PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cloud Strife (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ouriel Semiazas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Strife kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is One Winged Angel by The Black Mages. 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.

Strife
vs
Semiazas

201 cm
28
289 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

199 cm
22
275 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
World class boxer
Granite chin

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Cloud Strife!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Ouriel Semiazas!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Andrew Berry and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Semiazas looks to throw the jab but Strife is out of range.
Donk. Strife catches Semiazas right on the button with a cross.
Strife's corner calls for a 1-2. Strife obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Strife drives through with a takedown into guard.
Strife tries to free his leg and advance position but Semiazas is retaining full guard.
Strife in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Semiazas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Strife looking to pass the guard.
Semiazas looking for a sweep. Not yet Semiazas, not yet.
Strife throws and elbow that misses. Semiazas uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Strife's guard. Nice move by Semiazas!
Semiazas working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Semiazas slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Semiazas scores with a couple of short elbows.
Semiazas trying to control the position but Strife is working away.
Strife is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strife gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Semiazas throwing shots but Strife is blocking nicely.
Semiazas wants to take a breather but Strife is having none of it.
Strife on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Strife is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Semiazas's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Semiazas's back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strife lands shots from the back.
Semiazas trying to control the position but Strife manages to sink in the hooks.

Strife looking for the RNC.
Strife is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Semiazas. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Strife has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Semiazas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Strife is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Semiazas has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Semiazas trying to control the hands but Strife won't let him.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Semiazas defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Semiazas trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Semiazas is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Strife off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Semiazas covering up well under a barage of strikes.

Strife has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Strife scores with punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Semiazas manages to reverse the position and now he's in Strife's guard. Nice work there by Semiazas.
Semiazas is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Strife keeping moving, preventing Semiazas from controlling successfully.
Semiazas is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Strife looking for subs off his back but Semiazas has passed one foot through into half guard.
Strife tries to roll over but Semiazas keeps him under control.
Semiazas is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Semiazas looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Semiazas throwing shots but Strife is blocking nicely.
Strife is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Semiazas's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Semiazas's back!
Strife is trying to stick to Semiazas's back but Semiazas is turning into Strife. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Strife's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Semiazas.
Semiazas is looking to work some ground and pound but Strife has wrist control.
Semiazas trying to control the position from guard on top but Strife is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Semiazas stopping the sweep attempt from Strife.

Strife is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Semiazas is aware though and is defending well.
Strife is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Semiazas is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
It looks like Semiazas might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cloud Strife dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Semiazas throws a solid leg kick but Strife takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Semiazas.
Semiazas misses with a hook

and Strife counters with a nice double leg into side control. Semiazas won't be happy with that.
Cloud Strife overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Strife tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Strife has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Semiazas regains half guard.

Strife is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Semiazas trying to control from the bottom.
Semiazas preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Strife thows a huge punch but Semiazas dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Semiazas won't allow Strife to pass to mount.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Semiazas is trying to control but can't.
Strife working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Semiazas's thigh. Semiazas counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Strife passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Strife has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Semiazas is trying to control but can't.
Semiazas won't allow Strife to pass to mount.
Semiazas slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Semiazas is adopting a defensive guard.
Strife looking to pass the guard.

That's two 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.
Strife missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Strife sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Semiazas's guard.
Semiazas manages to get to full guard.

Semiazas is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Semiazas breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Semiazas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Strife ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Semiazas throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Strife makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Cloud Strife seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strife throws an off balance right hand
and Semiazas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Strife scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Semiazas throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Semiazas throws the left hand but Strife avoids the punch easily.
Strife misses with a hook
and Semiazas counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Strife throws a lazy uppercut
and Semiazas counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Strife moves out of range as Semiazas throws a body kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Strife misses the target.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Strife crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Semiazas - the referee stops the clock and Strife gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Semiazas. Strife manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Semiazas throws out a loose jab but Strife uses good head movement to avoid it.
Semiazas displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Strife throws out the jab.
Strife misses with a straight left.
Semiazas lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Strife tries to clinch up
and Semiazas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Semiazas shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Strife on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Semiazas wants to take a breather but Strife is having none of it.
Semiazas prevents Strife from improving his position.
Semiazas scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Still in half guard, Semiazas seems content to control.
Semiazas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Strife keeps working.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Ouriel Semiazas has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Strife's jab looks to have found its range, popping Semiazas under the eye.
Semiazas with a jab.
Strife lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Semiazas at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ouriel Semiazas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Semiazas moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Semiazas tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Strife swivels and escapes.
Semiazas misses with a jab to the body
and Strife counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Jab from Strife.
Strife fails in his attempt to clinch.
Strife with a nice cross.
Semiazas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Semiazas has closed the distance and engaged Strife in a clinch.

Semiazas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Semiazas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Strife.
Strife has a takedown stuffed.
Semiazas shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Strife as he avoids it easily.
Semiazas throws a leg kick but Strife checks it.
Semiazas lands a leg kick that knocks Strife off balance momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Strife with a poor takedown
and Semiazas counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Semiazas closes the distance and clinches up with Strife, looking for a takedown. Semiazas pushes Strife against the cage but Strife circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cloud Strife has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ouriel Semiazas.
Semiazas looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Semiazas misses with a wild body shot.
Strife tries to clinch up

and Semiazas decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Strife's guard.
Strife wants to hit a switch here but Semiazas passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Strife there!
Semiazas is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Strife can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Semiazas looking to control but Strife is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Semiazas is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Strife can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Semiazas tries to control but Strife wriggling away.
Strife bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Semiazas is looking to stand up but Strife isn't so interested in that idea.
Strife looking to pass the guard.
Strife prevents Semiazas from getting back to his feet.
Strife wants to pass the guard but Semiazas is keeping the position.
Strife preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strife tries to free his leg and advance position but Semiazas is retaining full guard.
Strife with a flurry of punches that miss.

Strife drops back, looking for a kneebar! Semiazas looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Semiazas looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Semiazas!
Semiazas grinds an elbow into Strife's temple.
Semiazas lands a few punches from side control.
Strife is not content to let Semiazas control the position.
Strife tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Semiazas wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Semiazas lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Semiazas is putting a hurting on Strife here, landing some big shots from side control.
Strife tries to buck Semiazas off but Semiazas is having none of it.
Semiazas lands a decent elbow from side control.
Semiazas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Strife keeps working.

Semiazas decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Strife wants to slow Semiazas down by chopping away at his legs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Semiazas throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Strife swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Semiazas pulls out of a head kick attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ouriel Semiazas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Semiazas 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ouriel Semiazas!