PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Alba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Stratton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Alba
vs
Stratton

200 cm
23
186 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

178 cm
22
182 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Joseph Alba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Tony Stratton!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Paul Tew and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alba fails to land the takedown.
Alba fails with the takedown.
Stratton avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Alba.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joseph Alba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alba shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stratton looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stratton misses with a double jab.
Alba fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stratton stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stratton wants it to stay on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alba shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stratton sprawls well. Stratton wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Alba gets slowly back to his feet.
Alba really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Stratton looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
It looks like Stratton is going to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alba trying to control but Stratton postures up.
Stratton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alba keeps working.
Alba wants to get back to his feet.
Stratton sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Alba defending well though.
Stratton has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Stratton wants to stand up but Alba is controlling the position.
Stratton prevents Alba from improving his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Alba closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Alba lands in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Stratton wants to stand up but Alba is controlling him.
Stratton is pulling down on Alba's head. It's preventing any offense from Alba, at least for the moment.
Stratton is looking to stand up but Alba isn't so interested in that idea.
Alba looking to pass the guard.
Alba's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Stratton is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alba is looking to work some ground and pound but Stratton has wrist control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stratton circles away from the clinch attempt.

Alba throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Stratton was covering up waiting for the punch and Alba finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Stratton is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Alba is controlling him.
Stratton wants to sweep but no luck.
Alba will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Stratton manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Alba has his takedown stuffed
and Stratton counters with a solid body kick.
Alba is breathing heavily.

Stratton looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Stratton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alba is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stratton slips nicely into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alba is trying to stand.
Stratton content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Alba wants to get back to his feet.
Stratton seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Stratton decides to stand and escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Stratton dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Stratton throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Alba circles away from the clinch attempt.
Alba shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Stratton counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Stratton trying to stand up but can't free himself from Alba's guard.
Stratton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alba swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stratton tries to stand but Alba is controlling from the bottom.
Stratton is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Stratton gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alba tries for a takedown but Stratton circles away easily

and Stratton counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Stratton.
Alba on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Alba tries to get out of the position.
Stratton keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Alba's head.
Stratton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alba is keeping the position for now.
Alba is pulling down on Stratton's head to control his posture.
Stratton has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Alba is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stratton decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Alba shoots and misses
and Stratton counters with a one-two to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joseph Alba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alba fails with the takedown

and Stratton moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stratton tries to break free but Alba pushes him back against the cage.
Stratton lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Alba throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A knee to the head by Alba.
Alba misses with an elbow strike.
Stratton pushes Alba back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Alba - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Stratton avoids a wild elbow strike from Alba.
Alba taking a breather.
Stratton wants to break the clinch but can't.
Alba throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stratton blocks it with crossed arms.

Stratton manages to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alba postures up in Stratton's guard and throws a big left but Stratton blocks it.
Stratton controlling the position.
Stratton bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Alba's guard.

Alba has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Stratton off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Stratton misses with a few strikes there.

Stratton gets a clinch.
Alba prevents Stratton from breaking the clinch.
Alba with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Stratton breaks from the clinch.
Stratton throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Joseph Alba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alba misses with a takedown attempt
and Stratton cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stratton misses with the combination.
Alba tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Stratton counters with a nice double leg into side control. Alba won't be happy with that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stratton just content to control the position.
Alba is looking to regain half guard here but Stratton keeps moving and retains side control.
Stratton just content to control the position.
Alba is looking to regain half guard here but Stratton keeps moving and retains side control.
Stratton slows the pace down.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Stratton decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Alba has his takedown stuffed

and Stratton counters with a takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Stratton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Alba closes the distance looking to clinch

and Stratton holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Alba looking to throw knees to the head but Stratton is blocking nicely.
Stratton is working for takedown but Alba is calmly controlling the position for now.
Alba is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stratton is defending well for now.
Alba keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stratton's efforts to push away.
Alba misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stratton.

Stratton breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alba gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Stratton counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Alba trying to hold on to Stratton's head to control him but Stratton postures up.
Stratton slows the pace down in half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stratton wants to take a breather but Alba is having none of it.
Stratton is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Alba is staying active underneath Stratton, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Stratton keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tony Stratton.

Alba instigates a clinch.
Alba throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stratton blocks it with crossed arms.
Stratton throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stratton has had enough of the clinch but Alba keeps him there for the moment.
Alba with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Stratton wants to break the clinch but can't.
Stratton avoids the elbow strike from Alba, against the cage.
Alba just leaning against Stratton, taking a breather.

Stratton manages to break the clinch.
Alba misses with a takedown

and Stratton counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Stratton pushing down on Alba's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Stratton wants to stand up but Alba has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Stratton is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Alba is staying active underneath Stratton, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stratton wants to stand up but Alba is controlling the position.
Alba is looking for a sweep. Stratton is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stratton prevents Alba from standing back up.

Stratton decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Stratton drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Stratton trying to control the action but Alba is working from the bottom.

Stratton decides to stand up, so the ref orders Alba to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alba tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Stratton counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Alba!
Stratton content just to control the position here.
Stratton tries to control but Alba wriggling away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alba is trying desperately to improve position.
Joseph Alba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tony Stratton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stratton controlling from the full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Stratton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stratton 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Stratton!