
Strange tries to clinch but Morris is having none of it.
Strange with a lazy takedown attempt

and Morris counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Strange looking to hit a scissor sweep but Morris is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morris trying to control the position from guard on top but Strange is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Strange looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Morris being controlled here momentarily.
Strange will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

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.
Morris stops Strange from standing up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Strange misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Morris counters with a nice uppercut.
Strange tries to land a body kick
and Morris counters with a big head kick but Strange shrugs it off.
Strange thows a leg kick but Morris checks it

and Morris counters with a single leg into guard. Strange didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strange wants to get back to his feet but Morris is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Strange looking for a sweep. Not yet Strange, not yet.
Strange throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Strange is pulling down on Morris's head to control his posture.

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.
Strange wants to stand but Morris is controlling the position.
Strange looking to hit a scissor sweep but Morris is one step ahead there.
Strange keeping moving, preventing Morris from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Morris showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Strange rushes Morris and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Morris blocks a body shot from Strange.
Strange is stalling here.
Strange lands a hook that snaps the head of Morris backwards.
Strange displaying some good clinch control by pressing Morris up against the cage.
Morris drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Morris is fighting off a takedown attempt but Strange is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Morris to the mat. Morris regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Strange pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Morris is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strange is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Morris utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Strange throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Morris works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Strange stays in close to Morris's body and controls the position.
Strange trying to control but Morris is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Strange in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Strange throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Morris works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Strange looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Strange content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Strange not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strange stalling away here and it's allowed Morris to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Strange throws a big right hand that misses.
Strange wants to control from the top but Morris keeps moving.
Strange is working Morris over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Strange loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Morris takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Strange wants to control from the top but Morris keeps moving.
Strange is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Strange is in close to Morris's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Strange controls from within his opponent's guard.
Strange loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Strange pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Morris is keeping the position for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valko Strange showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Strange has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

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