PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Royal Strickland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aurelian Cernea (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aurelian Cernea will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Strickland
vs
Cernea

199 cm
25
215 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Royal Strickland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aurelian Cernea!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Daniel Franklin and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cernea scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Cernea working the strikes but Strickland uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Strickland is trying to maintain the position but Cernea is very close to passing his half guard.
Strickland controlling the position for now.
Strickland wants to control but Cernea is keeping busy.

Cernea seems to be working for a kimura but Strickland defends the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cernea not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cernea is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Strickland keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Strickland is staying active underneath Cernea, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Strickland has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cernea is working away from the top position though.
Cernea is pressing down on Strickland's thigh, looking to free his foot. Strickland is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cernea is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Cernea trying to control the action but Strickland is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cernea stops Strickland from getting back to his feet.
Strickland slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Strickland holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strickland not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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

Cernea closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Strickland's guard.
Strickland has his hands on Cernea's head, controlling the position.
Strickland lands a decent punch to the body there.
Strickland has his hands on Cernea's head, controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cernea throws a big right hand that misses.
Strickland throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Strickland is pulling down on Cernea's head. It's preventing any offense from Cernea, at least for the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cernea lands a two punch combo.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cernea has closed the distance and engaged Strickland in a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cernea takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aurelian Cernea dominated that round.
That's time! Strickland's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cernea tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Strickland is defended easily by Cernea.

Cernea closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Strickland tries to escape but Cernea is in control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cernea tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Strickland defending against the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cernea decides to stand back up. Cernea steps back and let's Strickland get back to his feet.
Cernea scores with a nice strike.
Aurelian Cernea seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Strickland gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cernea to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Strickland pulls Cernea in close to prevent any damage.
Aurelian Cernea has got the better of the ground game so far.
Strickland continues to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cernea drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Strickland dives on top into guard.
Cernea preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Strickland wants to stand and escape but instead Cernea has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Cernea is looking to work some ground and pound but Strickland has wrist control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Strickland looks for the body kick but Cernea saw that one coming.
Cernea has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Cernea darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Strickland manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strickland shoots in for a double leg but Cernea sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cernea feints the counter takedown.

Cernea closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Strickland to the mat! Strickland manages to get full guard.
Cernea trying to stand up but can't free himself from Strickland's guard.
Strickland is trying to keep Cernea in close.
Cernea stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Strickland swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cernea gets to his feet. Strickland looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Strickland tries to sprawl but Cernea drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Strickland makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cernea throws a lazy head kick
and Strickland counters with a left and a right that stings Cernea.

Cernea closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Strickland throws Cernea to one side and escapes!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Strickland tries to clinch up.
Cernea throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Royal Strickland will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cernea throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Strickland tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cernea is in Strickland's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cernea accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Strickland preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cernea with a flurry of punches that miss.

Cernea decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Cernea pushes Strickland up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cernea throws a punch but it's blocked by Strickland.
Cernea is looking to break free of the clinch but Strickland has double underhooks.
Strickland prevents Cernea from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cernea prevents Strickland from breaking the clinch.

Cernea manages to pull guard.
Strickland lands a couple of elbows.
Cernea is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cernea working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Strickland.

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.
Cernea controlling the position.
Let's hope that Cernea has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cernea lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Royal Strickland has been cut.

Cernea closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Strickland to the mat! Strickland manages to get full guard.
Strickland pulls Cernea in close to his closed guard and prevents Cernea from doing any damage or advancing position.
Cernea controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cernea wants to stand but Strickland has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Strickland lands an upkick as Cernea stands over him.

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

Cernea gets to his feet - Strickland follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Strickland fails with an attempt to clinch.
Strickland scores with a nice body kick.

Cernea gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Strickland ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Strickland no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Cernea looking to sit in guard and control but Strickland gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Strickland throws an elbow that misses. Cernea uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Strickland's guard. Nice move by Cernea!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cernea gets to his feet. Strickland looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

And that's the end of the fight!
Aurelian Cernea comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cernea 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aurelian Cernea!