PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luis Strickland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gunnar Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kelly has chosen Don't Lean On Me- The Amity Affliction as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Strickland
vs
Kelly

215 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

210 cm
25
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Luis Strickland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gunnar Kelly!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Bruno Lombardi and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strickland looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice sprawl there from Strickland as Kelly shoots in.
Strickland moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Strickland closes the distance and clinches.
Strickland jumps guard but Kelly stands there with Strickland around his waist. Strickland gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kelly has had enough of the clinch but Strickland keeps him there for the moment.
Strickland tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kelly smiles and moves away.
Strickland lands a nice looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly slips a jab and a cross from Strickland.
Strickland checks a low kick from Kelly.
Kelly doesn't manage to clinch there - Strickland circles away.

Strickland gets caught flat footed, as Kelly shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Kelly stands up from Strickland's guard - Kelly perhaps looking for a knockout.
Strickland is looking to clinch.

Kelly fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Strickland sprawls well initially but Kelly persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kelly prevents Strickland from improving his position.
Kelly takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strickland wants to control but Kelly is keeping busy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Strickland is looking to escape.
Kelly thows a huge punch but Strickland dodges it nicely.
Kelly not doing much here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Strickland is trying to stand up here but Kelly is controlling him well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kelly in particular looking to stall.

Gunnar Kelly has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Kelly throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Strickland counters with a good, hard body kick but Kelly shrugs it off.
Kelly doesn't manage to clinch there - Strickland circles away.

Kelly throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Strickland tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kelly is in Strickland's guard.
Kelly seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Kelly must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strickland working a defensive guard here.
Kelly looking to pass the guard.
Strickland trying to keep a closed guard but Kelly is proving a slippery customer.
Kelly in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kelly is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Luis Strickland has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Sloppy strikes from Strickland. Those never looked like landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelly doesn't manage to clinch there - Strickland circles away.
Kelly is looking to clinch.
Kelly darts in looking for a takedown but Strickland gets double underhooks and turns Kelly into the cage.
Kelly looks winded!
Kelly tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Strickland just stands there and leans against the cage.
Luis Strickland has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gunnar Kelly.
Strickland has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kelly is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Strickland tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kelly smiles and moves away.
Kelly shoots in looking for a takedown but Strickland manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kelly's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gunnar Kelly dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kelly tries to land a body kick
and Strickland cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kelly tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Strickland paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Strickland scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Strickland gets caught napping as Kelly dives in and scores a takedown. Strickland manages to retain guard.
Kelly is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Strickland is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kelly is controlling him.

Kelly gets to his feet. Strickland looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Strickland throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kelly closes the distance and clinches up with Strickland, looking for a takedown. Kelly pushes Strickland against the cage but Strickland circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly shoots in for a double leg but Strickland sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kelly is breathing heavily.
Kelly fails with a takedown attempt.
Luis Strickland has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gunnar Kelly.
Strickland fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kelly looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Luis Strickland is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Strickland throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Kelly fails to land the takedown.
Strickland throws a one two combo.
Kelly walks into a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly has a takedown stuffed.

Strickland clinches with his opponent.
Kelly prevents a takedown attempt there.
Strickland goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kelly prevents it.

Strickland pulls Kelly into guard.
Kelly trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strickland wants to sweep here but Kelly controlling him for the moment.
Strickland wants to stand but Kelly is controlling the position.
Strickland bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kelly's guard.

Strickland avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kelly keeping moving, preventing Strickland from controlling successfully.
Kelly is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Strickland sitting in guard here, content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kelly looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strickland controlling from the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Luis Strickland.
Danga de danga de dang - Strickland scores with a four punch combination!
Strickland sizes up Kelly with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Strickland showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kelly.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Strickland lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Strickland dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Strickland lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Strickland looks to land a combination but Kelly avoids it well.
Strickland circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kelly throws a body kick that misses
and Strickland counters with a big head kick but Kelly shrugs it off.
Strickland scores with a push kick.
Kelly fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kelly thows a body shot but no joy.
Kelly fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kelly walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kelly shoots in but no luck this time.
Kelly takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Strickland looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A combination from Kelly does no damage.
Kelly shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Strickland defends it nicely.
Luis Strickland has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gunnar Kelly.
Kelly fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kelly shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Strickland but Strickland pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kelly keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strickland scores with a three punch combo!
Strickland tries to clinch up.
Kelly fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kelly tries to move into range but Strickland moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Strickland throws a one two combo.
Luis Strickland is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Strickland tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kelly swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Strickland doesn't manage to clinch there - Kelly circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strickland throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A left and a right from Strickland both land. Nice combination.
Jab by Strickland.
Strickland scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kelly shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Strickland defends it nicely.
Danga de danga de dang - Strickland scores with a four punch combination!
Danga de danga de dang - Strickland scores with a four punch combination!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strickland swats away the attempt to clinch by Kelly.
A low kick from Kelly is predictable there
and Strickland counters with a one-two to the body.
Strickland tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kelly swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kelly fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Strickland!
Strickland lands a glancing blow to the side of Kelly's head.

Kelly scores with a takedown into Strickland's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Strickland keeping moving, preventing Kelly from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luis Strickland showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Strickland has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luis Strickland!