PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between MT Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcelo Strazas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roberts comes to the cage accompanied by Rockstar. MT Roberts has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Roberts
vs
Strazas

196 cm
26
205 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

210 cm
26
215 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, MT Roberts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcelo Strazas!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Andrew Berry and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strazas scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Roberts avoids the head kick by Strazas.
Strazas defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Roberts.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Roberts has Strazas pressed against the cage, preventing Strazas from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Roberts lands an elbow just above Strazas 's eye.

It looks like Marcelo Strazas has been cut.
Strazas is trying to break free.
Strazas is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Roberts lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Roberts tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Roberts drags the fight down to the ground.
Strazas is looking to stand up but Roberts won't let him.
Roberts seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Roberts controls Strazas momentarily but Strazas frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roberts is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Roberts is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Roberts is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Strazas is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Roberts working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Strazas doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Strazas manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Roberts has a closed guard, preventing Strazas from standing up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Strazas stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Strazas wants it to stay on the feet.
Roberts shoots in for a takedown but Strazas shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for MT Roberts. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Strazas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Roberts tries to counter with a takedown but Strazas is quick to defend against it.
Roberts on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Roberts tries to clinch there but Strazas circles away.
Strazas throws out a counter right but Roberts avoids it with no problem.
Strazas lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Strazas throws a head kick that misses.

Roberts takes the fight into the clinch.
Strazas looking to stall.

Roberts breaks from the clinch.
Nice body kick from Strazas.
Strazas lands a lovely overhand right.
Roberts takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strazas throws a head kick that half lands.
Roberts blocks a head kick by Strazas.
Roberts moves out of range of the strikes.
Roberts misses with an uppercut
and Strazas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Strazas keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Roberts fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Strazas avoids it really well and circles away.

Roberts has closed the distance and engaged Strazas in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts throws a knee to the head but misses.
Strazas is trying to maintain a safe position but Roberts gets an underhook and turns Strazas into the cage.
Strazas is trying to push Roberts away but Roberts has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Strazas looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Strazas is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Strazas working aggressively here.
Roberts scores with a knee to the head.
Strazas takes an elbow to the forehead.
Strazas prevents a takedown attempt there.

Roberts escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Strazas connects with a solid leg kick.
Strazas is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Jab from Strazas.
Strazas turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Roberts on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcelo Strazas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marcelo Strazas's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Roberts takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Roberts moves out of range of the body kick from Strazas.
A head kick misses from Strazas.
Strazas fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Marcelo Strazas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roberts ducks under a wild hook from Strazas.
The crowd cheers as Strazas lands an impressive looking overhand right. Roberts doesn't seem phased though.
Strazas connects with a high kick.
Roberts walks forward, straight into a front kick from Strazas.
Strazas has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Roberts tries to clinch but Strazas is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strazas throws a looping overhand right but Roberts ducks down to avoid it.
Roberts shoots in but Strazas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Strazas throws a head kick but Roberts moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Strazas counter with a right hand.
Horrible takedown attempt by Roberts or perhaps it was just good defense by Strazas, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for MT Roberts. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice uppercut there from Strazas.
Strazas getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Strazas's corner calls for a 1-2. Strazas obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Roberts shoots in for a takedown but Strazas shows good takedown defense.
Strazas scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
MT Roberts is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roberts fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strazas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Strazas throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Strazas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A punch combination from Strazas misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Roberts shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Strazas as he jumps to the side.
Strazas connects with a high kick.
Strazas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Roberts closes the distance and clinches.

Roberts breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Roberts slips a straight right by Strazas.
Marcelo Strazas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Strazas slaps away a takedown attempt from Roberts, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Roberts tries to clinch but Strazas is having none of it.
Strazas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Roberts looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Strazas is fending him off so far but Roberts persists. Nope, Strazas circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Roberts takes a kick to the side of the head.
Roberts shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Strazas pinned against the cage. Strazas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Strazas throws a head kick that misses.
Strazas has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Roberts gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strazas misses with a head kick.
Roberts wants to clinch.
Strazas looks to land a combination. Roberts sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Roberts fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Strazas avoids it really well and circles away.
Strazas lands a head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcelo Strazas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Marcelo Strazas's cut.
That's time! Roberts's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Strazas keeps Roberts at a distance using the push kick.
Roberts takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Strazas throws a head kick that Roberts semi-blocks.
Strazas lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
A good leg kick by Strazas.
Good leg kick by Strazas there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Roberts shoots and misses
and Strazas counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strazas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Roberts is looking to counter the offense by Strazas and move into the clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Strazas. That's going to slow Roberts down.
The fight stays on the outside here - Roberts looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Strazas looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts tries to clinch there but Strazas circles away.
Strazas keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Roberts wants to clinch.
Strazas looks to land a left hand but Roberts moved out of range nicely.
Strazas scores with a head kick.
Roberts fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Strazas avoids it really well and circles away.
Strazas throws out a counter right but Roberts avoids it with no problem.
Strazas connects with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Strazas.

Roberts manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Strazas on his heels. He'll look to pass Strazas's guard now, I'm sure.
We've been hearing that Roberts has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Roberts wants to control from the top but Strazas keeps moving.
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 elbow that misses.
Roberts stopping the sweep attempt from Strazas.
Strazas wants to stand and escape but Roberts is having none of it.
Strazas keeping moving, preventing Roberts from controlling successfully.
Strazas controlling Roberts's posture.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strazas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Strazas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Roberts will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
A jab lands there for Strazas.

Roberts shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Strazas napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Roberts working away.
Strazas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Roberts. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Roberts cracks Strazas with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Strazas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Roberts wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Strazas, who protects the arm well.
Roberts trying to control the action but Strazas is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strazas is looking for a sweep.

Roberts is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Strazas is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Strazas tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Roberts wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Strazas struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strazas tries to buck Roberts off but Roberts is having none of it.
MT Roberts has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marcelo Strazas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcelo Strazas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Strazas 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 26:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcelo Strazas!
In defeat, MT Roberts stepped up to the mic, saying 'Tonight, he was the better fighter. I will be back better than either. Thank you all for the support!'.