PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dennis Striker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shawn Braxton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Striker
vs
Braxton

167 cm
24
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dennis Striker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Shawn Braxton!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Leandro Rodrigues and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Braxton darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Braxton seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Braxton wants to control but Striker is keeping him busy.
Striker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Braxton sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Striker defending well though.
Striker desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Striker trying to hold on to Braxton's head to control him but Braxton postures up.
Striker is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Braxton is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Striker avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Braxton.
Striker holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Dennis Striker just wasn't active enough.
Striker closes the distance and clinches up with Braxton, looking for a takedown. Striker pushes Braxton against the cage but Braxton circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Braxton leaves Striker with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Braxton shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Striker pinned against the cage. Striker gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Striker moves into the clinch.
Striker has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Braxton after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dennis Striker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Braxton tries for a takedown. No joy.

Striker is trying to trip Braxton. He has hold of a leg but Braxton is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Striker persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Striker has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Braxton is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Striker postures up in Braxton's guard and throws a big left but Braxton blocks it.
Striker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Striker throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Braxton works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Braxton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Striker wants to control from the top but Braxton keeps moving.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Braxton can do anything to dispel that myth.
Striker with a flurry of punches that miss.
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!
Striker in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Striker has gone for a leg lock! Braxton slips out almost immediately though and dives into Striker's guard.

Striker is looking for a triangle but Braxton pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Striker has momentary wrist control but Braxton slips an elbow through the middle.

Striker throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Striker working a defensive guard here.
Braxton in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Striker has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Striker looking to control.
Braxton missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Striker pulls Braxton in to control the position.
Striker controls Braxton momentarily but Braxton frees himself.
Braxton keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Striker's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Striker not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dennis Striker.
Braxton closes this distance looking for a takedown but Striker circles away.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Striker tries to clinch but Braxton moves out of range.
Braxton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Striker but Striker pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Striker looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Braxton misses with a takedown attempt - Striker sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Striker moves to clinch but Braxton breaks away

and Braxton counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Striker!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Dennis Striker will probably get the nod.
That's time! Striker's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Striker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Braxton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Striker leaves Braxton with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Striker manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Braxton on his heels. He'll look to pass Braxton's guard now, I'm sure.
Braxton pulls Striker in close to prevent any damage.
Braxton is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Braxton looking for a sweep. Not yet Braxton, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Striker controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Striker throws a big right hand that misses.
Striker throws a big elbow that misses.

Braxton working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Striker doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Braxton is tightening it up a little... Striker has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Striker reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Striker taps out! Nice BJJ there by Braxton!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Shawn Braxton!