PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lakoj Dresden (ranked 2460 p4p, 324 weight class) and Isaiah Sturridge (ranked 2773 p4p, 356 weight class). Sturridge has chosen 0 Eight - By: Sap as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dresden
vs
Sturridge

180 cm
24
224 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

188 cm
22
220 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Lakoj Dresden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Isaiah Sturridge!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Stewart Dunkirk and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sturridge swings for the body but Dresden moves out of range.
Sturridge throws a right and a left that both miss.
A left lands for Dresden.
Dresden moves away from the strike by Sturridge.
Sturridge misses with a right hand
and Dresden counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Sturridge swings for the body but Dresden moves out of range.
Dresden feinted with a counter takedown.
Sturridge cracks Dresden with a good jab.
We've been hearing reports that Dresden has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Dresden looks to land a right hand but Sturridge moved out of range.
Sturridge throws a body shot but no joy.
Sturridge has a takedown stuffed.
As Sturridge tries to get set, Dresden tries to push him back and clinch up but Sturridge manages to avoid the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sturridge lands with an uppercut that bounces Dresden off the cage and back into range.
Dresden ducks under a wild hook from Sturridge.
Sturridge misses with a left hand
and Dresden counters with a right hand to the body.
Isaiah Sturridge seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturridge throws a hook to the side of Dresden's head but Dresden sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
An attempted straight right counter from Dresden misses the target.
Sturridge misses with a lunging right hand

and Dresden moves into the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Dresden.
Dresden tries a body shot but Sturridge blocks it.
Sturridge blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Dresden blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sturridge takes a shot to the head.

Sturridge escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sturridge pivots, looking for a leg kick but Dresden is out of range and Sturridge settles back down.
Sturridge throws a leg kick but Dresden moved away.
Dresden tries to counter by clinching up but Sturridge breaks away and moves out of range.
Sturridge wants to slow Dresden down by chopping away at his legs.
As Sturridge looks to move away, Dresden throws a big counter combo but Sturridge just gets out of the way.
A punch combination from Sturridge misses.
Dresden swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sturridge throws a poor cross that misses

so Dresden counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dresden throwing strikes from guard but Sturridge blocks nicely.
Dresden not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Dresden landing some decent shots from guard.
Dresden is fighting to break Sturridge's control of his arms but Sturridge is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Dresden preventing the sweep.
Sturridge has control of Dresden's left arm, preventing Dresden from doing any damage.
Sturridge's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Dresden trying to control but Sturridge is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sturridge is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Dresden trying to control but Sturridge is working from the bottom.
Sturridge trying to control the position.
Dresden wants to control from the top but Sturridge keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sturridge misses with the combination.
Dresden tries to counter with a takedown but Sturridge is quick to defend against it.
Sturridge on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Dresden scores with a jab to the jaw.
Sturridge throws a right hand that misses
and Dresden cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sturridge throws a jab but it's blocked by Dresden.
Sturridge displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dresden.
Sturridge misses with a body shot.
It looked like Dresden was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Sturridge.
Sturridge keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sturridge throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dresden.

Dresden gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nice elbow from Sturridge.
Sturridge blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sturridge misses with a punch on the inside.
Sturridge misses with some punches.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Dresden tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sturridge tries to break free but Dresden pushes him back against the cage.
Sturridge creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lakoj Dresden dominated that round.
That's time! Dresden's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sturridge throws a big shot that misses.
Sturridge scores with a hook.
Sturridge uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dresden.
Nice jab there from Sturridge.
The crowd cheers as Sturridge lands an impressive looking overhand right. Dresden doesn't seem phased though.
Sturridge lands a really nice looking cross but Dresden seems unphased.
Sturridge throws out a loose jab but Dresden uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sturridge pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dresden uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sturridge.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dresden misses with a looping left.
Dresden showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sturridge.
Dresden was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Sturridge misses with an uppercut. Dresden saw that one coming.
Dresden swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturridge uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Dresden.
A low kick from Sturridge misses
and Dresden counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Isaiah Sturridge seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sturridge jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Dresden was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Dresden gets a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Sturridge fails to land.
Dresden blocks an uppercut.
Sturridge prevents the takedown attempt.
Sturridge manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Dresden blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sturridge swings wildly with an uppercut but Dresden uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dresden blocks an elbow strike from Sturridge.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sturridge misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dresden dodges an elbow strike from Sturridge.
Sturridge has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Dresden seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Sturridge can turn it around.

Dresden jumps into guard, dragging Sturridge to the mat.
Dresden pulls Sturridge in close to prevent any damage.
Sturridge postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Dresden tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dresden is trying to keep Sturridge in close.
Sturridge working some strikes from top position.
Sturridge stands up over Dresden, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sturridge throws a strike but Dresden rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Sturridge is pulling down on Dresden's head. It's preventing any offense from Dresden, at least for the moment.
Dresden trying to control the position from guard on top but Sturridge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sturridge can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dresden controls the pace.
Dresden works over Sturridge with some ground and pound from guard.
Dresden content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sturridge wants to sweep but no luck.
Sturridge is trying to keep Dresden in close.
Sturridge bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dresden's guard.

Sturridge missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sturridge working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dresden looking for a sweep. Not yet Dresden, not yet.
Sturridge wants to control from the top but Dresden keeps moving.
Dresden pulls Sturridge in to control the position.
Dresden controls Sturridge momentarily but Sturridge frees himself.
Lakoj Dresden overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sturridge wants to control from the top but Dresden keeps moving.
Dresden looking for a sweep. Not yet Dresden, not yet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Isaiah Sturridge showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sturridge looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sturridge throws a hook but Dresden avoids it easily.
Dresden is looking to counter the offense by Sturridge and move into the clinch.
Sturridge fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Dresden looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Dresden's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sturridge connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Dresden scrambles back to his feet.
Sturridge misses with a head kick.
Sturridge avoids the body shot from Dresden.
Sturridge throws an overhand right that lands on Dresden's shoulder, as Dresden tries to avoid the shot.
Dresden changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sturridge.
Sturridge slips under a jab from Dresden.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dresden closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Dresden ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Dresden bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sturridge throws a jab when Dresden was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dresden uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sturridge.
Sturridge looks to land a left hand but Dresden moved out of range nicely.
Dresden ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sturridge moves away.
Sturridge misses with a jab to the body
letting Dresden counter with a right hand.

Dresden tries to sprawl but Sturridge drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Dresden is looking for a sweep. Sturridge is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sturridge scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
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. Sturridge connects with a nice short shot to Dresden's temple.
Dresden tries to get to full guard but Sturridge has control of the leg.
Dresden keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Sturridge lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sturridge misses with a head shot. Dresden uses the momentum to regain guard.
Sturridge throws an elbow that misses. Dresden uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sturridge's guard. Nice move by Dresden!

Dresden throws a big right hand that misses.
Dresden controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sturridge working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dresden.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sturridge trying to control the position here.
Sturridge is trying to keep Dresden in close.
Sturridge controlling Dresden's posture.
Sturridge is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sturridge looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sturridge throws a leg kick that is checked

and Dresden counters with a shoot takedown. Sturridge fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sturridge trying to control the position.
Sturridge wants to sweep here but Dresden controlling him for the moment.
Dresden scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sturridge looking for a sweep. Not yet Sturridge, not yet.
Dresden postures up.
Sturridge keeping moving, preventing Dresden from controlling successfully.
Dresden showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Dresden preventing the sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dresden postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Isaiah Sturridge comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sturridge 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Isaiah Sturridge!
A relieved looking Isaiah Sturridge thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.