PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jerry Gerald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lance Strong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gerald
vs
Strong

182 cm
23
273 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jerry Gerald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lance Strong!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Luis Engracia and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
A solid body kick from Gerald.
A head kick misses from Gerald.
Strong feints the counter takedown.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Strong enables Gerald to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Strong manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Gerald pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Strong is keeping the position for now.
Strong preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gerald controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gerald could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Strong keeping full guard, as Gerald tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gerald is working hard here to advance position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Strong working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gerald doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gerald manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gerald knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Strong on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gerald wants to stand and escape but instead Strong has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Strong stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gerald swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gerald is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gerald wants to stand and escape but Strong is having none of it.

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

Gerald shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Strong manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gerald looking to sit in guard and control but Strong gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gerald wants to sweep but no luck.
Gerald pulls Strong in close to prevent any damage.

Strong stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Gerald forces Strong back against the cage and clinches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gerald has hold of one of Strong's legs. Strong is fighting the takedown attempt but Gerald gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Strong wriggles free and stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lance Strong will probably get the nod.
That's time! Gerald's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gerald clinches with his opponent.
Strong blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gerald misses with a hook to the ribs.
Strong has Gerald pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gerald manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Gerald breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strong stuffs the takedown.
Jerry Gerald seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gerald dives in and grabs Strong's left leg, looking for a takedown. Strong pushes down on Gerald's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gerald tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Strong defends well and Gerald ends up having to push Strong into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Strong is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerry Gerald. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gerald closes the distance and pushes Strong back into the cage.

Gerald drags the fight down to the ground.
Strong wants to control from the top but Gerald keeps moving.
Strong is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gerald working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Strong gets to his feet - Gerald follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gerald looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Strong with the counter takedown but Gerald avoids it easily.
Gerald throws a leg kick but Strong sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Gerald gets a double leg takedown into Strong's guard.
Gerald wants to get up but he can't break Strong's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Strong looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gerald takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
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 three minutes gone in the round.

Strong is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gerald is aware though and is defending well.
Gerald with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gerald slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Strong working for a triangle but Gerald defends it easily.

Strong throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strong keeping moving, preventing Gerald from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strong has a closed guard, preventing Gerald from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lance Strong showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Gerald moves into the clinch successfully.

Gerald breaks the clinch.
Gerald fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Strong avoids it really well and circles away.
Jerry Gerald is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gerald misses with a two punch combination.
Strong changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Gerald moves into the clinch.

Gerald breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gerald is looking to score with low kicks.
Gerald looks to land a combination but Strong avoids it well.
Gerald shoots for a double leg takedown but Strong sprawls well. He's pushed Gerald's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Strong drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Gerald defends it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gerald just misses with a punch to the body.
Strong drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Gerald defends it well.
Strong moves out of range as Gerald throws a body kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gerald.
As Gerald backs off Strong throws a huge counter combo but Gerald manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerry Gerald. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gerald tries to clinch
and Strong counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gerald thinking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerald throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Gerald fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gerald throws a leg kick but Strong sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Gerald tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Strong was well out of range. Poor timing from Gerald.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Gerald closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Strong did well to prevent Gerald getting side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strong is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Strong manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Strong bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gerald's guard.

Strong trying to control but Gerald is working from the bottom.
Lance Strong has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gerald working for submissions but it's allowed Strong to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jerry Gerald.
I think Strong has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight for Lance Strong!
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight for Lance Strong!
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight for Lance Strong!

Lance Strong wins by unanimous decision!