PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Striker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sage Young (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Young has chosen Lost in Music as his entrance music. The key to victory for Sam Striker has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Striker
vs
Young

185 cm
25
211 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
23
205 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sam Striker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sage Young!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Young showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Striker.
Young dodges the punch combination from Striker.
Striker takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Young shoots in for a takedown but Striker shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Striker. Young does a little dance to reset his feet.
Some wild striking there from Striker.
Striker lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
No joy there for Striker, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Striker connects with a body shot.
Striker lands with a straight right. Young didn't see that one coming.
Striker misses with a wild combination.
Young throws a head kick that misses.
Striker misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Young shoots in for a double leg but Striker sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Striker rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Young moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A cross from Striker lands.
Striker slaps away a takedown attempt from Young, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sam Striker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sage Young.
Striker throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Young counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Striker's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Striker managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Young.

Young wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Striker, who protects the arm well.
Young gets to mount! Striker was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Young wants to control the pace but Striker is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Striker can't escape the position.
Young sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Young unloads with some shots from mount but Striker bucks and avoids them well.
Striker really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Young controlling from the full mount.
Striker is desperately trying to improve his position but Young has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Young looking to ground and pound but Striker is blocking nicely.
Young throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Striker is looking to get to half guard.
Young looking to finish with strikes here!
Young looking to control but Striker is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Young landing strikes from the mount.
Striker knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Young on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Young can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Striker is looking to escape.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Striker tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Young wants to control the pace but Striker is squirming around nicely.
Young has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Striker is desperately trying to improve his position but Young has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sage Young dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Striker throws a combination. Young tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Striker throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Young counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Young is looking to take a break and control but Striker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Young is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Young is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Striker defends it well.
Young is looking to take a break and control but Striker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Young there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Striker tries to roll over but Young keeps him under control.
Striker trying to control but Young postures up.
Young is trying to control the action in half guard but Striker is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Striker wants to control but Young passes into side.
Striker is looking to regain half guard here but Young keeps moving and retains side control.
Young is looking to take a break and control but Striker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.
Striker struggling a bit here.
Young trying to control the action but Striker is working from the bottom.
Striker tries to improve position but can't.
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.
Young's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Young tries for a kimura but Striker is defending well.
Young is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Young are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Striker is trying to control Young's posture but Young avoids it.
Striker looking for a sweep but Young has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Young fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Young trying to control but Striker is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Young misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Young with shots to the head and body - Striker looks very uncomfortable down there.
Young wants to control the pace but Striker is squirming around nicely.

Young is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Striker to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Striker shrugs it off.
Young tries to control but Striker wriggling away.
Young controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sage Young showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Young shoots in but Striker avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Young fails with a takedown attempt.
Some wild striking there from Striker.
A left and a right from Striker both land. Nice combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Striker jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Young has a takedown stuffed.
Sam Striker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sage Young.
Young misses with a double jab
and Striker counters with a stiff right hand.
Young takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Striker scores with a four punch combination!
Young dodges the punch combination from Striker.
Striker throws a right hand that Young ducks under and follows up with a left that Young also avoids with ease.
Striker swinging wildly here.
Striker lands a jab to Young's midsection.
Striker closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Sam Striker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Striker paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Nice shot by Striker.
A punch combination from Striker misses.
Striker throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Young misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Striker.
Striker lands a glancing blow to the side of Young's head.
Striker misses with a few strikes there.
Striker works Young's body with a nice hook.
Sam Striker is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Striker misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sam Striker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Striker throws a nice looking combination but Young bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Striker comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Striker throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A combination from Striker does no damage.
Young changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Striker tries to avoid it but Young manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Striker to the ground. Striker escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Young is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Striker.
Striker throws a right and a left that Young avoids nicely.
Striker throws a combination. Young tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Striker as he connects with a hook.
Striker fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Young on the side of the head.
Striker jabs at Young's body.
Striker sizes up Young with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Sam Striker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good exchange - Striker coming out on top.
Striker throws a nice looking combination but Young bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Young is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Striker.
Striker fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Young looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Striker fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Young doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sage Young is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Striker throws a right and a left that both miss.
Striker swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Striker moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sloppy strikes from Striker. Those never looked like landing.
Striker throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Young.
Striker lands a slapping body shot.
Striker moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Young has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Young takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Striker lands a two punch combo.
Young throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Striker thuds a left hand into Young's body.
Striker connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Sam Striker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Young showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Striker.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Striker showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Young 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 Suge Night scores the fight 28:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!