PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Braun Strowman (ranked 24955 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ze Nando (ranked 4201 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Strowman
vs
Nando

225 cm
25
300 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

225 cm
25
300 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Braun Strowman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ze Nando!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Donald Grub and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strowman fails to land the takedown.
Strowman shoots in for a double leg but Nando sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nando misses with a head kick.
Nando goes for a double leg but Strowman avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Strowman continues to drive forward.
Nando shoots for a takedown but Strowman saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nando throws a low kick but Strowman avoids it.
Nando changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Strowman tries to avoid it but Nando manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Strowman to the ground. Strowman escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nando just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromStrowman.
Braun Strowman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ze Nando.
Strowman closes the distance looking to clinch
and Nando counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Strowman drives through and clinches with Nando against the cage.
Strowman is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Strowman fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nando can't break the clinch.
I was talking to Strowman's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Strowman keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nando's efforts to push away.
Nando tries for a takedown. No joy.
Strowman is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Nando pulls guard successfully.
Strowman is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Nando is adopting a defensive guard.

Strowman drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Nando manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Strowman has Nando in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strowman can't keep his opponent in guard - Nando advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Strowman wants to get back to his feet.
Strowman blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nando.
Nando throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Strowman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Nando stands up from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nando lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Nando.

It looks like Braun Strowman has been cut.

Nando closes the distance and clinches.
Nando prevents Strowman from breaking the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Nando takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Nando ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Nando no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Nando lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Nando throwing strikes from guard but Strowman blocks nicely.
Nando controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strowman is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Strowman wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Nando manages to pass to side control.
Strowman tries to roll over but Nando keeps him under control.
Nando keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ze Nando dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Braun Strowman's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Strowman misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nando fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Strowman avoids it really well and circles away.
Strowman darts in trying to clinch
and Nando cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Braun Strowman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Strowman is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nando sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Strowman tries to keep at a distance but Nando has taken the fight into the clinch.
Strowman struggles to land a body shot inside as Nando controls his hands.
Strowman tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Braun Strowman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strowman jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nando walks away with a smile on his face. Strowman gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nando looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Strowman feinted with a counter takedown.
Strowman tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Nando defends well and Strowman ends up having to push Nando into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nando shoots in but no luck this time.
Strowman walks into a straight right hand from Nando.
Nando fails with the takedown

and Strowman moves into the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Nando.
Nando taking a breather.
Nando fails to pull guard.
Strowman tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nando manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Nando holds on and takes a little breather.
Nando's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Nando throws his legs up looking for a submission but Strowman uses it to pass to side control.
Nando manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nando missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Strowman manages to get to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nando sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Strowman's guard.
Strowman moves into full guard.
Nando looking to pass the guard.
Nando is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Strowman is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nando defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nando is stalling in the full guard.
Strowman wants to sweep here but Nando controlling him for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nando seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ze Nando showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Braun Strowman's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Strowman scores with a takedown into Nando's guard.

Nando is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Strowman presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Strowman is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Strowman has Nando pressed against the cage, preventing Nando from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Strowman wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nando gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Nando is stalling in the full guard.
Nando has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strowman wants to sweep here but Nando controlling him for the moment.
Strowman keeping full guard, as Nando tries to pass.
Nando throws a big right hand that misses.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nando throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nando shoots for a takedown but Strowman saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Nando moves into the clinch successfully.
Nando wants to get back to striking at distance but Strowman won't allow it.
Strowman is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Nando to keep the fight standing.
Nando wants to break free but Strowman has control.
Strowman tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nando just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Braun Strowman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nando jumps guard.

Nando pushes Strowman off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Nando closes this distance looking for a takedown but Strowman circles away.
Nando dives in and grabs Strowman's left leg, looking for a takedown. Strowman pushes down on Nando's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nando tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Strowman swivels and escapes.

Nando has managed to clinch.
Strowman misses with a body punch.
Nando dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Nando stops a takedown attempt from Strowman.
Nando lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Strowman or not.
Nando is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Nando pulls guard successfully.
Strowman is looking to work some ground and pound but Nando has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nando is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nando stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Strowman to get to his feet.
Strowman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nando paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Nando closes the distance and pushes Strowman back into the cage.
Nando drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Strowman gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nando makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Strowman looking to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ze Nando comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nando has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ze Nando!
During a confident post fight interview, Ze Nando thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.