PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wilhelm Strauss (ranked 1426 p4p, 200 weight class) and Pekka Pera (ranked 1076 p4p, 149 weight class). Strauss comes into the arena with Root Of All Evil blaring out of the sound system. Wilhelm Strauss has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Strauss
vs
Pera

174 cm
31
170 lbs
16 - 4 - 0

150 cm
32
175 lbs
25 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
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 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Wilhelm Strauss!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekka Pera!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Strauss misses the target.
Pera moves forwards but Strauss connects with a nice, crisp jab.

It looks like Pekka Pera has been cut.
Pera dodges the punch combination from Strauss.
Pera thumps Strauss with a low kick.
Pera fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Strauss is out of range.
Strauss scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Strauss misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pera throws a leg kick but Strauss sees it coming and moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Pera.
Strauss throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Pera changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Pera shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pera is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pera thows a huge punch but Strauss dodges it nicely.
Strauss is looking for a sweep. Pera is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Pera in particular looking to stall.
Pera not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two 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.
Pera trying to control the pace.
Strauss is trying to maintain the position but Pera is very close to passing his half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Pera trying to mount his opponent but Strauss defends it.
Strauss knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pera on the ground.
Pera working over Strauss with some ground and pound. Strauss looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Pera wants to free his trapped foot but Strauss is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Pera is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strauss tries to get to full guard but Pera has control of the leg.
Pera sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Strauss defending well though.
Strauss is not content to let Pera control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pekka Pera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Strauss moves into the clinch.
Strauss misses with a punch on the inside.
Strauss doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Strauss misses with the head strike.
Pera misses with the head strike.
Strauss goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pera wants to take the fight to the mat but Strauss manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Strauss misses with some punches.
Pera swings wildly with an uppercut but Strauss uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pera working aggressively here.
A shot in the inside from Pera.
Pera is trying to maintain a safe position but Strauss gets an underhook and turns Pera into the cage.
Pera lands with a light punch inside.
Strauss misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pera blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pera blocks a body shot from Strauss.
Strauss tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pera blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Strauss working aggressively here.
Strauss misses with some punches.
A right hook to the body lands for Pera.
Pera blocks an uppercut.
Pera scores with a shoulder strike.
Pera's coach down at Holding Cell was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Pera's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pera is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pera tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Strauss misses with a body punch.
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 Wilhelm Strauss will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Pekka Pera's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pera has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Strauss.

Pera feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Pera trying to control the position from guard on top but Strauss is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pera in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pera lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Pera's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Pera looking to sit in guard and control but Strauss gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strauss stays in close to Pera's body and controls the position.
Pera pulls Strauss in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pera keeping moving, preventing Strauss from controlling successfully.
Pera controlling Strauss's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Strauss slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Strauss trying to control the position from guard on top but Pera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Strauss wants to clinch up but Pera keeps it at a distance.
Pera lands with a hook. Strauss tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Pera moves out of range of the strikes.
Strauss lands a right hook to the body.
Pera walks into a straight right hand from Strauss.
Pera's corner calls for a 1-2. Pera obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Strauss keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pera bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Strauss looks to throw the jab but Pera is out of range.
Pera lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Strauss closes the distance and pushes Pera back into the cage.
Strauss swings wildly with an uppercut but Pera uses good head movement to avoid it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Strauss.
Strauss lands a body punch.
Strauss tries a body shot but Pera blocks it.
Pera avoiding damage.
Pera blocks an uppercut.
Pera looking to slow down the pace here.
Strauss lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pera backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pera blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pera blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pera throws a head punch that misses.
Pera struggles to land a body shot inside as Strauss controls his hands.
Strauss tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A right hook to the body lands for Strauss.
Pera blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Strauss misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pera scores with a shot to the side of Strauss's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Strauss blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pera misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Strauss.
Pera working aggressively here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Strauss misses with a hook from the clinch.
Strauss swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Strauss misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pera looking to slow down the pace here.
A right hook to the body lands for Pera.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wilhelm Strauss dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Pekka Pera's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Pera lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Strauss at a distance.
Pera will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Strauss rushes Pera and presses him up against the cage.
A body shot lands from Pera.
Pera lands a hook that snaps the head of Strauss backwards.
Strauss throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Peras head.
Strauss prevents a body shot from Pera.
Stalling in the clinch from Pera.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Strauss.
Strauss lands a right hand.
Strauss has a couple of punches blocked by Pera.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strauss scores with a shot to the side of Pera's head.
Pera struggles to land a body shot inside as Strauss controls his hands.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Strauss.
Strauss misses with a hook from the clinch.
Wilhelm Strauss has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Strauss lands on the inside with an uppercut.
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!
Pera leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pera lands with a right to the head.
Pera trying to control the position but instead, Strauss has worked for underhooks and has pushed Pera into the cage.
Strauss swings wildly with an uppercut but Pera uses good head movement to avoid it.
Strauss misses with a punch on the inside.
Pera blocking some punches.
Pera misses with the head strike.
Pera can't find room to land a body shot as Strauss controls the action.
Strauss scores with a shoulder strike.
Strauss goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pera.
Strauss misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Strauss has a couple of punches blocked by Pera.
Pera works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Pera wants a takedown but no success here.
Pekka Pera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Strauss.
Strauss blocking some punches.
Strauss swings wildly with an uppercut but Pera uses good head movement to avoid it.
Strauss goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pera lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Strauss blocking some punches.
Pera tries a body shot but Strauss blocks it.
Strauss struggles to land a body shot inside as Pera controls his hands.
Strauss swings wildly with an uppercut but Pera uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short right from Pera on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pera.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pera.
Pera is struggling to control the position.
A right handed body shot lands from Pera.
Pera scores with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strauss blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Strauss working aggressively here.
Pera blocking some punches.
Strauss working aggressively here.
Strauss has a couple of punches blocked by Pera.
Strauss misses with a hook from the clinch.
Strauss misses with a punch to the body.
Strauss gets through Pera's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Pera blocking some punches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Strauss.
Strauss struggles to land a body shot inside as Pera controls his hands.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Pera takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Strauss misses with a short punch on the inside.
Strauss has a couple of punches blocked by Pera.
Pera misses with a body punch.
Strauss is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pera can do to turn this around?
Pera blocks a body shot from Strauss.
Strauss being controlled against the cage.
Pera lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pera lands a hook that snaps the head of Strauss backwards.
Strauss tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pera's elbow.
Strauss is leaning against Pera and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Pera scores with a nice hook to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Strauss throws a head punch that misses.
Strauss misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Strauss.
A nice left hand lands by Strauss.
Pera is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Pera.
Pera can't find room to land a body shot as Strauss controls the action.
Strauss misses with a short punch on the inside.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Pera.
Pera misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pera makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Strauss lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Pera misses with a shot to the kidneys.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wilhelm Strauss showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Strauss, 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wilhelm Strauss!
Our winner, Wilhelm Strauss, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.