PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ameqran Anto (ranked 2427 p4p, 1130 weight class) and Anton Strålman (ranked 250 p4p, 132 weight class). Strålman has chosen Three Kings as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Anto
vs
Strålman

178 cm
26
157
5 - 6 - 0

172 cm
34
148
26 - 21 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ameqran Anto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Anton Strålman!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Ackerman and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strålman paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Nice body kick from Strålman.
Anto looks for a takedown but Strålman sprawls well.
Strålman lands a nice leg kick that just misses Anto's sensitive parts.
Anto shoots for a takedown but Strålman saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Strålman lands a two punch combo.
A head kick misses from Strålman.
An inside leg kick lands from Strålman.
Strålman throws a quick inside leg kick.
Strålman connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Anto fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ameqran Anto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strålman takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Anto will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Anto shoots in and gets a takedown into Strålman's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anto trying to control but Strålman is working from the bottom.
Anto loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Anto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Anto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Anto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Strålman wants to stand up but Anto is controlling him.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Strålman holds on and takes a little breather.
Anto throws a strike but Strålman rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Anto looking for subs off his back but Strålman has passed one foot through into half guard.

Strålman decides to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strålman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Anto.
Strålman misses with a body kick.
Strålman takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Strålman attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Anto changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A combination from Anto does no damage.
Strålman's coach down at whitey's gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Strålman's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Strålman fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Strålman looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Anto takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nice uppercut there from Strålman.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Strålman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Strålman wants it to stay on the feet.
Strålman swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Anto.
Strålman scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Anto doesn't seem bothered though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strålman swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Anto counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Strålman!

Anto looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Strålman manages to work his way to half guard, despite Anto's best efforts.
Anto missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Anto throwing shots but Strålman is blocking nicely.
Strålman wants to improve his position but Anto is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Anto is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Strålman sees it coming and defends easily.
Anto trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Anto stops Strålman from getting back to his feet.
Anto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Strålman is trying to get back to full guard.
Anto working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Anto is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Strålman reverses the position - he's now on top in Anto's guard.

Anto looking for a guillotine here but Strålman defends easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Strålman decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Strålman dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Strålman tries to close the distance and clinch but Anto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Strålman looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ameqran Anto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Anto misses with a wild combination.
Strålman throws a series of punches but Anto moves out of range.
A combination from Anto does no damage.
Anto will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Anto looks to land a combination but Strålman avoids it well.
Strålman tries to clinch but Anto is having none of it.
Strålman connects with an inside leg kick.
Anto will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anto jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Strålman! But no joy.
Anto shoots in for a takedown but Strålman shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Anto swats away the attempt to clinch by Strålman.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Strålman clinches with his opponent.

Strålman breaks the clinch.
Anto misses with a double jab
and Strålman counters with a three punch combo that has Anto backing up. Anto nods at Strålman to acknowledge the strikes.
Anto misses with a takedown attempt - Strålman sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Strålman is looking to slow Anto down with leg kicks.
Anton Strålman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Anto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Strålman as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ameqran Anto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strålman throws a head kick but Anto moves out of range.
Anto is looking for a counter combo.
Strålman connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Anto changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Strålman tries to avoid it but Anto manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Strålman to the ground. Strålman escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Anto takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Strålman fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Anto throws a nice looking combination but Strålman bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Anto fails with a takedown attempt.
Strålman is looking for the big counter here.
Anto just misses with a punch to the body.
Strålman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Anto closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Strålman avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jab by Strålman.
Anto lands a two punch combo.

Strålman has taken the fight to the clinch.
Anto is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Strålman is defending well for now.
A shot in the inside from Strålman.
Anto is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Strålman to keep the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anto is looking to control Strålman's arms but Strålman gets an underhook and turns him. Now Anto has his back to the cage.
Nice body punch from Strålman - that landed with a thud.
Anto has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Strålman avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Strålman is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Strålman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Strålman throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Strålman has managed to clinch.

Strålman manages to break the clinch.
A low kick lands for Strålman.
Strålman scores with a crisp jab that stopped Anto in his tracks.
Anto falls off balance throwing a combination
and Strålman counters with a thumping low kick.
Anto cracks Strålman with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Sloppy strikes from Strålman. Those never looked like landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strålman misses with a few strikes there.
Strålman wants to clinch.
Anto misses with the combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Anto has a takedown stuffed.
Strålman lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Strålman tries to clinch but Anto moves out of range.
Anto attempts a counter takedown but Strålman avoids it well and moves away.

Strålman clinches.

Strålman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Anto throws a series of punches but Strålman moves out of range.
Strålman fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Strålman 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Anto shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Strålman sprawls well. Strålman wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Anto gets slowly back to his feet.
Strålman swinging wildly here.
Strålman throws a low kick but it's checked well by Anto.
Strålman moves out of range of the strikes.

Anto tries to keep at a distance but Strålman has taken the fight into the clinch.

Strålman manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strålman slips a jab and a cross from Anto.
A little jabbing left from Strålman on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Anto looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Strålman instigates a clinch.

Strålman breaks from the clinch.

Anto looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Strålman!

Strålman explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anto is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Strålman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Anto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
As Strålman looks to move away, Anto throws a big counter combo but Strålman just gets out of the way.
Anto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Strålman looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Anton Strålman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Strålman scores with a leg kick.
Strålman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Strålman as Anto shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ameqran Anto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strålman is looking to clinch.
Anto misses with a hook
and Strålman counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Strålman rushes Anto and presses him up against the cage.
Strålman has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Anto is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Anto is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Strålman to keep the fight standing.
With the fighters up against the cage, Strålman throws an elbow but misses.

Anto jumps into guard, dragging Strålman to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Strålman gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Strålman thuds a left hand into Anto's body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Strålman scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Anto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Strålman feints a counter leg kick.
Anto connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Strålman throws a right hand that Anto ducks under and follows up with a left that Anto also avoids with ease.
Anto went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Anto jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Strålman is looking to clinch.
Anto connects with a leg kick.

Strålman has Anto up against the cage in a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Strålman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strålman jabs Anto right on the nose. Anto blinks but takes it well.
Anto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ameqran Anto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strålman moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Anto jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Anto dives in and grabs Strålman's left leg, looking for a takedown. Strålman pushes down on Anto's head and hops out.
Anto misses with a takedown
and Strålman counters with a nice uppercut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Strålman lands a really nice looking cross but Anto seems unphased.

Strålman drives through and clinches with Anto against the cage.
Anto jumps guard but Strålman stands there with Anto around his waist. Anto gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Anto tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Strålman smiles and moves away.
Anto fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Strålman clinches up with Anto and pushes him back against the cage.
Anto wants a takedown.
Anton Strålman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A hook to the body from Strålman.
Strålman scores with an uppercut up the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Strålman manages to break the clinch.
Strålman tries to clinch there but Anto circles away.
Strålman throws a right and a left that Anto avoids nicely.
Anto shoots for a takedown but Strålman saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Anto misses with a takedown attempt - Strålman sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Strålman thumps Anto with a low kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anton Strålman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Strålman 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 William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anton Strålman!
After the fight, Anton Strålman was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.