PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kent Strait (ranked 4347 p4p, 4324 weight class) and Nowa Imbatakum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Strait
vs
Imbatakum

187 cm
25
194
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
24
190
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kent Strait!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nowa Imbatakum!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Trevor Gratis and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Imbatakum tries to clinch up but Strait circles away and keeps his distance.

Strait gets caught napping as Imbatakum dives in and scores a takedown. Strait manages to retain guard.
Imbatakum lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Imbatakum chips away with some ground and pound.

Strait has his foot on Imbatakum's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Imbatakum works his way back into a safe position though.
Imbatakum postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Strait has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Imbatakum can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Strait keeping moving, preventing Imbatakum from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Strait isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Imbatakum stacks Strait on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Imbatakum!
Strait is trying to control Imbatakum's posture but Imbatakum avoids it.
Imbatakum grinds an elbow into Strait's temple.
Strait is looking for a sweep.
Strait is trying to control Imbatakum's posture but Imbatakum avoids it.
Imbatakum tries to score with some ground and pound. Strait controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Imbatakum throws a strike aimed at the side of Strait's head but Strait avoids it well.
Strait tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Imbatakum wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Imbatakum wants to stand but Strait is controlling his arm.
Strait tries to bench press Imbatakum off him but Imbatakum keeps the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Imbatakum is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Check out the look on Imbatakum's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strait regains half guard.
Imbatakum is looking to stall here but Strait recovers full guard.
Imbatakum with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Strait is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Strait had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Imbatakum defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Imbatakum is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imbatakum wants to control from the top but Strait keeps moving.
Imbatakum is working Strait over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Strait keeping moving, preventing Imbatakum from controlling successfully.
Strait looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Strait might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Imbatakum stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Strait has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Imbatakum manages to get his head free but now Strait has transitioned to an armbar! Imbatakum grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Strait! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kent Strait!
During a confident post fight interview, Kent Strait thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.