PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Guillo Perez (ranked 2735 p4p, 1779 weight class) and Isaiah Sturridge (ranked 356 p4p, 225 weight class). Sturridge has chosen Gimmie The Loot - By: The Notorious BIG as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Guillo Perez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Perez
vs
Sturridge

190 cm
27
205
8 - 8 - 1

188 cm
34
218
18 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 1, fighting out of London, Guillo Perez !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Isaiah Sturridge!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sturridge throws a low kick but it's checked well by Perez .
Sturridge is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Perez shoots in and bounces Sturridge off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sturridge not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Sturridge throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Perez is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Shut Up & Train! {$1000} that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Perez preventing the sweep.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sturridge is on top in guard.

Sturridge lands a couple of digs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sturridge advances position into side control!
Perez is looking to regain half guard here but Sturridge keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Perez 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturridge trying to control the position but Perez is working away.
Perez is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Sturridge's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Sturridge is looking to take a break and control but Perez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Perez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sturridge is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Perez wants to hold on but Sturridge pushes him away.
Perez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sturridge cracks Perez with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Sturridge working for a guillotine from mount but Perez is in no mood to give up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sturridge putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Perez regains half guard.
Perez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sturridge is working away from the top position though.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sturridge connects with a nice short shot to Perez 's temple.
Perez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sturridge throws a strike but Perez avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Perez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sturridge controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perez keeping full guard, as Sturridge tries to pass.
Perez looking to control.
Perez has momentary wrist control but Sturridge slips an elbow through the middle.

Perez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sturridge defends it easily.
Perez wants to control the position but Sturridge says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Perez is looking for a sweep. Sturridge is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sturridge is trying to control. Perez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sturridge working the head and body with strikes.
Sturridge not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Perez wants to control but Sturridge is keeping busy.
Ground and pound from Sturridge.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sturridge is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Perez has managed to free his arm - good work.

Perez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sturridge pulls his head out easily.
Perez trying to hold on to Sturridge's head to control him but Sturridge postures up.
Sturridge is trying to control the action in half guard but Perez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Perez is defending against the submission attempts here by Sturridge.
Sturridge landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sturridge lands strikes from half guard.
Perez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Isaiah Sturridge dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sturridge lands a nice hook to Perez 's body. Perez takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Perez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sturridge but Sturridge pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Perez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sturridge.
Perez walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Perez drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sturridge pulls Perez in to control the position.
Perez stands and throws Sturridge's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Perez controlling the position.

Perez wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sturridge, who protects the arm well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Perez is chipping away with strikes.
Sturridge has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturridge manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Perez manages to get to full guard.

Perez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sturridge can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sturridge looking to sit in guard and control but Perez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sturridge trying to keep a closed guard but Perez is proving a slippery customer.
Sturridge wants to sweep here but Perez controlling him for the moment.
Sturridge can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Perez controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sturridge manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Perez manages to get himself to full guard.

Perez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sturridge doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sturridge manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Isaiah Sturridge has got the better of the ground game so far.
Perez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sturridge with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sturridge trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sturridge is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Perez is trying to control the position but Sturridge postures up.
Sturridge postures up in Perez 's guard and throws a big left but Perez blocks it.
Sturridge stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Perez swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Perez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sturridge trying to control the position from guard on top but Perez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sturridge throws a big right hand that misses.

Sturridge drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sturridge jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Perez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sturridge trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Sturridge thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sturridge postures up in Perez 's guard and throws a big left but Perez blocks it.
Perez looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sturridge is working Perez over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Perez looking to control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sturridge's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Perez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Perez controls Sturridge momentarily but Sturridge frees himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Perez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sturridge can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Perez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Guillo Perez will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A jab from Sturridge does it's job there.
Perez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sturridge circles away.
Perez throws a poor cross that misses
letting Sturridge counter with a right hand.
Perez takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Perez shoots for a takedown but Sturridge saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Donk. Sturridge catches Perez right on the button with a cross.
Sturridge misses with a hook.
Sturridge leaves Perez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Guillo Perez . That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheers as Sturridge lands an impressive looking overhand right. Perez doesn't seem phased though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sturridge with a body punch. A glancing blow.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Perez .
Perez misses with a takedown attempt
and Sturridge counters with a stiff right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sturridge throws a hook to the side of Perez 's head but Perez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perez on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Sturridge throws out a leg kick but Perez moves out of range and Sturridge only half commits.
Some wild striking there from Perez .
Perez with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sturridge counters with a stiff right hand.
A nice leg kick from Sturridge, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sturridge lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Perez misses with a double jab
and Sturridge connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Perez slips a straight right by Sturridge.
Perez closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Sturridge lands a leg kick that knocks Perez off balance momentarily.
Sturridge keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sturridge dips to his left and cracks Perez with an uppercut!
Sturridge throws a nice looking combination but Perez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A good leg kick by Sturridge.
Perez fails with a takedown attempt.
Sturridge throws the left hand but Perez avoids the punch easily.
As Sturridge tries to get set, Perez tries to push him back and clinch up but Sturridge manages to avoid the attempt.
Nice body punch from Sturridge.

Perez throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Sturridge tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Perez is in Sturridge's guard.
Sturridge keeping full guard, as Perez tries to pass.
Perez trying to control the position from guard on top but Sturridge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sturridge has his hands on Perez 's head, controlling the position.
Sturridge controls Perez momentarily but Perez frees himself.
Sturridge utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sturridge looking to control.
Perez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Sturridge had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Perez defends it easily.
Sturridge wants to sweep here but Perez controlling him for the moment.
Perez postures up and lands a big shot to Sturridge's brow.
Perez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Perez won't allow Sturridge to sweep him here.
Perez trying to control but Sturridge is working from the bottom.
Sturridge wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sturridge has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Perez is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Sturridge.
Perez connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Sturridge some visible discomfort.

Perez wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sturridge, who protects the arm well.
Sturridge is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sturridge struggling a bit here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Isaiah Sturridge comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sturridge 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Isaiah Sturridge!
Our winner, Isaiah Sturridge, 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.