PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between El Misterioso Damballah (ranked 770 p4p, 102 weight class) and Bronko Strunz (ranked 854 p4p, 111 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Misterioso Damballah
vs
Strunz

179 cm
31
180 lbs
20 - 24 - 0

178 cm
33
175 lbs
30 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, El Misterioso Damballah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bronko Strunz!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Dillan Fox and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strunz slips under a jab.
Strunz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Damballah seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Strunz fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Damballah looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Damballah takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Damballah throws a jab when Strunz was well out of range.
Nice shot lands for Strunz.
Damballah takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Damballah takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Damballah looks to land a right hand but Strunz moved out of range.
Strunz walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Damballah with a body punch. A glancing blow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Damballah misses with an uppercut. Strunz saw that one coming.
Strunz defending well as Damballah loads up on a big left hand.
Strunz scores with a jab to the body.
Strunz scores with a jab to the body.
Strunz tests Damballah's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Damballah has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Damballah walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Damballah misses with a straight left.
Strunz tries to move into range but Damballah moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strunz lands a head shot.
Strunz scores with a decent looking hook.
Damballah lands a slapping body shot.
Damballah thuds a left hand into Strunz's body.
Strunz throws a big shot that misses.
Damballah is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Strunz closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Damballah throws a hook but Strunz blocks it.
Strunz looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Strunz scores with the left hand. Damballah knows he should have avoided that one.
The fighters circling - Damballah throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Damballah ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Strunz moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Damballah. Strunz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Damballah lands a lovely overhand right.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Damballah swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've been told by Damballah's head coaches at whitey's gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Strunz scores with a jab to the head.
Strunz lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Damballah at a distance.
Strunz blocks a jab.
Strunz ducks under a wild hook from Damballah.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Strunz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Damballah lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Strunz at a distance.
Damballah takes a jab right on the kisser.
Damballah misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Damballah looks to land a left hand but Strunz moved out of range nicely.
El Misterioso Damballah seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strunz scores with a one two! Damballah had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Nice cross by Strunz.
Strunz is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Damballah had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Strunz lands with a good body shot.
Strunz lands with an uppercut that bounces Damballah off the cage and back into range.
Damballah displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Strunz throws out the jab.
Damballah lands with an uppercut that bounces Strunz off the cage and back into range.
Strunz connects with a right hand. Damballah shakes it off.
Damballah drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Damballah misses with a series of wild punches.
Strunz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Damballah.
Nice shot by Strunz.
Strunz thuds his right hand into Damballah's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Strunz bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Strunz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Damballah.
Strunz slips a jab from Damballah.
Strunz lands with an uppercut that bounces Damballah off the cage and back into range.
Damballah throws a jab but it's blocked by Strunz.
Damballah lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strunz misses with a straight right.
Damballah misses with an uppercut
and Strunz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Damballah looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Strunz lands a body shot.
Damballah walks into a jab.
Damballah tries a low kick but Strunz avoids it.
Damballah throws the left hand but Strunz avoids the punch easily.
Strunz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Damballah.
Strunz scores with a crisp jab that stopped Damballah in his tracks.
Strunz connects with a single shot there.
Damballah throws a jab when Strunz was well out of range.
Damballah closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Damballah looks to land a right hand but Strunz moved out of range.
Strunz paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
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!
Damballah takes one on the button.
A jab lands there for Strunz.
Nice jab there from Strunz.
Strunz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Damballah.
Damballah looks to land a right hand but Strunz moved out of range.
Damballah takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Strunz bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Damballah's head backwards.
The fighters circling - Strunz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Damballah misses with a hook to the body
enabling Strunz to counter with a crisp jab.
Damballah on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Strunz lands a jab to the nose.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Strunz.
Damballah throws a big shot that misses.
Strunz might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Strunz slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Damballah, right into the meat.
Damballah shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Damballah throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Strunz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Damballah circles away quickly and effectively.
Strunz doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Strunz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Damballah is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Strunz.
Damballah comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Damballah pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Damballah misses with a looping left.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Damballah throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Damballah misses with a straight left.
A jab lands there for Strunz.
Damballah thows a left - swing and a miss!
A big right from Damballah misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bronko Strunz dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A jab from Damballah does it's job there.
Bronko Strunz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Damballah misses the shot to the body.
Strunz lands a head shot.
Strunz connects with a single shot there.
Strunz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Damballah gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Damballah ducks under a wild hook from Strunz.
A big right from Damballah misses.
Strunz swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Damballah takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Damballah uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Strunz.
It looked like Damballah wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Damballah throws a body punch but Strunz moves out of range.
Strunz scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Damballah doesn't seem bothered though.
A shot to the body from Damballah misses
and Strunz counters with a stiff right hand.
Strunz checks a low kick from Damballah.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Strunz stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Strunz digs a good hook to Damballah's body.
Jab from Strunz.
Strunz lunges at Damballah with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Damballah's hand.
Strunz throws a big shot that misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Damballah misses its target.
Strunz throws an overhand right that lands on Damballah's shoulder, as Damballah tries to avoid the shot.
Strunz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Damballah.
Damballah throws a looping overhand right but Strunz ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Damballah throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice jab there from Damballah.
Strunz with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Strunz throws the left hand but Damballah avoids the punch easily.
Nice body punch from Strunz.
Strunz throws a jab but it's blocked by Damballah.
Strunz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Strunz moves into range and connects with a jab.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Strunz.
Strunz jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Strunz moves away from the strike by Damballah.
Damballah lands with a nice body punch.
Damballah misses with the combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Strunz lands a glancing blow to the side of Damballah's head.
Damballah with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Strunz to score with a decent uppercut.
Damballah looks to throw the jab but Strunz is out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Strunz there.
Damballah jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Damballah misses with a hook to the body
and Strunz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Strunz lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Nice defenses there by Strunz.
Damballah throws an overhand right that lands on Strunz's shoulder, as Strunz tries to avoid the shot.
Strunz fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Damballah on the side of the head.
Strunz scores with a punch to the head.
Damballah looks to land a left hand but Strunz moved out of range nicely.
Strunz lands a jab to the head.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Damballah might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
A cross from Strunz lands.
Damballah keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Strunz.
Damballah scores with a crisp jab that stopped Strunz in his tracks.
Strunz moves into range and connects with a jab.
Strunz ducks under a wild hook from Damballah.
Strunz jabs Damballah right on the nose. Damballah blinks but takes it well.
Damballah misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Strunz to counter with a crisp jab.
A punch combination from Strunz misses.
Damballah just misses with a punch to the body.
Damballah throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Damballah throws an off balance right hand
and Strunz counters with a nice body shot.
Damballah is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Strunz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strunz connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Strunz connects with a jab.
Strunz's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Damballah connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Strunz scrambles back to his feet.
Strunz lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Damballah connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Strunz momentarily.
Strunz lands with a right hand.
Strunz slips a straight right by Damballah.
Nice straight punches there by Strunz. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Strunz.
Strunz lands a glancing blow to the side of Damballah's head.
Strunz on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Strunz dips to his left and cracks Damballah with an uppercut!
Damballah looks to land a left hand but Strunz moved out of range nicely.
Strunz looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Damballah misses with a series of wild punches.
Damballah paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Strunz slips under a jab from Damballah.
Damballah walks into a stiff left hand from Strunz.
Strunz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A jab lands there for Strunz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Damballah thows a left - swing and a miss!
Strunz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Damballah.
Damballah takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Nice shot lands for Strunz.
Strunz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Strunz bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Damballah takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Strunz lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Strunz scores with the left hand. Damballah knows he should have avoided that one.
Damballah throws the left hand but Strunz avoids the punch easily.
Damballah will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Strunz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Damballah fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Strunz on the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Damballah stuns Strunz with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Strunz scores with the left hand. Damballah knows he should have avoided that one.
Damballah takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Damballah misses with a looping left.
Damballah misses with a looping right.
Strunz looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bronko Strunz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Strunz bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Damballah's head.
A lazy left from Strunz finds it's target.
Strunz takes one on the button.
Strunz takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Damballah throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Strunz darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Strunz with a jab.
Strunz lands a really nice looking cross but Damballah seems unphased.
Nice shot lands for Strunz.
Strunz takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Strunz lands an overhand right.
Damballah throws a lazy right hand but Strunz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Damballah defending well as Strunz loads up on a big left hand.
Strunz displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Damballah throws a hook but Strunz avoids it easily.
Damballah throws a perfectly timed hook that sends Strunz crashing down! Strunz tries to stagger back to his feet but Damballah just hammers him until the ref stops the fight! A confused Strunz asks the ref what just happened. Poor fella.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). El Misterioso Damballah!
In his post fight interview, El Misterioso Damballah started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.