PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bronko Strunz (ranked 1852 p4p, 226 weight class) and Andre Haack (ranked 1805 p4p, 221 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Strunz
vs
Haack

178 cm
35
175 lbs
31 - 14 - 0

183 cm
37
183 lbs
30 - 19 - 3

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

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 31 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bronko Strunz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 19 - 3, fighting out of London, Andre Haack!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Elvis Blanc and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strunz paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Haack misses the jab.

Haack pushes Strunz up against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Haack fails to land.
Haack blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Haack blocks a body shot from Strunz.
Haack goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Haack lands an uppercut.
Haack fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Strunz digs a right hand into Haack's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Haack's gas tank.
Haack tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Haack misses with a body punch.
Haack blocks an elbow strike from Strunz.
Haack working aggressively here.
Haack tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Strunz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Strunz tries to move into range but Haack moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Strunz slips under a jab from Haack.
Haack takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Strunz. Haack does a little dance to reset his feet.
Haack tries to counter by closing the distance.
Haack has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Haack there as he acknowledges the shot.
Haack moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haack takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Strunz swings for the body but Haack moves out of range.

Haack moves into range and clinches up with Strunz.
Haack scores with a hook to the body.
Strunz struggles to land a body shot inside as Haack controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Haack fails to land.
Haack lands a shot to the body.
Strunz tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Haack avoids it.
Strunz is trying to force a seperation but Haack has the dominant position.
A nice left hand lands by Haack.
Strunz misses with a punch to the body.
Strunz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Haack's elbow.
Haack lands a shot to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Haack.
Strunz lands a left hand that snaps the head of Haack backwards.
Haack tries a body shot but Strunz blocks it.
Haack blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Haack misses with a punch to the body.
Strunz misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haack throws a head punch that misses.
Haack prevents a body shot from Strunz.

Strunz breaks the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Strunz scores with a nice strike.
Strunz lands a really nice looking cross but Haack seems unphased.
Strunz misses the shot to the body.
Strunz on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Haack thuds a left hand into Strunz's body.
Haack scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Haack has closed the distance and engaged Strunz in a clinch.
Haack doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Strunz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Haack swings wildly with an uppercut but Strunz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Haack lands a body punch in the clinch.
Strunz misses with a punch to the body.
Haack struggles to land a body shot inside as Strunz controls his hands.
Haack tries to work over Strunz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Strunz creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haack swings wildly with an uppercut but Strunz uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Haack.
A head punch on the inside from Haack fails to land.
Strunz is trying to force a seperation but Haack has the dominant position.
Strunz tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Haack avoids it.
Strunz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Haack struggles to land a body shot inside as Strunz controls his hands.
Haack misses with a body punch.
Strunz working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Haack tries a body shot but Strunz blocks it.
Haack lands a left hand.
Strunz scores with a shot to the side of Haack's head.
Strunz throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Haacks head.
Strunz throws a punch but it's blocked by Haack.

Strunz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jab, jab by Haack - just one landing.
A swing and a miss from Strunz.
Haack takes one to the chin there.
Strunz is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Haack has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Strunz finds it's way round the side to connect with Haack's head.
A left lands for Strunz.
Haack slips under a jab from Strunz.
Haack steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Strunz.
Haack moves out of range of the strikes.
Haack slips under a jab.
Haack darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Haack uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Strunz.
Haack lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Strunz throws a lazy right hand but Haack sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Haack displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Strunz throws out the jab.

Haack has managed to clinch.
Haack throws a head punch that misses.

Strunz breaks from the clinch.
Strunz stuns Haack with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Strunz misses with a straight left.
Haack uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Strunz.
Strunz misses with an uppercut. Haack saw that one coming.
Haack tries to close the distance and clinch but Strunz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bronko Strunz will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Strunz misses with a wild body shot.
Bronko Strunz is winning the standup battle so far.
Haack tries to clinch but Strunz moves away
and Strunz counters with a stiff right hand.
Haack tries to close the distance and clinch but Strunz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bronko Strunz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Haack keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Strunz.
Haack fails with an attempt to clinch.
Strunz misses with a hook. Haack ducked under it nicely.
Good standup being displayed there by Haack as he connects with a hook.

Haack closes the distance and pushes Strunz back into the cage.
Strunz lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Haack backwards.
Strunz lands a nice uppercut.
Strunz tries to work over Haack's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Strunz lands a body punch.
Strunz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Haack tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Haack keeps control of Strunz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Haack fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Haack blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Strunz tries to work over Haack's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Strunz lands a left hand.
Andre Haack seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strunz misses with a knee strike.
Haack lands a right hand.
Haack tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A shot in the inside from Haack.
Haack tries to work over Strunz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Strunz creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Strunz lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Haack throws a head punch that misses.
Haack working aggressively here.
Haack misses with a body punch.
Strunz blocks an uppercut.
A short right from Strunz on the inside.
Strunz lands with a left to the head.
Haack tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Strunz can't find room to land a body shot as Haack controls the action.
Haack tries to throw a body punch but Strunz avoids it by throwing Haack back against the cage.
Strunz takes a shot to the head.
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 shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strunz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Haack has him pressed against the cage.
Haack working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Strunz.
A nice right hand lands inside from Strunz.
Strunz tries a body shot but Haack blocks it.
Haack tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Strunz misses with a hook from the clinch.
Strunz blocks an uppercut.
Haack tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Strunz lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Strunz lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Haack throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Strunz is trying to force a seperation but Haack has the dominant position.
Haack swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Haack can't find room to land a body shot as Strunz controls the action.
Strunz throws a punch but it's blocked by Haack.
Strunz tries to work over Haack's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Strunz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Haack lands with a short shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strunz cracks Haack with a nice body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from Haack.
A frustrated look appears on Strunz's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Strunz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Haack tries to work over Strunz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Haack misses with some punches.
Strunz blocks an uppercut.
Haack tries to work over Strunz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Strunz wants to break free but Haack has control.
Haack misses with the head strike.
Haack swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Strunz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Strunz misses with a wild body shot.
Haack takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A looping hook to the body misses from Strunz. Haack does a little dance to reset his feet.
Strunz throws a hook but Haack avoids it easily.
Strunz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
As Haack looks to move away, Strunz throws a big counter combo but Haack just gets out of the way.
Strunz bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Haack's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strunz lands with a right hand.
Strunz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Haack uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Strunz.
Haack walks into a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Strunz scores with a nice strike.
Strunz connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Strunz scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Strunz is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Strunz swats away the attempt to clinch by Haack.
Good standup being displayed there by Strunz as he connects with a hook.
Strunz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Strunz loads up on a big right hand but Haack slips the punch.
Haack takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Strunz tries to bum rush Haack with a series of wild strikes but Haack uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Strunz misses with a straight left.
Haack swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Haack throws a jab when Strunz was well out of range.
Strunz is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bronko Strunz dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Haack throws a poor cross that misses
and Strunz counters with a left to the body.
Haack staying out of range there.
Strunz misses with a hook. Haack ducked under it nicely.
Haack uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Strunz.
Haack tries to close the distance and clinch but Strunz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Strunz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Haack sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Haack moves away from the strike by Strunz.
Haack wants to counter with a clinch but Strunz pushes him away.
A big right from Strunz misses.
Haack is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Haack moves away from the strike by Strunz.
Good shot there by Strunz.
Strunz slips under a jab from Haack.
Strunz throwing a counter right hand but Haack manages to avoid it.
Haack misses with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strunz cracks a nice hook into Haack's ribs.
Strunz lands a really nice looking cross but Haack seems unphased.
Haack steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Strunz.
Haack moves out of range as Strunz strikes.
Haack looks to land a right hand but Strunz moved out of range.
Strunz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Haack can do to turn this around?
Strunz misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haack misses with a looping left.
Haack is looking to clinch but Strunz is avoiding it.
Strunz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Haack closes the distance and clinches.
A short right from Haack on the inside.
Strunz misses with a short punch on the inside.
Haack lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Strunz backwards.
Strunz misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Haack.
Strunz misses with a body punch.
Strunz is leaning against Haack and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Haack.
Haack lands a shoulder strike.
Nice body punch from Strunz.
A short right from Haack.
Strunz lands a shoulder strike.
Haack lands a body shot in the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Strunz lands a nice uppercut.
Haack lands with a short shot to the head.
Andre Haack has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haack fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Haack throws a punch but it's blocked by Strunz.
Haack lands with a light punch inside.
Strunz struggles to land a body shot inside as Haack controls his hands.
Strunz swings wildly with an uppercut but Haack uses good head movement to avoid it.
Strunz misses with a punch on the inside.
Strunz lands a shot to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Haack.
Strunz looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Strunz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Strunz swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Haack can't find room to land a body shot as Strunz controls the action.
Haack lands a left hand.
Haack misses with a hook to the ribs.
Haack misses with a body punch.
Strunz lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Strunz lands with a light punch inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haack throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Haack misses with a hook from the clinch.
Haack lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Strunz misses with the head strike.
Strunz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Strunz misses with a punch to the body.
Strunz throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A short left from Haack.
Strunz swings wildly with an uppercut but Haack uses good head movement to avoid it.
Strunz wants to get back to striking at distance but Haack won't allow it.
Strunz tries to throw a body punch but Haack avoids it by throwing Strunz back against the cage.
Strunz lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Haack or not.
Strunz struggles to land a body shot inside as Haack controls his hands.
Haack lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Strunz takes a shot to the head.
Strunz throws a head punch that misses.

Strunz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strunz keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Haack tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Strunz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Strunz bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Haack's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Haack throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Haack comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Strunz throws a jab when Haack was well out of range.
Haack tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Strunz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Strunz throws an overhand right that lands on Haack's shoulder, as Haack tries to avoid the shot.
Strunz misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice defenses there by Strunz.
Haack ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Strunz moves away.
Strunz throws a hook to the side of Haack's head but Haack sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Haack wants to counter the offense by Strunz and move into the clinch position.
Strunz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Haack misses with a looping left.
It looked like Strunz was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Haack.
Haack uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Strunz.
Haack slips under a 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 Bronko Strunz.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Strunz, 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27

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