PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bong Ji Woo (ranked 1219 p4p, 57 weight class) and Anton Strålman (ranked 975 p4p, 49 weight class). Ji Woo comes to the cage accompanied by 나쁜 달 상승. The crowd seem to be enjoying Strålman's choice of entrance music: Three Kings. Bong Ji Woo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ji Woo
vs
Strålman

169 cm
22
135 lbs
10 - 4 - 1

172 cm
22
140 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

BuriedAlive// Fight Gear

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Bong Ji Woo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anton Strålman!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ji Woo darts in and clinches Strålman up against the cage.
Ji Woo misses with the head strike.

Strålman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Strålman thows a leg kick but Ji Woo checks it

and Ji Woo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
I was talking to Ji Woo's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Ji Woo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Strålman lands with a left to the head.
Ji Woo misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Strålman.
Ji Woo misses with the head strike.
Strålman lands with a right to the head.
Strålman lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ji Woo backwards.
Ji Woo tries to throw a body punch but Strålman avoids it by throwing Ji Woo back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ji Woo.
Ji Woo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Strålman is trying to maintain a safe position but Ji Woo gets an underhook and turns Strålman into the cage.
Ji Woo pushes Strålman back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Strålman blocks a body shot from Ji Woo.
Strålman misses with some punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ji Woo pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ji Woo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Strålman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ji Woo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Strålman controls the pace.
Ji Woo wants to sweep here but Strålman controlling him for the moment.
Strålman wants to control from the top but Ji Woo keeps moving.

Ji Woo has his foot on Strålman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Strålman works his way back into a safe position though.

Ji Woo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Strålman defends well.

That's two 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.
Ji Woo is pulling down on Strålman's head. It's preventing any offense from Strålman, at least for the moment.
Strålman controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Strålman is looking to land body kicks.
Strålman wants to slow Ji Woo down by chopping away at his legs.
Ji Woo feinted with a counter takedown.
Ji Woo misses with a hook to the body
and Strålman counters with a leg kick.
Ji Woo throws a leg kick that is checked
and Strålman counters with a stiff right hand.
Strålman throws a body kick that misses.
Ji Woo feinted with a counter takedown.
Strålman throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ji Woo blocks a head kick by Strålman.
Ji Woo tried to counter with a leg kick but Strålman avoided it.
Strålman lands a jab to Ji Woo's midsection.
Ji Woo doesn't manage to clinch there - Strålman circles away.
The fighters circling - Strålman throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ji Woo digs a good hook to Strålman's body.
A telegraphed right hand from Ji Woo misses the target.
Ji Woo throws a body punch but Strålman moves out of range.
Ji Woo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ji Woo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Strålman misses with a wild body shot.
Strålman throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ji Woo fires out a quick counter leg kick but Strålman just manages to avoid it.
Strålman cracks a nice hook into Ji Woo's ribs.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ji Woo.
Ji Woo takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strålman misses with an uppercut.
Strålman throws a right hand that misses
and Ji Woo counters with a nice body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Strålman takes a swing at Ji Woo's ribcage but misses.
Strålman throws a leg kick
and Ji Woo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Ji Woo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Strålman not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Ji Woo has gone for a leg lock! Strålman slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ji Woo's guard.

Strålman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Strålman stopping the sweep attempt from Ji Woo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anton Strålman will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ji Woo with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Strålman walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Ji Woo checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Ji Woo connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Anton Strålman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Strålman throws a jab when Ji Woo was well out of range.
Strålman misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Ji Woo counters by moving into the clinch.

Strålman breaks the clinch.
Strålman thuds his shin into the meat of Ji Woo's side.
Strålman cracks Ji Woo with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Strålman misses with an uppercut
and Ji Woo counters with a good, hard body kick but Strålman shrugs it off.
Ji Woo jabs Strålman right on the nose. Strålman blinks but takes it well.
Strålman throws a poor cross that misses
and Ji Woo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Strålman moves into range and connects with a jab.
Strålman buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ji Woo lands a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ji Woo connects with a crisp jab.
Strålman lands a nice shot to the body.
Strålman just misses with a punch to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Ji Woo misses the target.
Nice body kick from Ji Woo.
Strålman looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Strålman lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Strålman throws a series of punches but Ji Woo avoids them all with ease.
Nice body kick from Strålman.
Ji Woo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Anton Strålman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ji Woo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Strålman.
Ji Woo connects with an inside leg kick.
Strålman misses the body punch
and Ji Woo counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Ji Woo cracks Strålman with an open hand slap.
Ji Woo misses with a hook. Strålman ducked under it nicely.
A big left from Ji Woo misses.
A bone on bone clash there as Ji Woo blocks the leg kick.
Ji Woo swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Ji Woo has Strålman up against the cage in a clinch.
Strålman throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ji Woos head.
Ji Woo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Strålman's elbow.
Strålman blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Strålman misses with some punches.
A shot in the inside from Strålman.
Ji Woo misses with a punch to the body.
Come on Strålman - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Ji Woo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ji Woo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Strålman has a couple of punches blocked by Ji Woo.
Ji Woo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ji Woo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Strålman's elbow.
Strålman misses with a punch to the body.
Strålman takes a shot to the head.
Strålman has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Ji Woo seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Strålman can turn it around.
Ji Woo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Strålman blocking some punches.
Strålman can't find room to land a body shot as Ji Woo controls the action.
Ji Woo is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ji Woo misses with some punches.
Strålman misses with some punches.
Strålman blocks an uppercut.
Strålman lands a body shot.
Ji Woo tries to throw a body punch but Strålman avoids it by throwing Ji Woo back against the cage.
Strålman misses with a punch to the body.
Ji Woo tries to pull guard but Strålman forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Strålman is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bong Ji Woo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice body punch from Strålman - that landed with a thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ji Woo misses with a body punch.
Strålman is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Ji Woo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Strålman lands a shoulder strike.
Strålman blocks an uppercut.
Ji Woo lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ji Woo lands a left hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Strålman tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Strålman lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Strålman lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ji Woo misses with a body punch.
Ji Woo lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Strålman lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Strålman working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Ji Woo fails to land.
Ji Woo throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Ji Woo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Strålman misses with a hook to the ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bong Ji Woo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Ji Woo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Strålman throws a body punch but Ji Woo moves out of range.
Ji Woo throws the left hand but Strålman avoids the punch easily.
Strålman moves forwards but Ji Woo connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Strålman blocks a jab.
Ji Woo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Strålman lands an overhand right.
Strålman throws a nice inside leg kick.

Ji Woo shoots in and gets a takedown into Strålman's guard.
Ji Woo passes Strålman's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ji Woo is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Strålman!
Strålman is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strålman working to try and regain half guard.
Ji Woo takes Strålman's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Strålman is in trouble.

Strålman defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
Ji Woo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strålman stopping the sweep attempt from Ji Woo.
Ji Woo has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Strålman has passed into side control.
Ji Woo is trying to improve his position.
Ji Woo gets back to half guard.
Well, if Strålman is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ji Woo is trying to get back to full guard.
Ji Woo wants to control but Strålman is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ji Woo wants to improve his position but Strålman is controlling well.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Strålman is trying to control. Ji Woo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Strålman buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ji Woo throws a leg kick
and Strålman finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Ji Woo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Strålman circles away quickly and effectively.
Ji Woo checks a leg kick.
Strålman lands with a thumping leg kick.

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 Bong Ji Woo.
I think Ji Woo 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bong Ji Woo!
In his post fight interview, Bong Ji Woo started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.