PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Erik Meen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Strashko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivan Strashko has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Erik Meen's chin.

Meen
vs
Strashko

195 cm
25
209 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

188 cm
33
210 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

King of Clothes

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Erik Meen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ivan Strashko!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Aafke Stam and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Meen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Meen tries to move into full mount but can't pass Strashko's legs.

Meen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Meen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Meen tries for a kimura but Strashko is defending well.
Strashko is trying to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strashko stops Meen from passing to mount.

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

Meen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Meen decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Meen swats away the attempt to clinch by Strashko.

Meen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Strashko sprawls well initially but Meen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Strashko manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Meen keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Strashko misses with a hook from the clinch.

Strashko manages to break the clinch.
Meen has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Red House in the buildup to the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meen dives in and grabs Strashko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Strashko pushes down on Meen's head and hops out.

Meen shoots in and bounces Strashko off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Meen wants to pass the guard but Strashko is keeping the position.

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

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Strashko is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Strashko makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Strashko postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Strashko tries to free his leg and advance position but Meen is retaining full guard.
Strashko is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Strashko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Strashko prevents Meen from getting back to his feet.
Meen being controlled here, momentarily.
Meen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Strashko is defending against the submission attempts here by Meen.
Strashko won't allow Meen to pass to mount.
Meen not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meen trying to pass the guard but Strashko defending well.
Meen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Strashko is defending against the submission attempts here by Meen.
Meen is pressing down on Strashko's thigh, looking to free his foot. Strashko is holding on for now.

Meen seems to be working for a kimura but Strashko defends the submission attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Meen trying to pass the guard but Strashko defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Erik Meen will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Meen shoots in for a takedown but Strashko shows good takedown defense.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Strashko.
Erik Meen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strashko missing with a left hand there. Meen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Meen misses with a few strikes there.

Strashko closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Strashko lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

It looks like Erik Meen has been cut.
Meen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Meen keeps control of Strashko as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Strashko is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Meen pulls Strashko into guard.
Strashko throws a big right hand that misses.
Strashko lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Meen manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Strashko misses with a hook from the clinch.
Strashko misses with a short punch on the inside.
Strashko is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Strashko dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Meen has Strashko pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Strashko manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erik Meen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Meen effectively controlling the action here.
Meen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Strashko avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Meen as the two fighters clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Strashko.
Strashko misses with a hook from the clinch.
Meen is looking for a takedown.
Meen looking for a takedown.
Meen is looking to take this one to the mat.
Strashko lands a hook that snaps the head of Meen backwards.
Meen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Strashko is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Meen prevents Strashko from breaking the clinch.
Meen wants to take the fight to the mat but Strashko manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Strashko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Strashko clinches with his opponent.
Strashko lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Strashko's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Meen tries to score a body lock takedown but Strashko shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Strashko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Meen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Strashko!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strashko tries to escape but Meen is in control.
The strikes coming from Meen are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Meen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Strashko is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Strashko prevents Meen from improving position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Meen decides to stand back up. Meen steps back and let's Strashko get back to his feet.
Meen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Meen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Meen showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Meen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Strashko tries to kick Meen off but Meen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Strashko regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Meen.
Strashko wants to stand and escape but Meen is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ivan Strashko will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Erik Meen's cut.
That's time! Meen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Strashko stuffs the takedown.
A nice side step and Strashko releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Erik Meen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Strashko leaves Meen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Meen fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erik Meen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Meen looks to land a combination but Strashko avoids it well.

Meen gets a takedown into half guard.
Strashko wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Meen trying to pass the guard but Strashko defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meen is working hard here to advance position.

Meen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Strashko makes his way to full guard, as Meen worked for a kimura.
Meen stops Strashko from standing up.
Meen passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Meen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Strashko, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Meen has knee on belly momentarily but Strashko bucks him off and regains half guard.
Meen prevents Strashko from standing back up.
Meen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Meen seems to be looking for submissions.

Meen seems to be working for a kimura but Strashko defends the submission attempt.
Meen is pressing down on Strashko's thigh, looking to free his foot. Strashko is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Meen seems to be looking for submissions.
Meen thows a huge punch but Strashko dodges it nicely.

Meen is working for a kimura but Strashko is defending it quite comfortably.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Erik Meen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Strashko is trying to stand up here but Meen is controlling him well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Strashko throws a leg kick which misses Meen's front leg but catches the back leg as Meen tries to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Strashko misses with a body kick.
Strashko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Strashko takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Meen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Strashko swivels and escapes.
Meen shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Meen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Strashko defends well and Meen ends up having to push Strashko into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Meen shoots in for a double leg but Strashko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Strashko connects with a looping right hand.

Meen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Strashko's guard.
Strashko wants to get back to his feet but Meen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Meen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

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 Erik Meen.
I think Meen 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erik Meen!
In his post fight interview, Erik Meen gave a big smile as he said 'I am the fookin greatest ya hear! I want that fookin belt!'.
In defeat, Ivan Strashko stepped up to the mic, saying 'I got bribed to lose. Would have won otherwise.'.