PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Strong (ranked 830 p4p, 92 weight class) and Lennart Lennartsson (ranked 2613 p4p, 256 weight class). Strong comes into the arena with Egypt Central - Kick Ass blaring out of the sound system. Lennartsson has chosen Runaway Baby - Bruno Mars as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Strong
vs
Lennartsson

194 cm
30
242 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

190 cm
26
250 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Strong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lennart Lennartsson!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strong moves out of range of the strikes.
Lennartsson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Strong swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Nice defenses there by Strong.
Lennartsson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lennartsson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Strong finds it's way round the side to connect with Lennartsson's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lennartsson missing with a left hand there. Strong was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
As Lennartsson looks to move away, Strong throws a big counter combo but Lennartsson just gets out of the way.
Strong fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Strong defending well as Lennartsson loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lennartsson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Strong.
Strong scores with a sloppy right hand. Lennartsson should have avoided that one.
Nice shot lands for Lennartsson.

It looks like Mark Strong has been cut.
Strong throws a jab when Lennartsson was well out of range.
Lennartsson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Strong seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Strong shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Strong showed some decent athleticism there.
Lennartsson tries to kick Strong off but Strong keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Lennartsson has hold of Strong's hands but Strong slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strong is pressing down on Lennartsson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Lennartsson is holding on for now.
Lennartsson wants to get back to his feet.

Strong is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Strong throwing shots but Lennartsson is blocking nicely.

Lennartsson is defending against the submission attempts here by Strong.
Lennartsson is trying to escape back to his feet but Strong uses the scramble to pass into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strong laying and praying for a moment but Lennartsson takes advantage and regains half guard.

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

Strong is looking for a kimura but Lennartsson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Strong to get the leverage.
Strong missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lennartsson wants to get back to his feet.
Strong looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Lennartsson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Strong.
Lennartsson wants to get back to his feet.
Strong sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lennartsson defending well though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strong wants to control but Lennartsson is keeping him busy.
Strong working the head and body with strikes.
Strong working Lennartsson over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Strong dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mark Strong's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A lazy left from Strong finds it's target.
Strong throws an off balance right hand
and Lennartsson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Strong looking to score a takedown here. Lennartsson is defending well but Strong drives through and ends up in Lennartsson's guard.
Strong with a nice head shot there.
Strong trying to control but Lennartsson is working from the bottom.
Strong trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strong lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Lennartsson is looking to stand up but Strong isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strong stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lennartsson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strong is pushing down on Lennartsson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Lennartsson is fighting to maintain full guard but Strong has managed to sneak the leg through.
Strong not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lennartsson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Strong is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lennartsson can do to turn this around?
Lennartsson is looking to escape.

Strong seems to be working for a kimura but Lennartsson defends the submission attempt.

Strong is looking for a kimura but Lennartsson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Strong to get the leverage.
Strong sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lennartsson defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strong is looking to pass Lennartsson's guard but actually Lennartsson recovers to full guard.
Strong working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Strong trying to control but Lennartsson is working from the bottom.
Strong stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lennartsson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lennartsson wants to stand but Strong is controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mark Strong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strong throws a jab but it's blocked by Lennartsson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strong defending well as Lennartsson loads up on a big left hand.
Strong throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lennartsson appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
The fighters circling - Lennartsson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice defenses there by Lennartsson.
Strong throws a combination. Lennartsson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Lennartsson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Strong catches Lennartsson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Lennartsson jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lennartsson lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A jab from Lennartsson does it's job there.

Mark Strong's cut is getting worse.
Strong connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Strong throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It seemed like Lennartsson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Lennartsson looks to land a right hand but Strong moved out of range.
Strong drops down looking for a counter takedown but Lennartsson sprawls and moves away.
Lennartsson takes a swing at Strong's ribcage but misses.
Strong feinted with a counter takedown.
Lennartsson slips under a jab from Strong.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Some wild striking there from Lennartsson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Strong dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mark Strong's cut.
That's time! Strong's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Strong tests Lennartsson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Strong avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
It looked like Strong wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Strong throws a hook but Lennartsson blocks it.
Strong keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lennartsson.
Strong uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lennartsson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lennartsson throws a jab when Strong was well out of range.
Strong uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Lennartsson has time to react.
Strong is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Strong lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strong uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lennartsson.
Lennartsson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Strong throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Strong rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lennartsson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Strong slips a jab from Lennartsson.
Lennartsson throws a hook but Strong avoids it easily.
Strong misses with a straight left.
It seemed like Lennartsson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Strong jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strong throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Lennartsson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Lennartsson walks into a left hand.
Strong takes one to the side of the head.
Strong cracks Lennartsson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Lennartsson throws a jab when Strong was well out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lennartsson throws an off balance right hand
and Strong connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Strong shoots in but Lennartsson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lennart Lennartsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Lennartsson misses.
Lennartsson misses with a right hand
and Strong counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Strong avoids the body shot from Lennartsson.
Strong drops down looking for a counter takedown but Lennartsson sprawls and moves away.
Strong works Lennartsson's body with a nice hook.
A big right from Strong misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Lennartsson misses.
Lennartsson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Strong.
Strong connects with a right hand. Lennartsson shakes it off.
Lennartsson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lennartsson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Strong at a distance.
Strong gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lennartsson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lennartsson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Mark Strong's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A telegraphed right hand from Lennartsson misses the target.
Lennartsson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Strong stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Strong doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Strong displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lennartsson throws out the jab.

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 Mark Strong.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Strong, 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Strong!
Mark Strong decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.