PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ray Fayth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Strange (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fayth's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Awry Decade - Aisle of Denial. Ray Fayth has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Fayth
vs
Strange

190 cm
30
172 lbs
24 - 4 - 0

175 cm
25
173 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Underworld Clothing

Bullet Proof System
Sun-Tzu

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ray Fayth!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Simon Strange!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Richard Clark and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fayth misses with an uppercut.

Fayth closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Strange to the mat! Strange manages to get full guard.

Strange has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fayth can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Strange is looking for a triangle but Fayth pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Strange is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fayth controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strange is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Strange has his foot on Fayth's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Fayth works his way back into a safe position though.
Fayth landing with the ground and pound.

Strange is looking for a triangle but Fayth pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Strange is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Fayth defends well.

Strange is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fayth is aware though and is defending well.
Fayth looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Strange looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fayth stopping the sweep attempt from Strange.
Strange controls Fayth momentarily but Fayth frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Fayth looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Strange looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fayth is one step ahead there.

Strange looking for a guillotine here but Fayth defends easily.
Strange can't keep his opponent in guard - Fayth advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Fayth lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fayth is pressing down on Strange's thigh, looking to free his foot. Strange is holding on for now.
Fayth wants to take a breather but Strange is having none of it.
Strange is looking for a sweep. Fayth is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Fayth is thwarting Strange's attempts to control the position.

Strange looking for submissions off his back.
Fayth lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Fayth prevents Strange from improving his position.
Strange is looking to control Fayth's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Strange avoid being mounted?
Fayth stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Fayth is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Strange has managed to free his arm - good work.

Strange actively working from the bottom here.
Strange is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fayth passes the guard and advances to mount!
Fayth wants to control the pace but Strange is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Fayth dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Fayth connects with a body shot.
Fayth connects with an inside leg kick.
We've been told by Fayth's head coaches at Ninjin no Tamanegi that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Fayth with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Fayth is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Strange can do to turn this around?
Strange takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Fayth takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Fayth misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Strange.
Strange throws a big shot that misses.
Fayth drops down looking for a counter takedown but Strange sprawls and moves away.
Fayth avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strange misses with a wild body shot.
Fayth walks into a left hand.

Fayth shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Strange manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fayth trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Strange manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strange stands and throws Fayth's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Fayth wants to control but Strange postures up.
Strange wants to control but Fayth is keeping him busy.
Strange working the ground and pound.
Strange landing strikes.
Strange scores with a couple of short elbows.
Fayth is looking for a sweep.
Strange cracks Fayth with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Strange scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Fayth to see if he's OK.

Strange is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Fayth has escaped the position, nice work there.
Fayth manages to work his way to half guard, despite Strange's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strange missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Fayth looking for submissions off his back.
Fayth regains full guard. Nicely done.
Fayth will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Fayth throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Strange's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Fayth preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Strange trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fayth controls Strange momentarily but Strange frees himself.
Strange lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strange sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Fayth's guard.

Fayth looking for submissions off his back.
Fayth wants to get back to full guard.
Strange thows a huge punch but Fayth dodges it nicely.
Ray Fayth overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fayth regains full guard. Nicely done.

Fayth is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Strange is aware though and is defending well.
Fayth is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Strange wants to control from the top but Fayth keeps moving.
Strange tries to free his leg and advance position but Fayth is retaining full guard.
Strange distracts Fayth with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Fayth has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Strange can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fayth working for a triangle but Strange defends it easily.
Strange postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Fayth keeping full guard, as Strange tries to pass.

Fayth has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Strange is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Fayth.
Fayth is looking for a sweep.
Strange landing a few strikes.
Strange is looking to take a break and control but Fayth is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Strange showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Fayth connects with a leg kick. Strange looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Fayth closes the distance and clinches up with Strange, looking for a takedown. Fayth pushes Strange against the cage but Strange circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Strange with the counter takedown but Fayth avoids it easily.
Fayth throws the kick towards the body but Strange avoids it.
Fayth looks for a takedown but Strange sprawls well.
Strange just misses with a punch to the body.
Fayth attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left and a right from Strange both land. Nice combination.
Strange cracks Fayth with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Strange throws a big shot that misses.
Strange on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Fayth. Fayth obviously looking to wear him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strange throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Fayth tries a low kick but Strange avoids it.
Strange drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Fayth defends it well.
Fayth with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Strange to score with a decent uppercut.
Nice sprawl there from Strange as Fayth shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray Fayth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fayth ducks under a wild hook from Strange.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Strange is defended easily by Fayth.
Fayth attempts a counter takedown but Strange avoids it well and moves away.
Strange waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fayth.
Fayth attempts a counter takedown but Strange avoids it well and moves away.
Strange misses the shot to the body.
Fayth drops down looking for a counter takedown but Strange sprawls and moves away.

Fayth shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Strange napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Strange is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Fayth tries to advance to mount but Strange denies him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strange can't do much from the bottom here.
Strange tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Fayth wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Strange gets back to half guard.

Strange is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Fayth pulls his head out easily.
Fayth wants to pass the guard but Strange is defending well.
Fayth uses his free foot to push down on Strange's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Strange.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Strange tries to lock up and control but Fayth gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fayth wants to control the pace but Strange is squirming around nicely.

Fayth moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Strange has worked his arm free - good work by Strange!
Strange is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Strange is refusing to be controlled, as Fayth sits in half guard.
Strange is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Fayth drops an elbow to the side of Strange's head.
Strange is pressing down on Fayth's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Strange working for a triangle but Fayth defends it easily.
Fayth lands a couple of digs.
Fayth keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Strange's head.
Fayth looking to pass the guard.
Fayth is working hard here to advance position.
Strange looking for a sweep. Not yet Strange, not yet.
Fayth wants to control from the top but Strange keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Strange can't keep his opponent in guard - Fayth advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Strange looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Ray Fayth did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's time! Back to the action!

Strange tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Fayth defends well and Strange ends up having to push Fayth into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Simon Strange seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Strange lands with a straight right. Fayth didn't see that one coming.

Fayth drives through with a takedown into Strange's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Strange has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fayth can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Strange keeping full guard, as Fayth tries to pass.

Strange is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fayth 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.
Strange can't keep his opponent in guard - Fayth advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fayth wants to control but Strange is keeping him busy.
Fayth landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Strange won't allow Fayth to pass to mount.

Fayth wants to work for an arm triangle but Strange is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Strange actively working from the bottom here.
Fayth passes the guard and advances to mount!
Fayth lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fayth trying to control but Strange is having none of it.
Strange tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Fayth landing strikes, looking to finish!
Fayth cracks Strange with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Fayth tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Fayth trying to control but Strange is having none of it.
Strange really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Strange gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strange makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Strange.
Fayth preventing the sweep.

Strange looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Strange can't keep his opponent in guard - Fayth advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Fayth looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Fayth trying to mount his opponent but Strange defends it.

Fayth is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Strange doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Fayth.
Fayth trying to pass the guard but Strange defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strange is refusing to be controlled, as Fayth sits in half guard.

Fayth is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Strange doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Fayth.
Strange wants to control but Fayth is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Fayth had his way with Simon Strange in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Strange on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Fayth throws a leg kick but Strange sees it coming and moves out of range.
Fayth staying out of range there.
Strange slaps away a takedown attempt from Fayth, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Strange fails to land the takedown.
Fayth throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strange throws a body shot but no joy.
Fayth half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Strange gets caught napping as Fayth dives in and scores a takedown. Strange manages to retain guard.
Fayth controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Strange looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Fayth wants to control from the top but Strange keeps moving.
Strange keeping full guard, as Fayth tries to pass.
Fayth slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Strange struggling a bit here.
Ray Fayth is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Strange is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Fayth trying to control the action but Strange is working from the bottom.
Strange gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Strange is squirming around, avoiding Fayth's attempts to control the action.
Strange is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strange tries to hold on but Fayth postures up.
Fayth content just to control the position here.
Strange is wriggling around trying to escape.
Fayth controlling his opponent.
Simon Strange has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fayth looking to control but Strange is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Strange manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Still in half guard, Fayth seems content to control.
Strange moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fayth stopping the sweep attempt from Strange.

Strange looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fayth slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Fayth avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Strange working for a triangle but Fayth defends it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fayth trying to control the position from guard on top but Strange is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ray Fayth showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fayth 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 49:46
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 49:46
Judge James Glass scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ray Fayth!
Ray Fayth retains his welterweight title!
Ray Fayth decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
In defeat, Simon Strange stepped up to the mic, saying 'FFS, can't seem to catch a break at the moment.'.