PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vidar Strom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh McCuistion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McCuistion is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by It's Raining Men. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Strom
vs
McCuistion

197 cm
22
254 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

163 cm
20
218 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Pacheco Labratories Inc

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vidar Strom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh McCuistion!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strom fails with a takedown attempt.
Strom shoots for a double leg takedown but McCuistion sprawls well. He's pushed Strom's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
McCuistion should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Strom checks a leg kick.

McCuistion looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Strom!
Strom is breathing heavily.

McCuistion gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
McCuistion lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by McCuistion.

McCuistion looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Strom!
Strom working to try and regain half guard.
McCuistion can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Strom is looking to escape.
McCuistion cracks Strom with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McCuistion stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

McCuistion scores a takedown into full mount!
McCuistion tries to control but Strom wriggling away.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - McCuistion has eaten all the pies!
Strom is trying to stand up.
McCuistion can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Strom is looking to escape.
Strom really wants to buck McCuistion off and get back to his feet.
Strom is squirming around, avoiding McCuistion's attempts to control the action.
McCuistion pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Strom is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strom slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Strom is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but McCuistion pulls his head out easily.

McCuistion decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
McCuistion misses with a looping left.
Strom shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and McCuistion counters with a single leg into guard. Strom didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vidar Strom. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Strom looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Strom working for a triangle but McCuistion defends it easily.

Strom is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCuistion won't allow Strom to sweep him here.
Strom working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McCuistion.
McCuistion looking to sit in guard and control but Strom gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
McCuistion can't keep his opponent in guard - Strom advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Strom is looking for a kimura here.
McCuistion wants to get back to full guard.

Strom postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for McCuistion to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCuistion misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

McCuistion bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

McCuistion thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

McCuistion has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

McCuistion closes the distance and clinches.
Strom has had enough of the clinch but McCuistion keeps him there for the moment.
McCuistion stalling.
McCuistion tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Strom just stands there and leans against the cage.
McCuistion content to slow the pace in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McCuistion is trying to break free.
McCuistion gets underhooks to prevent Strom's takedown attempt.

McCuistion escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Strom wants to clinch

and McCuistion counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh McCuistion dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Strom throws a sloppy head kick and McCuistion moves out of range easily.
McCuistion shoots in and drives through. Strom sprawls well.
McCuistion throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Strom's waist but Strom gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McCuistion off to one side.
McCuistion tries to clinch but Strom moves away

and Strom counters with a leg kick then a big left hand that sends McCuistion down! Strom is looking to finish but McCuistion is intelligently defending himself.

McCuistion is rocked!
Strom passes McCuistion's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
McCuistion is still in real trouble! Can Strom finish him?

Strom decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
McCuistion shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Vidar Strom has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh McCuistion.
Strom wants to clinch.
Vidar Strom is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McCuistion tries to clinch there but Strom circles away.
Strom gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and McCuistion counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McCuistion keeps the fight on the outside.
McCuistion seems to have recovered his senses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strom tries to clinch but McCuistion is having none of it.
McCuistion misses with a kick to the body.
McCuistion tries to land a front kick but Strom steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
McCuistion fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Strom fails in his attempt to clinch.
Strom tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and McCuistion decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Strom's guard.
McCuistion controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
McCuistion lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Strom wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCuistion passes easily into side control. Nice work.
McCuistion looks up at the clock and then as Strom takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, McCuistion smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Strom is trying to improve his position.

McCuistion thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strom gets back to half guard.
Strom is looking for a sweep. McCuistion is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McCuistion wants to lay and pray for a moment but Strom keeps working.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Strom with a lazy takedown attempt

and McCuistion counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Strom is looking for a triangle but McCuistion pushes his legs off easily.

Strom working for a triangle but McCuistion defends it easily.
Strom keeping moving, preventing McCuistion from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Josh McCuistion has got the better of the ground game so far.
Strom wants to stand but McCuistion is controlling the position.
Strom looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

McCuistion stands and steps away. Strom gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

McCuistion closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Strom to the mat! Strom manages to get full guard.
McCuistion trying to control but Strom is working from the bottom.

Strom is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

McCuistion stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCuistion fails with an attempt to clinch.
Strom shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and McCuistion counters with a three punch combo that has Strom backing up. Strom nods at McCuistion to acknowledge the strikes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McCuistion.
McCuistion tries to clinch up but Strom circles away and keeps his distance.
Strom misses with a jab, cross combination.
Strom with a poor takedown

and McCuistion counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
McCuistion slips nicely into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
McCuistion tries to pass the half guard into mount. Strom knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McCuistion is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
McCuistion seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh McCuistion 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!

No joy there for Strom, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Strom circles away from the clinch attempt.

McCuistion gets in close and instigates a clinch.
McCuistion wants a takedown.
McCuistion stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
McCuistion tries to pull guard but Strom holds him up against the cage and eventually McCuistion drops back down to his feet.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Strom.

McCuistion pulls guard.
McCuistion keeping full guard, as Strom tries to pass.
Strom is pushing down on McCuistion's leg trying to pass to half guard. McCuistion is fighting to maintain full guard but Strom has managed to sneak the leg through.

Strom stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

McCuistion drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
McCuistion wants to control from the top but Strom keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCuistion might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Strom kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Strom is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Strom looking to hit a scissor sweep but McCuistion is one step ahead there.

McCuistion gets to his feet - Strom follows without any prompting.

McCuistion scores a takedown into full mount!
Strom is trying to escape the mount.
Strom is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strom slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Strom is trying to stand.

McCuistion is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Strom doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time McCuistion.
McCuistion prevents Strom from standing back up.

McCuistion is trying to work for a kimura but Strom is defending well.
McCuistion prevents Strom from improving his position.

McCuistion stands up and beckons Strom to join him on the feet.
Strom shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and McCuistion counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strom is trying to stand up here but McCuistion is controlling him well.
McCuistion trying to control from half guard but Strom is working away.
Strom is trying to escape back to his feet but McCuistion uses the scramble to pass into side control.
The referee asks McCuistion politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. McCuistion prefers to stall for the moment though.
McCuistion tries to advance to mount but Strom denies him.

McCuistion stands up and we're back to a striking position.
McCuistion throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Strom counters with a left right combination that sends McCuistion crashing to the mat - Strom wastes no time in diving on top of him and pounding McCuistion out for a TKO! Devastating finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Vidar Strom!