PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gregory Booker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Earl Strickland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Booker
vs
Strickland

177 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

184 cm
22
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid 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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gregory Booker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Earl Strickland!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Paul Gruel and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Strickland pushes Booker up against the cage in a clinch.
Strickland is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Booker gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Booker is working for takedown but Strickland is calmly controlling the position for now.
Booker goes for a takedown attempt but Strickland pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Strickland gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Booker wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gregory Booker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strickland wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Booker managing to block the knees to the body from Strickland.
Booker could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Strickland looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Booker breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strickland tries to score a power double leg takedown but Booker sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Strickland somewhat.
Strickland shoots in but Booker avoids the takedown attempt easily.
It looked like Booker wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Strickland moves into the clinch.
Booker can't break the clinch.
Strickland tries to score a body lock takedown but Booker shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Strickland is looking for a takedown.
Booker has Strickland pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Strickland manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Booker tries to pull guard but Strickland forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Booker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Strickland has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Booker after a bit of a struggle.
Strickland is looking for a takedown.
Strickland wants to break the clinch but can't.
Strickland tries to break free but Booker pushes him back against the cage.

Strickland pulls guard successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Booker throwing strikes but missing.
Booker wanted to stand there but Strickland had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strickland is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Strickland is working an open guard so Booker takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Strickland takes the fight into the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Strickland - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Strickland pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booker is trying to break the clinch but Strickland is controlling him.

Strickland pulls Booker into guard.
Booker wants to stand and escape but instead Strickland has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Booker trying to keep a closed guard but Strickland is proving a slippery customer.
Strickland controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Strickland forces his way into half guard.
Booker wants to control but Strickland is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strickland content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Booker is controlling Strickland's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Strickland controlling the action here.
Strickland prevents Booker from standing back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Booker is not content to let Strickland control the position.
Strickland missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Earl Strickland dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Strickland tries to land a leg kick but Booker saw it coming and moves away.
Booker misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Booker dives in and grabs Strickland's left leg, looking for a takedown. Strickland pushes down on Booker's head and hops out.
Strickland shoots in and drives through. Booker sprawls well.

Strickland fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Booker, pushing him back against the cage.

Booker has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Strickland uses from the top position.
Strickland showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Booker throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Strickland advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booker trying to control here.

Strickland seems to be looking for submissions.
Booker avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Strickland.
Strickland controlling the pace.
Strickland is continuing to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Strickland is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Booker is trying to maintain the position but Strickland is very close to passing his half guard.
Strickland has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Strickland wants to pass to mount but Booker is defending the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Booker trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Strickland controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booker wants to control but Strickland is having none of it.
Strickland controlling the pace for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strickland trying to control but Booker is having none of it.
Booker tries to hold on but Strickland pushes him away.
Strickland looking to control and managing it successfully.
Booker wants to hold on but Strickland pushes him away.
Strickland tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Earl Strickland has got the better of the ground game so far.
Strickland looking to ground and pound but Booker is blocking nicely.
Strickland misses with a head shot.
Strickland landing strikes, looking to finish!

It looks like Gregory Booker has been cut.
Strickland content just to control the position here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Booker holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Strickland tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Strickland thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Earl Strickland showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gregory Booker's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Strickland clinches up against the cage.
Booker missing with knees to the body.
Booker tries to score a body lock takedown but Strickland shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Strickland successfully pulls guard.
Booker is looking to stand up but Strickland won't let him.
Strickland is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Strickland is pressing down on Booker's thigh, looking to free his foot. Booker is holding on for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strickland seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Booker does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Booker is trying to stand back up but Strickland is controlling him
Strickland stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strickland trying to pass the guard but Booker defending well.

Strickland decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Strickland misses with a two punch combination.

Strickland rushes Booker and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Strickland tries for a takedown but Booker manages to get underhooks.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Booker as Strickland tries to tie him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strickland has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Booker avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Booker tries for a takedown. No joy.
Strickland is pushing Booker up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Booker has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Strickland avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gregory Booker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strickland is pressed up against the cage. Booker has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Strickland down to the mat. Strickland avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Strickland misses with a head kick.
Booker fails with a takedown attempt.
Strickland defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Booker.
Gregory Booker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Strickland forces Booker back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strickland is struggling to control the position.
Booker wants a takedown but no success here.
Booker is trying to push Strickland away but Strickland has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Booker has a couple of punches blocked by Strickland.
Strickland managing to block the knees to the body from Booker.
Earl Strickland seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Booker has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Strickland is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Strickland looking for a takedown.
Booker is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Strickland gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Strickland is trying to break free.

Strickland pulls guard.
Strickland pulls Booker in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Strickland working for a triangle but Booker defends it easily.

Strickland looking for a guillotine here but Booker defends easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Strickland pushes Booker off and scrambles back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Earl Strickland comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Strickland has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30

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