PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Baltic Herring (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Standan Strike (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Herring
vs
Strike

184 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
22
208 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Baltic Herring!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Standan Strike!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Saam Ante and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strike getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

It looks like Baltic Herring has been cut.
Herring takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Herring could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Herring moves into range and clinches up with Strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Strike has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Herring uses from the top position.
Herring thows a big elbow that misses.
Strike is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Herring controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Strike trying to control the position.
Herring trying to stand up but can't free himself from Strike's guard.

Herring got a little sloppy there for a moment and Strike has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Herring has managed to get both his arms back between Strike's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herring stopping the sweep attempt from Strike.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Strike stuffs the takedown.
Strike misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Herring is looking to clinch but Strike is avoiding it.
Herring tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Strike paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Herring takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Strike misses with a takedown

and Herring counters with a nice double leg into side control. Strike won't be happy with that.

Herring tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Strike is looking to regain half guard here but Herring keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Strike's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Strike tries to buck Herring off but Herring is having none of it.
Herring wants to control but Strike is keeping him busy.
Herring knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Strike on the ground.
Herring working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Herring wants to stand but Strike has his arm trapped.
Strike is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Herring's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Strike gets full guard.
Herring looking to sit in guard and control but Strike gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Herring lands a decent punch to the body there.
Strike trying to control the position from guard on top but Herring is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Herring looking to hit a scissor sweep but Strike is one step ahead there.
Herring is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Strike drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Herring dives on top into guard.
Strike looks gassed!
Strike wants to sweep here but Herring controlling him for the moment.
Herring wanted to stand there but Strike had control of the position.
Strike keeping full guard, as Herring tries to pass.
Strike trying to keep a closed guard but Herring is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Strike trying to strike off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Standan Strike dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Baltic Herring's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Herring shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Strike sprawls well. Strike wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Herring gets slowly back to his feet.
Herring walks into a stiff left hand from Strike.
Strike moves in looking to clinch but Herring pushes him off.

Herring shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Strike manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Herring won't allow Strike to sweep him here.
Strike keeping moving, preventing Herring from controlling successfully.
Strike throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Strike pushes Herring off and scrambles back to his feet.
Strike misses with a low kick as Herring jumps back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herring takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Standan Strike seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strike fails in his attempt to clinch.
Strike lands with a slapping head kick.
Strike is breathing heavily.
Nice takedown defense from Herring. No joy for Strike on that attempt.
Herring wants to clinch

and Strike counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Strike.
Strike changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Herring fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Standan Strike seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Herring takes one to the chin there.

Herring darts in and clinches Strike up against the cage.
Strike tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Herring just stands there and leans against the cage.
Baltic Herring has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Standan Strike.
Strike jumps guard but Herring stands there with Strike around his waist. Strike gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Herring manages to pull guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Herring wants to sweep but no luck.
Strike prevents Herring from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strike is pushing down on Herring's leg trying to pass to half guard. Herring is fighting to maintain full guard but Strike has managed to sneak the leg through.
Herring trying to hold on to Strike's head to control him but Strike postures up.
Herring tries to get to full guard but Strike has control of the leg.
Strike works his way into full mount!
Herring working to try and regain half guard.
Strike throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strike misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Herring might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Herring defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Strike.
Strike prevents Herring from getting the reversal.
Herring is working hard here to advance position.
Herring slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Strike prevents Herring from improving his position.
Strike is keen to just control but Herring is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Herring is trying to stand up here but Strike is controlling him well.
Strike tries to pass to full mount but Herring defends it.
Herring tries to roll over but Strike keeps him under control.
Strike wants to take a breather but Herring is having none of it.
Herring tries to get to full guard but Strike has control of the leg.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Herring scores a takedown into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Standan Strike showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Baltic Herring's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Herring tries to clinch but Strike moves out of range.
Strike tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Herring swivels and escapes.
Herring is looking to clinch but Strike is avoiding it.
Strike doesn't manage to clinch there - Herring circles away.

Herring clinches up against the cage.
Strike tries to pull guard but Herring holds him up against the cage and eventually Strike drops back down to his feet.
Strike tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Baltic Herring has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Standan Strike.
Herring can't break the clinch.
Herring will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Strike up against the cage.
Herring tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Strike just stands there and leans against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Herring looking to stall.
Strike takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Herring gets underhooks to prevent Strike's takedown attempt.
Herring is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Strike pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strike gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Herring.
Herring tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Strike avoids it.

Herring has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Strike is trying to keep an underhook but Herring manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Strike slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Strike looking for a sweep. Not yet Strike, not yet.
Herring looking to pass the guard.
Strike controls Herring momentarily but Herring frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herring postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Strike looking to control.
Herring tries to free his leg and advance position but Strike is retaining full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Strike.
The fight stays on the outside here - Herring looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Strike is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Herring throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Strike was covering up waiting for the punch and Herring finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Herring wants to stand but Strike has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Herring is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strike is trying to keep Herring in close.
Herring wants to get up but he can't break Strike's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Herring working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Strike is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Baltic Herring overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Strike is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Herring defends well.
Standan Strike is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Strike looking to control.
Herring has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Herring misses with a takedown attempt - Strike sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Herring tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Strike swivels and escapes.
Strike shoots in for a takedown but Herring shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Baltic Herring is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Herring tries to close the distance and clinch but Strike swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Herring throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Strike was covering up waiting for the punch and Herring finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Strike controls Herring momentarily but Herring frees himself.
Herring trying to control the position from guard on top but Strike is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Baltic Herring showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Strike has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Standan Strike!