PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tom Cirus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rosen Strasser (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cirus kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Lonely Boy - The Black Keys. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cirus
vs
Strasser

180 cm
29
168 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

192 cm
28
159 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)
MB Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tom Cirus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rosen Strasser!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Alexandre Firmino and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cirus has a takedown stuffed.
Cirus misses with a right hand
and Strasser counters with a straight right hand.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cirus.
Strasser feints and then cracks Cirus's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Cirus down.
We've been hearing reports that Cirus has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Strasser stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Strasser wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Cirus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cirus takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A jab from Strasser misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Strasser dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cirus. That did some damage!
Cirus tries to score a power double leg takedown but Strasser sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cirus somewhat.
Strasser is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cirus takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Cirus avoids the head kick by Strasser.
Strasser leaves Cirus with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cirus tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Strasser defends well and Cirus ends up having to push Strasser into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Rosen Strasser seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strasser fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Cirus has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Cirus shoots for a takedown but Strasser saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Strasser works over Cirus's head and body with a nice combination.
Cirus looks to throw the jab but Strasser is out of range.
Strasser will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Strasser jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cirus shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Strasser pinned against the cage. Strasser gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Strasser feints a counter leg kick.
Strasser dips to his left and cracks Cirus with an uppercut!
Strasser throws an overhand right that lands on Cirus's shoulder, as Cirus tries to avoid the shot.

Cirus drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cirus cracks Strasser with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cirus throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Cirus tries to advance to mount but Strasser denies him.
Strasser avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Cirus.
Cirus trying to control the action but Strasser is working from the bottom.
Cirus throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Cirus trying to control the action but Strasser is working from the bottom.
Cirus working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Cirus are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The ground and pound from Cirus seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Cirus with the ground and pound but Strasser regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Cirus missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cirus thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Strasser's head.
Cirus throwing shots but Strasser is blocking nicely.
Cirus thows a huge punch but Strasser dodges it nicely.
Cirus throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cirus trying to control the action but Strasser is working from the bottom.
Strasser is looking to improve his position.
Cirus not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cirus throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Strasser to regain full guard.
Cirus throwing strikes from guard but Strasser blocks nicely.
Cirus trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Cirus darts in and clinches Strasser up against the cage.
Cirus drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Strasser gets the underhooks and prevents it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rosen Strasser dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cirus fails with a takedown attempt.
Strasser throws a sloppy head kick and Cirus moves out of range easily.
Cirus dives in and grabs Strasser's left leg, looking for a takedown. Strasser pushes down on Cirus's head and hops out.
Rosen Strasser seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cirus fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Cirus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strasser connects with a right hand. Cirus shakes it off.
Strasser lands with an overhand left.
Strasser cracks the inside of Cirus's front leg.

Cirus scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Cirus lands with a punch from half guard.
Cirus throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cirus missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cirus is looking to take a break and control but Strasser is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cirus thows a huge punch but Strasser dodges it nicely.
Cirus thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Strasser's head.
Cirus thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cirus is nestled in close to Strasser, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Cirus throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cirus thows a huge punch but Strasser dodges it nicely.
Cirus wants to take a breather but Strasser is having none of it.
Cirus is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cirus seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Strasser does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two 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.
Cirus is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Strasser reverses the position - he's now on top in Cirus's guard.
Cirus wants to get back to his feet but Strasser is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cirus might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cirus shoots in looking for a takedown but Strasser manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cirus's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Strasser will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cirus shoots for a takedown but Strasser saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Strasser throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cirus shoots in for a takedown but Strasser shows good takedown defense.
Strasser looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Strasser lands a slapping body shot.
The fighters circling - Strasser throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Strasser has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cirus walks forward, straight into a front kick from Strasser.
Cirus shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Strasser pinned against the cage. Strasser gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Good standup being displayed there by Strasser as he connects with a hook.
Cirus throws the left hand but Strasser avoids the punch easily.
Strasser looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Strasser has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Cirus shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Strasser cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Strasser thuds a left hand into Cirus's body.

Cirus dives in and scores a takedown into Strasser's guard.
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!
Cirus with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cirus trying to control but Strasser is working from the bottom.
Cirus throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Strasser works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cirus postures up.
Cirus with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tom Cirus overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Strasser utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cirus 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.
Cirus throws a strike but Strasser rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Cirus is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Strasser is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rosen Strasser showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Strasser throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Cirus's head.
Strasser dips to his left and cracks Cirus with an uppercut!
Nice sprawl there from Strasser as Cirus shoots in.
Strasser stuffs the takedown attempt from Cirus. Cirus gets slowly back to his feet.
Cirus shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Strasser defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Cirus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strasser will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A nice leg kick lands there from Strasser.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cirus closes the distance and clinches up with Strasser, looking for a takedown. Cirus pushes Strasser against the cage but Strasser circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Strasser throws a head kick that half lands.
Cirus looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Donk. Strasser catches Cirus right on the button with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strasser lands a glancing blow to the side of Cirus's head.

Cirus looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cirus lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Cirus trying to control from half guard but Strasser is working away.
Strasser blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cirus.
Strasser is staying active underneath Cirus, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cirus with the ground and pound but Strasser uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cirus scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Cirus throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cirus working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cirus throws a strike but Strasser rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Cirus is looking to stand up but Strasser isn't so interested in that idea.

Strasser stands and steps away. Cirus gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cirus shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Strasser pinned against the cage. Strasser gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Strasser feints a counter leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cirus misses with a left hand
letting Strasser counter with a right hand.
Strasser lands with a slapping head kick.
Cirus takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Cirus takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Strasser chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Cirus shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Strasser but Strasser pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tom Cirus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Strasser throws a lazy head kick

and Cirus counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Cirus loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cirus throws a big right hand that misses.
Cirus stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Strasser swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cirus throws a big right hand that misses.
Strasser looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cirus is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cirus throws an elbow that misses. Strasser uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cirus's guard. Nice move by Strasser!

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Strasser gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Cirus slips a jab from Strasser.
Cirus half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Cirus looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Strasser is fending him off so far but Cirus persists. Nope, Strasser circles away and we're back to standing.

Cirus gets a takedown into half guard.
Cirus looks to land a strike but Strasser avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rosen Strasser comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Strasser winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rosen Strasser!