PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Axl Rose (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Strange (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rose comes to the cage accompanied by You Could Be Mine. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rose
vs
Strange

183 cm
30
171 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

175 cm
32
187 lbs
26 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Axl Rose!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Simon Strange!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strange throws a predictable looking body shot
and Rose counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Strange misses with a lunging right hand
and Rose counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rose ducks under a wild hook from Strange.
A quick step to the side and Rose tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Strange ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rose moves away.
Strange throws a hook but Rose avoids it easily.
Rose feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Rose pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rose slips under a jab from Strange.
Strange waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rose.
Rose tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Strange was well out of range. Poor timing from Rose.
Rose uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Strange.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Strange or perhaps it was just good defense by Rose, which made it look bad.
An attempted straight right counter from Rose misses the target.
Strange is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Rose walks into a straight right hand from Strange.
Strange throws a series of punches but Rose avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rose slips a jab from Strange.
Rose swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Strange drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rose is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Strange lands a nice forearm strike.
We've been hearing good reports from Rose's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Rose is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Strange off and has taken his back!
Strange has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Strange looking very determined here, making life difficult for Rose.
Rose is really struggling to control Strange but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Rose looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Strange is controlling Rose 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rose is trying to control the position but Strange postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rose utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strange trying to control but Rose is working from the bottom.

Rose looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rose wants to sweep here but Strange controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strange postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Rose has an active guard here but Strange has managed to pass into half guard.
Strange scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Strange is working for a kimura but Rose is defending it quite comfortably.
Rose is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rose is pressing down on Strange's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rose has his hands on Strange's head, controlling the position.

Rose had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Strange defends it easily.
Rose is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Rose has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Strange can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Strange trying to control the position from guard on top but Rose is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rose working a defensive guard here.

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.

Rose escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Strange gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Strange lands a couple of elbows.
Strange distracts Rose with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rose seems keen to control Strange's posture.

Rose looking for a guillotine here but Strange defends easily.
Strange lands a couple of digs.
Rose trying to keep a closed guard but Strange is proving a slippery customer.
Rose keeping moving, preventing Strange from controlling successfully.

Strange drops back looking for a leg! Rose is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rose manages to kick Strange off! Strange jumps back into Rose's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Strange dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Strange throws a looping overhand right but Rose ducks down to avoid it.

Strange drives through with a takedown into Rose's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Rose wants to sweep here but Strange controlling him for the moment.
Rose looking to control.

Rose had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Strange defends it easily.
Strange trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Strange scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Strange wants to control from the top but Rose keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rose is looking for a triangle but Strange pushes his legs off easily.
Strange stands up over Rose, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strange content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Strange stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rose swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Strange is looking to work some ground and pound but Rose has wrist control.
Strange has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Strange throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Strange is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rose is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Strange's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rose working a defensive guard here.
Strange trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rose pulls Strange in close to prevent any damage.
Strange scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rose working a defensive guard here.
Strange lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Strange is in close to Rose's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rose controlling Strange's posture.
Rose tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Strange trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Strange trying to control but Rose is working from the bottom.
Rose trying to control the position.
Strange distracts Rose with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Strange wants to control from the top but Rose keeps moving.

Strange drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Strange jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Strange scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strange postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rose not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Strange works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Rose actively working from the bottom here.
Rose wants to get back to full guard.

Strange is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rose has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rose gets full guard.
Rose is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Rose is looking for a triangle but Strange pushes his legs off easily.

Strange drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Strange jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rose wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Strange is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rose keeping moving, preventing Strange from controlling successfully.
Strange working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rose working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Strange.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Strange's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Strange throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Strange got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rose has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Strange has managed to get both his arms back between Rose's legs - danger averted.
Strange distracts Rose with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Strange throws a big right hand that misses.
Strange wants to pass the guard but Rose is keeping the position.

Strange thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Strange showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Strange jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Strange looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rose is fending him off so far but Strange persists. Nope, Rose circles away and we're back to standing.
Strange misses with a looping right.
Strange throws a body shot but no joy.
Strange thows a left - swing and a miss!
A big left from Strange misses.
Strange throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Strange throws a hook to the side of Rose's head but Rose sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strange works Rose's body with a nice hook.

Rose gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Strange to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Strange trying to control but Rose is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Strange accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Strange is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Strange with a flurry of punches that miss.

Rose is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rose is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Strange trying to hold on to Rose's head to control him but Rose postures up.
Strange is trying to get back to full guard.
Rose looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Rose wants to free his trapped foot but Strange is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Axl Rose has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strange gets back to full guard.
Strange keeping moving, preventing Rose from controlling successfully.

Strange escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rose gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rose slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rose wants to control from the top but Strange keeps moving.
Rose tries to free his leg and advance position but Strange is retaining full guard.
Strange controls Rose momentarily but Rose frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Strange throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rose escapes and throws Strange's legs to the side, diving into side control!
You can see the frustration on Strange's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Rose is trying to get an arm triangle but Strange is defending well.
Strange tries to improve position but can't.
Strange gets back to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rose in particular looking to stall.
Rose stops Strange from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strange trying to hold on to Rose's head to control him but Rose postures up.

Rose seems to be looking for submissions.
Rose is keen to just control but Strange is a slippery customer.

Rose seems to be looking for submissions.
Rose trying to control the action but Strange is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strange wants to control but Rose is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Simon Strange has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rose sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Strange defending well though.
Strange manages to get to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Simon Strange comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Strange 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simon Strange!
Simon Strange seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.