PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pierre Strickland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jamie Roberts (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.

Strickland
vs
Roberts

157 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

175 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pierre Strickland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jamie Roberts!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Alyssa Summers and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Roberts shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Strickland manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Roberts throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Strickland works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Roberts throwing strikes but missing.
Roberts trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Roberts in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Strickland has Roberts pulled in close to control his posture.
Strickland trying to control the position.
Roberts is looking to work some ground and pound but Strickland has wrist control.
Roberts postures up in Strickland's guard and throws a big left but Strickland blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strickland avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Strickland is trying to keep Roberts in close.
Roberts loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Roberts in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Roberts gets a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts thows a huge punch but Strickland dodges it nicely.
Roberts not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Strickland is trying to maintain the position but Roberts is very close to passing his half guard.
Roberts throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Roberts thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Strickland's head.
Roberts not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roberts throwing shots but Strickland is blocking nicely.
Roberts is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Roberts thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Roberts has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Roberts throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Roberts thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Roberts thows a huge punch but Strickland dodges it nicely.
Roberts not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Roberts missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Strickland could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Strickland wants to control but Roberts is keeping busy.
Roberts misses with a head shot. Strickland uses the momentum to regain guard.

Roberts got a little sloppy there for a moment and Strickland has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Roberts has managed to get both his arms back between Strickland's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Roberts accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Roberts postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Roberts feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Roberts working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Roberts connects with a couple of short punches.

Strickland is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Roberts defends well.
Strickland utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Strickland is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Roberts throwing strikes but missing.
Strickland looking for a sweep. Not yet Strickland, not yet.
Strickland is breathing heavily.
Strickland bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Roberts's guard.

Roberts pushes Strickland off and gets back to his feet.
Roberts lands with a kick to the temple. Strickland shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roberts closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Strickland to the mat! Strickland manages to get full guard.
Roberts throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Strickland utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Roberts loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Roberts in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Strickland working a defensive guard here.
Strickland working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Roberts.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Roberts missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roberts showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Strickland.
Strickland takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamie Roberts dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Roberts bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Roberts creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Strickland sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Strickland avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Roberts.
Roberts throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Strickland tries to improve position but can't.
Strickland can't do much from the bottom here.
Strickland takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Jamie Roberts has got the better of the ground game so far.
Strickland is trying to control Roberts's posture but Roberts avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strickland managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Roberts.
Strickland avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Roberts.
Roberts in side control, throwing shots but Strickland defends.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strickland is looking for a sweep.
Strickland is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Strickland keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Strickland is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Roberts not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Roberts throwing shots but Strickland is blocking nicely.
Strickland avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Roberts.
Roberts throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Strickland avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Roberts.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Roberts looks to clinch
and Strickland counters with a series of strikes. Roberts will be more careful next time no doubt.

Roberts clinches up against the cage.

Roberts has clasped his hands together around Strickland's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Strickland manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strickland avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Roberts.
Roberts thows a huge punch but Strickland dodges it nicely.
Roberts missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Strickland is trying to get back to full guard.
Roberts passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Strickland!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Strickland wants to control but Roberts is having none of it.
Roberts with the ground and pound from mount.
Roberts looking to ground and pound but Strickland is blocking nicely.
Poor strikes thrown by Roberts there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Roberts breaks from Strickland's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Strickland because Roberts loaded up on that one.
Strickland wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Roberts.
Roberts looking to finish with strikes here!
Strickland is looking to improve his position but Roberts isn't that keen on the idea.
Roberts looking to ground and pound but Strickland is blocking nicely.
Roberts throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Roberts unloads with some shots from mount but Strickland bucks and avoids them well.
Roberts throws some wild stikes that Strickland manages to avoid easily.
Strickland keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Roberts cracks Strickland with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts looking to finish with strikes here!
Roberts throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Strickland wants to control but Roberts is having none of it.
Roberts looking to finish with strikes here!
Roberts working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Strickland might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Strickland holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Roberts tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Roberts avoids the attempt from Strickland to control.
Roberts sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamie Roberts showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Roberts closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Strickland is trying to control Roberts's posture but Roberts avoids it.
Strickland parries the strikes from Roberts easily there. Roberts is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Strickland to escape.
Roberts creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Strickland sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The strikes coming from Roberts are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Roberts tries to score with some ground and pound. Strickland controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Strickland struggling a bit here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roberts in side control, throwing shots but Strickland defends.
Roberts tries to score with some ground and pound. Strickland controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Roberts throwing strikes but Strickland manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Roberts is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Strickland asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Strickland trying to control the action but Roberts is working from the bottom.

Strickland thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Roberts is looking to get back to his feet here but Strickland is keeping cool and he's managed to take Roberts's back.

Roberts is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Strickland off. It looks like it's working - Strickland slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Roberts displaying calm under pressure there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Strickland clinches up with Roberts and pushes him back against the cage.

Roberts gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Strickland regains guard.
Roberts throws an elbow that misses. Strickland uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Roberts's guard. Nice move by Strickland!

Strickland wants to control from the top but Roberts keeps moving.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Roberts accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Roberts throws a big right hand that misses.
Roberts has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Strickland utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Strickland is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Roberts throws a strike but Strickland rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Strickland wants to stand and escape but instead Roberts has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Pierre Strickland has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Strickland utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jamie Roberts comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Roberts 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jamie Roberts!