PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Medieval Mercenary (ranked 1527 p4p, 1005 weight class) and Wilhelm Strauss (ranked 209 p4p, 142 weight class). Strauss is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Root Of All Evil. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mercenary
vs
Strauss

185 cm
29
165
5 - 2 - 0

174 cm
40
181
29 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING
Grunge Nutrition

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Medieval Mercenary!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 11 - 1, fighting out of London, Wilhelm Strauss!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercenary misses with a wild body shot.
Nice defenses there by Mercenary.
Strauss chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Mercenary is looking to clinch but Strauss is avoiding it.
Strauss thinks about the counter body kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Mercenary. Strauss shrugs it off though.
Mercenary tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Strauss manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Strauss appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Mercenary takes a swing at Strauss's ribcage but misses.
Mercenary takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Mercenary uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Strauss.

Mercenary gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Mercenary fails to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strauss doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Strauss is pushing Mercenary up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Mercenary blocks a body shot from Strauss.

Strauss escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mercenary misses with a double jab.
A little jabbing left from Strauss on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercenary swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Strauss counters with a left to the body.
Mercenary moves forwards but Strauss connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Mercenary tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Strauss manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mercenary misses with a series of wild punches.
Strauss throws a nice inside leg kick.
A shot to the body from Strauss misses
and Mercenary counters with a left to the body.
Strauss slips under a jab.
It seemed like Strauss was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Mercenary swings widly with a right hand
and Strauss counters with an inside leg kick.
Mercenary misses with a looping right.
Strauss takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Strauss throws a wild body kick that Mercenary sees coming a mile off.
Mercenary is looking to land body kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercenary looks to clinch
and Strauss counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mercenary looks to clinch
enabling Strauss to counter with a crisp jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mercenary tries to clinch but Strauss moves away
and Strauss counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've been informed that Strauss has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Strauss throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mercenary takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Strauss on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Strauss will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Mercenary throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Strauss connects with a jab.
Mercenary connects with a crisp jab.
Strauss keeps the fight on the outside.
Strauss buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Mercenary misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Strauss.
Strauss throws a sloppy head kick and Mercenary moves out of range easily.
Nice defenses there by Mercenary.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strauss missing with a left hand there. Mercenary was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
An attempted straight right counter from Mercenary misses the target.
Mercenary rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Strauss counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mercenary thuds his right hand into Strauss's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Strauss uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mercenary has time to react.
Medieval Mercenary seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mercenary misses with a body kick.
Mercenary thows a left - swing and a miss!
A head kick by Mercenary misses
and Strauss counters with a good low kick that Mercenary was not able to check.
Mercenary throws a poor cross that misses
and Strauss counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Strauss misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mercenary scores with a head kick. Strauss tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Mercenary wants to clinch.
Strauss is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Mercenary plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mercenary gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mercenary looking to throw knees to the head but Strauss is blocking nicely.
A hook to the body from Strauss.

Strauss's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jab, jab by Mercenary - just one landing.
Mercenary throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Strauss tries a quick counter leg kick but Mercenary is wise to it.
Strauss throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Mercenary throws a hook but Strauss avoids it easily.
Mercenary thows a left - swing and a miss!
A big left from Strauss misses.
Strauss pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Mercenary back to the cage. Strauss follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Mercenary moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mercenary closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wilhelm Strauss dominated that round.
That's time! Mercenary's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mercenary tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Strauss lands a jab to Mercenary's midsection.
Strauss closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Mercenary goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Strauss ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mercenary moves away.
Mercenary moves to clinch but Strauss breaks away
and Mercenary takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A left lands for Strauss.
Mercenary throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Strauss counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mercenary checks the leg kick nicely there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strauss lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Mercenary has managed to clinch.
Strauss blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mercenary working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mercenary lands a hook to the side of the head.
A body shot lands from Strauss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strauss managing to block the knees to the body from Mercenary.
Strauss has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mercenary misses with a punch to the body.
Strauss stalling against the cage.
Strauss takes a shot to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mercenary as Strauss tries to tie him up.
Strauss lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mercenary backwards.
Mercenary lands a shoulder strike.
Our sources have told us that Mercenary has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Mercenary swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short body shot lands from Strauss as the two fighters clinch.
Mercenary lands a nice uppercut.
Mercenary throws a knee to the head but misses.

Strauss escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Strauss lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Mercenary at a distance.
A nice inside leg kick there by Strauss. That's going to slow Mercenary down.
Mercenary misses with the combination.
Despite the aggression on Strauss's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strauss blocks a head kick by Mercenary.
Mercenary scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Wilhelm Strauss has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Strauss throws a head kick but Mercenary moves out of range.
Strauss circles away from the clinch attempt
and Mercenary takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Strauss lands with a nice body punch.
Mercenary scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Mercenary fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Strauss is out of range.
Strauss throws a body kick that misses.
Mercenary takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Mercenary looks to clinch
and Strauss makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Mercenary really felt that one!
Strauss takes a swing at Mercenary's ribcage but misses.
Mercenary is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercenary throws a lazy right hand but Strauss sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mercenary loads up on a big right hand but Strauss slips the punch.
Mercenary is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A slapping body kick lands there for Strauss.
Mercenary misses with a right hand
and Strauss counters with a nice uppercut.
Mercenary connects with a single shot there.
Mercenary rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Strauss counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Mercenary is rocked!
A nice combination there by Mercenary.
Jab by Strauss.
Oh Mercenary is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mercenary lands a nice looking body kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Strauss swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercenary throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Mercenary seems to have got his legs back now.

Mercenary pushes Strauss up against the cage in a clinch.
Mercenary digs a right hand into Strauss's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Strauss's gas tank.
Mercenary throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Strauss goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mercenary is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Strauss is defending well for now.
Mercenary throws a punch but it's blocked by Strauss.

Strauss breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Strauss with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Mercenary tries to clinch up
and Strauss counters with a stiff right hand.
Strauss throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Sloppy strikes from Strauss. Those never looked like landing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Wilhelm Strauss will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Wilhelm Strauss'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!

Mercenary throws a combination that misses
and Strauss counters with a low kick, right behind Mercenary 's knee.
Mercenary looks for the body kick but Strauss saw that one coming.
Mercenary tries a head kick but it misses.
Jab, jab by Mercenary - just one landing.
Strauss lands with a right hand.
Mercenary takes a swing at Strauss's ribcage but misses.
Strauss lands with a nice combination. Mercenary backs away looking to recover.
Mercenary fails with an attempt to clinch.
Good exchange - Mercenary coming out on top.
Mercenary throws an off balance right hand
and Strauss counters with a straight right hand.
Mercenary looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Strauss throws a front kick aimed at Mercenary's knee but Mercenary avoids it well.
Strauss connects with a body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Strauss slips under a jab from Mercenary.
A cross from Strauss lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercenary fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mercenary tries to clinch but Strauss is having none of it.
Nice defenses there by Strauss.
Strauss unleashes a big counter combination but Mercenary bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Mercenary keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Strauss lands the left hand.
Mercenary wants to clinch but Strauss slips to the side
and Strauss counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Mercenary has Strauss up against the cage in a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Strauss.
Strauss avoiding damage as Mercenary throws knees to the body.
A hook to the body from Mercenary.

Strauss's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mercenary rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Strauss moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Strauss unleashes a big counter combination but Mercenary bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Mercenary misses with the body kick
and Mercenary takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
No joy there for Strauss, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercenary tries to clinch but Strauss moves out of range.
Mercenary lands with a good body shot.
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!
Mercenary lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Strauss throws a head kick but Mercenary moves out of range.
Mercenary tries to clinch
and Strauss finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Mercenary closes the distance looking to clinch
and Strauss counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Wilhelm Strauss is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mercenary ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Strauss moves away.
Strauss connects with a single shot there.
Strauss dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Mercenary. That did some damage!
Mercenary tries to clinch up but Strauss circles away and keeps his distance.
Strauss bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercenary throws a body shot but no joy.
Strauss avoids the body shot from Mercenary.
Mercenary moves away from the strike by Strauss.
Strauss dodges the punch combination from Mercenary.
Medieval Mercenary has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mercenary throws a head kick that misses
and Strauss makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Mercenary gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mercenary misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mercenary tries to throw a body punch but Strauss avoids it by throwing Mercenary back against the cage.
Strauss tries to stall but Mercenary uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Mercenary misses with a short punch on the inside.
Strauss blocks an uppercut.
Mercenary tries a body shot but Strauss blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercenary doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mercenary throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mercenary misses with a knee strike.
Mercenary lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mercenary lands a knee to the head.
Strauss prevents a body shot from Mercenary.
Mercenary fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mercenary tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Medieval Mercenary has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Mercenary misses with a punch on the inside.
Mercenary misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mercenary using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Strauss has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Strauss lands a body punch in the clinch.
Mercenary throws a head punch that misses.
Mercenary throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Strausss head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Wilhelm Strauss.
I've got Strauss winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Wilhelm Strauss!
After winning the bout, Wilhelm Strauss thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.