PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between mark strike (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and RUSSEL del Coto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). RUSSEL del Coto has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

strike
vs
del Coto

221 cm
22
300 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

225 cm
22
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, mark strike!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, RUSSEL del Coto!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
strike throws a sloppy head kick and del Coto moves out of range easily.
strike throws a head kick but del Coto moves out of range.
strike misses with a head kick.
del Coto takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like RUSSEL del Coto has been cut.
strike is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
strike throws a combination but it was largely blocked by del Coto.
strike throws a head kick but del Coto moves out of range.
strike pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice sprawl there from del Coto as strike shoots in.
strike tries a head kick but it misses.
No joy there for strike, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
strike tries to close the distance and clinch but del Coto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
strike stuffs the takedown.
strike tries to close the distance and clinch up but del Coto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
del Coto tries a head kick but it misses.
strike fails with an attempt to clinch.
strike misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
strike with a lazy takedown attempt

and del Coto counters with a single leg into guard. strike didn't expect that.
strike is breathing heavily.

del Coto drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but strike manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now del Coto has strike in his guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now del Coto is on top in guard.
strike looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
del Coto pushing down on strike's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
del Coto trying to advance position but strike counters by regaining guard.

del Coto drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but strike manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now del Coto has strike in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
strike tries to stand but del Coto is controlling from the bottom.
strike trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

del Coto is looking for a triangle but strike pushes his legs off easily.
strike wants to control from the top but del Coto keeps moving.

del Coto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
strike wants to get up but he can't break del Coto's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

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

del Coto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. strike gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

del Coto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

strike stands up from guard. Let's bang!

strike 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.
del Coto looking to hit a scissor sweep but strike is one step ahead there.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
strike stands up over del Coto, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
strike preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

mark strike dominated that round.
The cut man is working on RUSSEL del Coto's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

del Coto moves forwards but strike connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A jab from strike misses.
strike misses with a kick to the body

and del Coto counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by del Coto.
del Coto looking to pass the guard.
strike wants to sweep but no luck.

del Coto postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! strike is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of del Coto, into his guard.
del Coto is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
strike trying to control but del Coto is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
strike wants to stand but del Coto has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
strike is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

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

del Coto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. strike gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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.

strike avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

strike stands up from del Coto's guard - strike perhaps looking for a knockout.
strike throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
mark strike seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
strike throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
strike sizes up del Coto with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

strike closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - strike lands in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
del Coto wants to sweep but no luck.
del Coto keeping moving, preventing strike from controlling successfully.
strike wants to get up but he can't break del Coto's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

del Coto working for a triangle but strike defends it easily.

del Coto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. strike gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

strike avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
strike tries to stand but del Coto is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

strike gets to his feet. del Coto looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
del Coto looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

mark strike dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on RUSSEL del Coto's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

del Coto moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
del Coto takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
strike misses with a few strikes there.
strike misses with the combination.
del Coto moves out of range as strike throws a body kick.
strike lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

del Coto clinches.

strike breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
strike fails to land with a series of punches.
strike tries to bum rush del Coto with a series of wild strikes but del Coto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
strike throws a left and a right that both miss

so del Coto counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
strike is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
del Coto is pushing down on strike's leg trying to pass to half guard. strike is fighting to maintain full guard but del Coto has managed to sneak the leg through.
del Coto drops an elbow to the side of strike's head.
strike is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
del Coto trying to mount his opponent but strike defends it.

del Coto is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
del Coto wants to pass the guard but strike is defending well.
del Coto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
strike wants to get back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
strike misses with a takedown

and del Coto counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by del Coto.
del Coto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. strike is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
strike manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. del Coto manages to get himself to full guard.

strike avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

del Coto is looking for a triangle but strike pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
strike wants to control from the top but del Coto keeps moving.

del Coto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
strike wanted to stand there but del Coto had control of the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

del Coto had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. strike is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. del Coto Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take strike's back instead.
RUSSEL del Coto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
mark strike is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
del Coto thows a strike but strike uses the opportunity to reverse the position! Great move by strike as he ends up in del Coto 's guard!

And that's the end of the fight!
RUSSEL del Coto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think strike 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... mark strike!