PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Stronghold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Mcortner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mcortner has chosen Danger From Fire as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that James Mcortner was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Stronghold
vs
Mcortner

188 cm
23
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

194 cm
24
214 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mike Stronghold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Mcortner!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Nard Betker and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stronghold looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Mcortner!
Mcortner holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Stronghold tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Stronghold is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Mcortner holds on to Stronghold around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
Stronghold sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Stronghold throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Mcortner really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mcortner is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stronghold takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Stronghold landing shots from mount.
Mcortner takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Stronghold sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Mcortner is looking to improve his position but Stronghold isn't that keen on the idea.
Mcortner tries to hold on but Stronghold postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stronghold trying to control but Mcortner is having none of it.
Stronghold controlling from the full mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stronghold can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mcortner is looking to escape.
Stronghold is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Mcortner can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stronghold looking to control and managing it successfully.
Mcortner tries to reverse the position but Stronghold maintains control.
Mcortner sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stronghold is pressing down on Mcortner's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mcortner is holding on for now.
Stronghold is trying to control. Mcortner wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Stronghold is looking for a kimura but Mcortner is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Stronghold to get the leverage.
Mcortner is positioning himself well to prevent Stronghold advancing to mount.

Mcortner makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice sprawl there from Stronghold as Mcortner shoots in.

Stronghold drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Stronghold dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Stronghold closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mcortner did well to prevent Stronghold getting side control.

Stronghold stands up and beckons Mcortner to join him on the feet.
Stronghold dodges the punch combination from Mcortner.
Stronghold shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Mcortner counters by moving into the clinch.

Stronghold breaks the clinch.
Stronghold shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mcortner but Mcortner pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Stronghold avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mcortner closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stronghold circles away.
Mcortner tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcortner stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Stronghold. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stronghold shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mcortner as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stronghold tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stronghold shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mcortner defends it nicely.
Mcortner looks to land a body kick but Stronghold moved away.

Mcortner moves into the clinch.
Come on Mcortner - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Mcortner manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Stronghold trying to control the position from guard on top but Mcortner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mcortner tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mcortner throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Mcortner is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Mcortner wants to stand and escape but Stronghold is having none of it.
Mcortner keeping moving, preventing Stronghold from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mike Stronghold just wasn't active enough.
Stronghold tries to clinch but Mcortner is having none of it.
Mcortner shoots in looking for a takedown. Stronghold tries to sprawl out of it but Mcortner keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stronghold manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stronghold tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stronghold tries to clinch

and Mcortner counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stronghold won't be happy with that.
Stronghold is looking to regain half guard here but Mcortner keeps moving and retains side control.
Stronghold manages to work his way to half guard, despite Mcortner's best efforts.
Mcortner throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Mcortner decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Mcortner fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!

Stronghold fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mcortner to the ground. Stronghold is now in Mcortner's guard.

Mcortner kicks Stronghold off and gets to his feet.
A head kick from Stronghold lands but Mcortner takes it in his stride.

Mcortner instigates a clinch.
Mcortner wants to break the clinch but can't.

Mcortner has hold of one of Stronghold's legs. Stronghold is fighting the takedown attempt but Mcortner gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Stronghold trying to keep a closed guard but Mcortner is proving a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stronghold looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James Mcortner will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Mcortner is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Stronghold's half guard.
Mcortner is controlling the pace.
Mcortner is keen to just control but Stronghold is a slippery customer.
Stronghold is trying to maintain the position but Mcortner is very close to passing his half guard.

Mcortner gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Left hook, right uppercut from Stronghold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stronghold tries to close the distance and clinch but Mcortner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mcortner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stronghold tries for a takedown but Mcortner circles away easily

and Mcortner moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stronghold is trying to force a seperation but Mcortner has the dominant position.
Mcortner is looking to break free of the clinch but Stronghold has double underhooks.
Stronghold tries for a takedown but Mcortner manages to get underhooks.
Stronghold looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Stronghold pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Mcortner scores with a takedown into Stronghold's guard.
Mcortner stands and throws Stronghold's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stronghold is letting Mcortner control him for a moment.

Mcortner stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Mcortner fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stronghold avoids it really well and circles away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mcortner fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mcortner looking to score a takedown here. Stronghold is defending well but Mcortner drives through and ends up in Stronghold's guard.
Stronghold wants to get back to his feet but Mcortner is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mcortner wants to control from the top but Stronghold keeps moving.
Stronghold controlling the position.
Stronghold is trying to control the position but Mcortner postures up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Mcortner trying to control but Stronghold is working from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. James Mcortner hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Mcortner looks to throw the jab but Stronghold is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stronghold tries to clinch up but Mcortner circles away and keeps his distance.
Mcortner tries to clinch there but Stronghold circles away.
Mcortner misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mike Stronghold has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Mcortner.
No luck for Mcortner with that takedown attempt.
Stronghold uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mcortner has time to react.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stronghold throws a quick inside leg kick.
Stronghold wants to clinch.
Mike Stronghold is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stronghold fails to land with a series of punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Mcortner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mcortner 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Mcortner!
James Mcortner managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, STAR Nutrition, into his post fight interview.