PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bart Curry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Strakhov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Curry
vs
Strakhov

216 cm
21
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bart Curry!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jake Strakhov!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Strakhov gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Strakhov manages to break the clinch.
Strakhov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Curry defends it nicely.
Curry fails with a takedown attempt.
Strakhov is looking to clinch but Curry is avoiding it.

Strakhov has Curry up against the cage in a clinch.

Curry tightens his grip and picks Strakhov up, before dumping him to the ground. Strakhov manages to land in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Curry showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strakhov wants to sweep here but Curry controlling him for the moment.

Curry drops back looking for a leg! Strakhov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Strakhov manages to kick Curry off! Curry jumps back into Strakhov's guard.
Curry stopping the sweep attempt from Strakhov.
Curry postures up and lands a big shot to Strakhov's brow.
Strakhov is looking to stand up but Curry isn't so interested in that idea.
Strakhov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Curry got a little sloppy there for a moment and Strakhov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Curry has managed to get both his arms back between Strakhov's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Curry controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Curry cracks Strakhov with a solid left hand.
Curry is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Curry chips away with some ground and pound.
Curry is working Strakhov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Curry wanted to stand there but Strakhov had control of the position.
Curry postures up and lands a big shot to Strakhov's brow.
Curry controls from within his opponent's guard.
Curry scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curry trying to control but Strakhov is working from the bottom.
Strakhov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Strakhov looks winded!
Curry slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Curry seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Strakhov for as long as he can get away with.

Curry drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Curry jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Curry is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Curry rushes Strakhov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Curry.
Curry really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Curry avoiding damage.

Curry breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Curry scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Curry seems to be working for a kimura but Strakhov defends the submission attempt.
Strakhov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Curry. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Curry stands up out of the half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strakhov shoots in for a takedown but Curry shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bart Curry dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Curry steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Strakhov.

Strakhov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strakhov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Curry is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strakhov trying to control the position from guard on top but Curry is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Curry seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Strakhov shoots in but no luck this time.
Strakhov is breathing heavily.

Curry shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Curry was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Curry tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Curry has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Check out the look on Curry's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Curry is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Strakhov has escaped the position, nice work there.

Curry tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Curry has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Curry gets a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curry controlling the pace.
Curry wants to get back to his feet.
Strakhov punching from the bottom.
Curry controlling the pace.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Strakhov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Curry takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Curry is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Curry has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Curry can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Strakhov is looking to escape.
Curry lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Curry landing strikes from the mount.
Curry landing punches.
Curry is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Strakhov can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bart Curry dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Curry moves into the clinch.
Strakhov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Curry.
Strakhov has Curry pressed against the cage, preventing Curry from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Strakhov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Curry clinches up with Strakhov and pushes him back against the cage.
Curry has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Curry is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Strakhov can do to turn this around?
Strakhov is looking to break free of the clinch but Curry has double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Curry drags the fight down to the ground.
Strakhov trying to control but Curry is working from the bottom.
Curry utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Curry is on top in guard.

Strakhov wants to sweep but no luck.
Curry passes Strakhov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Strakhov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Curry slows the pace down in half guard.
Curry works his way into side control.
Curry is looking to take a break and control but Strakhov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strakhov is trying to improve his position.
Curry scores with a couple of short elbows.

Curry tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Curry decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Curry.
Bart Curry overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Curry wants to lay and pray for a moment but Strakhov keeps working.
Curry lands some shots froms side control.
Curry lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Strakhov down.

Curry is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Strakhov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Curry in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Curry will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Curry lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Strakhov down.
Curry 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.
Strakhov takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Curry controls the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strakhov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Jake Strakhov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bart Curry is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Strakhov throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Curry to regain full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bart Curry showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Curry has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bart Curry!