PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Wilburn Cummings (ranked 9559 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marjan Strela (ranked 6356 p4p, 509 weight class). Marjan Strela has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cummings
vs
Strela

185 cm
25
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Wilburn Cummings!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marjan Strela!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paulsen Ambrosius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cummings tries for a takedown but Strela circles away easily

and Strela counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Strela tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cummings controlling the action here for a moment.

Strela manages to pull guard.

Strela looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cummings passes into half guard.
Still in half guard, Cummings seems content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strela trying to hold on to Cummings's head to control him but Cummings postures up.
Strela really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cummings. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cummings seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strela is trying to escape back to his feet but Cummings uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Cummings in side control lands a decent elbow.
Strela tries to bench press Cummings off him but Cummings keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Strela is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Cummings's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Strela throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Cummings manages to pass to side control.
Cummings works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Strela tries to improve position but can't.
Strela manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Strela on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Strela tries to roll over but Cummings keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cummings keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Ground and pound from Cummings.
Cummings not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cummings content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Strela looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Strela trying to control but Cummings postures up.

That's four 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.

Strela actively working from the bottom here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Strela looks winded!
Strela shoots in but Cummings avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Strela is looking to clinch.
No luck for Cummings with that takedown attempt.

Cummings looking to score a takedown here. Strela is defending well but Cummings drives through and ends up in Strela's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cummings scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Cummings won't allow Strela to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cummings fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Strela raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Cummings is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Strela can do to turn this around?
Cummings keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Strela closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cummings circles away.

Cummings drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Strela working a defensive guard here.

Strela looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Strela is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cummings sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cummings connects with a couple of short punches.
Strela is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cummings is controlling him.

Cummings gets to his feet - Strela follows without any prompting.

Cummings throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Strela tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cummings is in Strela's guard.
Cummings working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cummings keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Strela's head.
Cummings's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cummings working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cummings with a nice head shot there.
Cummings's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cummings postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cummings with a nice head shot there.
Cummings controlling from the top position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cummings's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cummings stays in close to Strela's body and controls the position.
Cummings is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Wilburn Cummings overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cummings not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Cummings's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Strela closes the distance but Cummings moves to the side

and Cummings counters with a shoot takedown. Strela fights it but they end up in guard.
Strela wants to get back to his feet but Cummings passes into half guard.

Cummings content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Cummings connects with a nice short shot to Strela's temple.
Cummings is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Strela kicks off Cummings and gets to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cummings gets a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wilburn Cummings 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. And we move into the final round!

Cummings throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Strela's waist but Strela gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cummings off to one side.

Strela takes the fight into the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Strela.
Strela drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cummings pulls his leg out and moves away.

Strela drives through and clinches with Cummings against the cage.

Strela manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strela tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cummings defends well and Strela ends up having to push Cummings into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cummings.

Strela closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cummings tries to break free but Strela pushes him back against the cage.
Strela wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cummings using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Strela has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Strela landing knees to the body.
Strela jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cummings walks away with a smile on his face. Strela gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Wilburn Cummings has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marjan Strela.
Strela dives in for a single leg takedown but Cummings sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Strela takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Strela looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Cummings closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cummings managing to block the knees to the body from Strela.
Strela blocks an uppercut.

Strela's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strela fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Cummings closes the distance and pushes Strela back into the cage.
Cummings throws a head punch that misses.
Strela prevents Cummings from breaking the clinch.
Cummings is trying to push Strela away but Strela has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Cummings breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cummings shoots in and drives through. Strela sprawls well.

Strela fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cummings, pushing him back against the cage.
Cummings wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A short uppercut from Cummings.
Cummings tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Strela avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cummings breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Cummings throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Strela tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cummings is in Strela's guard.
Strela trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Cummings controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Strela working a defensive guard but Cummings manages to pass into side control anyway.
Cummings in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cummings working the head and body with strikes.

Cummings wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Strela, who protects the arm well.
Strela looks to move to half guard but instead Cummings has passed into mount! Damn!
Cummings putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cummings goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Strela is on top in guard.
Marjan Strela has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wilburn Cummings is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Strela throws an elbow that misses. Cummings uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Strela's guard. Nice move by Cummings!

And that's the end of the fight!
Wilburn Cummings showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cummings, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wilburn Cummings!