PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hong Caldwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurts Strazds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kurts Strazds has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Hong Caldwell's chin.

Caldwell
vs
Strazds

215 cm
19
278 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

198 cm
20
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hong Caldwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kurts Strazds!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Dmitry Maklakov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Caldwell instigates a clinch.

Strazds has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Caldwell uses from the top position.
Strazds utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Caldwell landing some decent shots from guard.
Caldwell preventing the sweep.

Strazds has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Caldwell 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 Strazds.
Strazds is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Caldwell asserts his dominance and retains side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Caldwell lands a few punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strazds taking punishment in the form of punches.
Strazds managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Caldwell.
Strazds regains half guard.
Strazds is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Caldwell thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Strazds's head.
Strazds avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Caldwell.
Strazds is trying to control but Caldwell passes into side control!
Caldwell working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strazds is trying to improve his position.

Caldwell wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Strazds, who protects the arm well.
Strazds tries to buck Caldwell off but Caldwell is having none of it.
Strazds is trying to control Caldwell's posture but Caldwell avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strazds looking for a sweep but Caldwell has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Strazds is trying to escape the mount but Caldwell keeps good control and instead manages to take Strazds's back.
Strazds tries to break free.
Caldwell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Caldwell has Strazds flattened out and is raining down punches.
Caldwell landing with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caldwell lands a shot to the head.
Caldwell is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Caldwell is landing with strikes. Strazds can't take much more of this.
Strazds is really stuck here.
Strazds looks winded!
Caldwell lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Strazds trying to control the hands but Caldwell breaks the grip.
Strazds is trying to break free.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Strazds trying to control the hands but Caldwell won't let him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Caldwell scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Strazds is looking for a way out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hong Caldwell dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Caldwell clinches.
Strazds trying to stall but Caldwell improves his position.

Strazds manages to break the clinch.
Caldwell dives in for a single leg takedown but Strazds sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Caldwell shoots in but Strazds avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Caldwell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hong Caldwell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Strazds 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Caldwell bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Strazds's guard.

Caldwell throwing strikes from guard but Strazds blocks nicely.
Caldwell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Strazds works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Strazds looking for subs off his back but Caldwell has passed one foot through into half guard.
Caldwell is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Strazds can do to turn this around?
Strazds strikes from the bottom but Caldwell passes into mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Caldwell fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Caldwell with the ground and pound from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strazds tries to hold on but Caldwell pushes him away.
Caldwell prevents Strazds from getting the reversal.
Caldwell 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.
Caldwell dominating with strikes here.
Strazds tries to hold on but Caldwell pushes him away.
Strazds is breathing heavily.
Caldwell lands a big elbow.
Caldwell unloading with bombs!
BOOM! Caldwell connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Caldwell putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Strazds is rocked!
Caldwell lands a nice shot to the head.
Strazds is still in real trouble! Can Caldwell finish him?
Strazds is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Caldwell raining down shots from the mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caldwell postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Strazds bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Caldwell and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Hong Caldwell!