PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Maris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rock Strongo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnny Maris had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Maris
vs
Strongo

197 cm
18
275 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
255 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johnny Maris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rock Strongo!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, David Schapiro and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maris closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Strongo to the mat! Strongo manages to get full guard.
Maris loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Maris could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Strongo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Maris drops back looking for a leg! Strongo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Strongo manages to kick Maris off! Maris jumps back into Strongo's guard.
Maris showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strongo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Maris trying to control but Strongo is working from the bottom.

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

Maris shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Maris sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Maris is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Strongo defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maris seems to be looking for submissions.
Strongo is trying to control but can't.
Maris is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Strongo is looking to get back to full guard here but Maris has managed to pass to side control instead.
Strongo seems a little lost for a moment, as Maris dominates the positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maris goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Strongo rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Maris's guard! Nice work there by Strongo!
Maris preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Maris utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Strongo throws and elbow that misses. Maris uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Strongo's guard. Nice move by Maris!
Maris throwing strikes from guard but Strongo blocks nicely.
Maris tries to free his leg and advance position but Strongo is retaining full guard.

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.
Maris throwing strikes from guard but Strongo blocks nicely.

Maris stands up and waves to Strongo to follow him.
Maris misses with a few strikes there.
Maris tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Strongo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Maris scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Rock Strongo has been cut.
Horrible takedown by Strongo or perhaps it was just good defense by Maris which made him look bad.
Strongo tries to clinch up
letting Maris counter with a right hand.
Nice defenses there by Maris.
Maris fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Strongo manages to avoid it.
Strongo misses with a takedown attempt

and Maris counters with a takedown into side control.
Strongo looks gassed!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Strongo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Maris wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Maris dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rock Strongo's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Strongo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Maris scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Strongo closes the distance but Maris moves to the side

and Maris counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Strongo wants to stand and escape but Maris is having none of it.
Maris will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Maris trying to control the position from guard on top but Strongo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maris is pushing down on Strongo's leg trying to pass to half guard. Strongo is fighting to maintain full guard but Maris has managed to sneak the leg through.

Strongo pushes Maris off and gets back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Maris.
Maris wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Strongo gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Strongo is breathing heavily.

Maris changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Strongo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Maris is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Strongo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strongo seems a little lost for a moment, as Maris dominates the positioning.
Strongo is looking to reverse the position.
Strongo is letting Maris control him for a moment.

Maris looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Maris postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Maris trying to control the position but Strongo is working away.
Strongo is trying to get back to his feet.

Maris is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Strongo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maris has an Americana. Strongo didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Maris is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Maris hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Johnny Maris!