PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Strikes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ali Bang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Ali Bang enters the cage!

Strikes
vs
Bang

186 cm
22
180 lbs
10 - 8 - 1

180 cm
27
176 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 10 - 8 - 1, fighting out of London, Carlos Strikes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Ali Bang!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Donald Grub and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strikes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bang paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Strikes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bang moves out of range of the body kick.
Strikes throws a nice looking combination but Bang bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Strikes closes the distance and clinches.
Bang with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Bang trying to stall but Strikes improves his position.

Strikes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bang circles away from the clinch attempt.
Strikes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Strikes tries a head kick but it misses.

Bang closes the distance and pushes Strikes back into the cage.
Strikes lands with a light punch inside.
Bang lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A right hand to the body from Bang.
Strikes swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Strikes tries to stall but Bang uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Bang.
Bang lands with a light punch inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Bang.
Bang lands a right hand that snaps the head of Strikes backwards.
Bang lands a nice uppercut.
Bang unloads a knee to the mid-section.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short right from Bang on the inside.
Bang misses with an elbow over the top.
Bang stalling.
Bang prevents Strikes from breaking the clinch.
Bang gets through Strikes's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Bang.
With the fighters up against the cage, Bang throws an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strikes is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Bang lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Strikes working hard to break the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Bang.
Knees to the body from Bang.
Strikes is breathing heavily.
Bang fails to pull guard.
Bang avoids the elbow strike from Strikes, against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Bang.
Strikes throws an elbow that misses.
Bang slows down the pace here.
Bang lands with a light punch inside.
Strikes is trying to stall.
Strikes takes an elbow to the forehead.
Bang throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Strikess head.
Bang lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Bang with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Bang lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Strikes backwards.
Bang lands a hook that snaps the head of Strikes backwards.
Bang lands a knee to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Bang.
Bang softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Bang lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Bang lands a good knee to the midsection. Strikes won't want to take too many of those.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bang displaying some good clinch control by pressing Strikes up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bang creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Bang pressing his opponent against the cage.

Bang works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bang trying to control the position from guard on top but Strikes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Strikes keeping full guard, as Bang tries to pass.
Bang passes into half guard.
Bang landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Strikes is pressing down on Bang's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Strikes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Strikes is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bang is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bang wants to control from the top but Strikes keeps moving.
Bang is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Bang trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.

Carlos Strikes has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Strikes takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Bang cracks Strikes with an open hand slap.
Bang will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bang is looking to clinch but Strikes is avoiding it.
Bang fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bang tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Strikes counters with a left and a right that stings Bang.

Bang darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bang is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Bang is keen to just control but Strikes is a slippery customer.
Bang looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Bang wants to control but Strikes is keeping him busy.
Bang with the ground and pound but Strikes uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Bang with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bang accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bang throws a strike but Strikes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Strikes trying to control but Bang is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ali Bang dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Strikes tries to keep at a distance but Bang has taken the fight into the clinch.
Strikes has had enough of the clinch but Bang keeps him there for the moment.
Bang misses with a knee strike.
Bang throws a knee to the head but misses.
Strikes managing to block the knees to the body from Bang.
A short right from Bang on the inside.
Strikes wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Strikes misses with an elbow over the top.
Bang lands a right hand.
Bang has Strikes pressed against the cage.
Strikes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Bang.
Bang landing knees to the head.

It looks like Carlos Strikes has been cut.
Bang throws a head punch that misses.
Bang using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Strikes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Strikes throws an elbow but it misses.
Strikes on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Strikes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bang trying to stall but Strikes improves his position.

Strikes breaks the clinch.
Bang is breathing heavily.
Bang slips a jab and a cross from Strikes.
A combination from Bang does no damage.
Bang tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strikes circles away from the clinch attempt
and Strikes counters with a nice leg kick.
Carlos Strikes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bang shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Strikes defends it nicely.
Strikes tries to clinch but Bang is having none of it.
Bang is looking to slow Strikes down with leg kicks.

Strikes moves into the clinch.
Bang tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bang looking to throw knees to the head but Strikes is blocking nicely.
Strikes is stalling here.
Bang gets through Strikes's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ali Bang seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Bang trying to stall but Strikes improves his position.
Strikes working hard to break the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Strikes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bang is defending well for now.
Bang lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Bang lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Bang fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bang can't find room to land a body shot as Strikes controls the action.
Bang avoiding damage as Strikes throws knees to the body.
Strikes looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Bang.
Bang misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bang with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short left from Bang.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Bang as Strikes tries to tie him up.
Bang works on Strikes's body with a couple of short punches.
Strikes is trying to break the clinch but Bang is controlling him.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Bang.
Bang keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Strikes's efforts to push away.
Bang tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Strikes wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bang has him pressed against the cage.
Strikes tries to stall but Bang uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Bang lands with a short shot to the head.
Bang tries to land knees in the clinch but Strikes avoids the damage to the body.
Bang lands an elbow inside.
Strikes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bang has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Strikes trying to control the position but instead, Bang has worked for underhooks and has pushed Strikes into the cage.
Bang landing some nice looking knees to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Strikes.
Bang trying to land knees to the body.
Bang misses with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strikes on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Strikes is looking to control Bang's arms but Bang gets an underhook and turns him. Now Strikes has his back to the cage.
Strikes trying to land knees to the body.
Bang tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bang looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A right hook to the body lands for Strikes.
Strikes has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Strikes breaks from the clinch.

Bang gets a clinch.

Strikes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Strikes throws a push kick but Bang slaps the foot to one side.
Bang wants to clinch
and Strikes counters with a low kick, right behind Bang 's knee.
Strikes scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Strikes has closed the distance and engaged Bang in a clinch.
Bang looking to slow down the pace here.
Bang lands with a short shot to the head.
Bang using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Strikes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Strikes breaks from the clinch.
Bang tries to clinch there but Strikes circles away.
Strikes wants to land a leg kick but Bang is out of range.
Bang wants to clinch

and Strikes counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bang creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Strikes's defenses.
Strikes wants to get back to striking at distance but Bang won't allow it.
Bang misses with some punches.
A nice left hand lands by Bang.
Strikes is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bang is keeping busy.
Bang takes an elbow to the forehead.
Strikes looking to stall.
Bang using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Strikes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Bang is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Strikes creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A right hand to the body from Strikes.
Strikes wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Strikes tries to break free but Bang pushes him back against the cage.

Strikes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Strikes keeps the fight on the outside.
Strikes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bang swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Strikes circles away from the clinch attempt
and Strikes counters with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Carlos Strikes will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Carlos Strikes's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Strikes tries to clinch but Bang is having none of it.

Strikes closes the distance and pushes Bang back into the cage.
Bang avoiding damage as Strikes throws knees to the body.
Strikes is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bang is keeping busy.
A shot in the inside from Bang.
Bang tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bang misses with a knee to the head.
Bang keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Strikes's efforts to push away.
Bang using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Strikes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Strikes trying to stall but Bang improves his position.
Strikes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Strikes lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Bang.
Strikes is trying to push Bang away but Bang has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Strikes is trying to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bang lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bang takes an elbow to the temple.
Strikes lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Strikes landing knees to the head.
Strikes crunches a lovely knee into Bang's ribcage.
Come on Bang - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Bang.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bang keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Strikes's efforts to push away.
Bang tries to land a knee to the head but Strikes blocks with his arms.
Strikes is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bang is keeping busy.
Bang misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Strikes.
Strikes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bang avoids it.
Bang misses with a knee to the head.
Bang using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Strikes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Bang on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Strikes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Strikes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Carlos Strikes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Strikes!

Bang feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Bang thows a big elbow that misses.
Bang wants to control from the top but Strikes keeps moving.
Strikes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strikes controls Bang momentarily but Bang frees himself.
Strikes keeping moving, preventing Bang from controlling successfully.
Bang stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Strikes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bang postures up in Strikes's guard and throws a big left but Strikes blocks it.
Bang stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Strikes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bang content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bang distracts Strikes with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Strikes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bang is trying to get back to full guard.
Strikes tries to stand and escape but Bang is controlling the position.

Bang pushes Strikes off and gets back to his feet.

Bang has taken the fight to the clinch.
Strikes wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bang.
A right handed body shot lands from Bang.
Bang scores with a knee to the head.
Strikes takes a shot to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Bang jumps guard and drags Strikes to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Bang pulls Strikes in close to prevent any damage.
Strikes preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bang is on top in guard.
Bang throwing strikes from guard but Strikes blocks nicely.
Bang working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strikes keeping moving, preventing Bang from controlling successfully.
Strikes wants to sweep here but Bang controlling him for the moment.

Bang gets to his feet - Strikes follows without any prompting.
Bang shoots in looking for a takedown but Strikes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bang's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bang throws a jab when Strikes was well out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ali Bang comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bang has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ali Bang!