PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mark Striegl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cabek Nerek (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.

Striegl
vs
Nerek

173 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Striegl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Cabek Nerek!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Chris Edwards and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nerek shoots for a double leg takedown but Striegl sprawls well. He's pushed Nerek's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nerek shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Striegl decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nerek's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Nerek looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Striegl has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Nerek looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Nerek working for a triangle but Striegl defends it easily.
Nerek keeping moving, preventing Striegl from controlling successfully.

Nerek working for a triangle but Striegl defends it easily.
Striegl tries to free his leg and advance position but Nerek is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Striegl wants to control from the top but Nerek keeps moving.

We're going to have a standup here because Mark Striegl wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Horrible takedown by Striegl or perhaps it was just good defense by Nerek which made him look bad.
Nerek shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Striegl pinned against the cage. Striegl gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mark Striegl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cabek Nerek.
Striegl shoots for a takedown but Nerek saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Nerek fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Striegl to the ground. Nerek is now in Striegl's guard.
Striegl wants to sweep but no luck.
Striegl keeping full guard, as Nerek tries to pass.
Nerek wants to stand and escape but instead Striegl has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Nerek looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nerek looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Nerek escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Striegl gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Striegl knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nerek on the ground.
Striegl loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nerek wants to sweep but no luck.
Striegl is looking to work some ground and pound but Nerek has wrist control.

Nerek had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Striegl defends it easily.
Striegl passes Nerek's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Striegl trying to pass the guard but Nerek defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nerek looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nerek is looking to improve his position.
Nerek is refusing to be controlled, as Striegl sits in half guard.

Nerek looking for submissions off his back.

Nerek looking for submissions off his back.
Nerek is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Nerek is trying to stand back up but Striegl is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Striegl trying to control the action but Nerek is working from the bottom.
Striegl wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Striegl not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Striegl wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nerek keeps working.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Mark Striegl has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nerek fails with a takedown attempt.

Nerek gets a double leg takedown into Striegl's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nerek dives in and grabs Striegl's left leg, looking for a takedown. Striegl pushes down on Nerek's head and hops out.

Striegl pushes Nerek up against the cage in a clinch.
Nerek wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Striegl lands a hook that snaps the head of Nerek backwards.
Striegl is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nerek pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Nerek is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Striegl jumps into guard, dragging Nerek to the mat.
Nerek pushing down on Striegl's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Nerek stands up and beckons Striegl to join him on the feet.
Nerek shoots in for a takedown but Striegl shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Striegl throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Nerek darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Nerek is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Striegl has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Striegl flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Cabek Nerek has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Nerek is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Nerek is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Striegl has managed to free his arm - good work.

Striegl is defending against the submission attempts here by Nerek.

Nerek is working for a kimura but Striegl is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Striegl trying to control but Nerek postures up.

Nerek is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Striegl doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nerek.
Striegl gets full guard.
Striegl keeping full guard, as Nerek tries to pass.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nerek gets to his feet - Striegl follows without any prompting.
Nerek looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Striegl is fending him off so far but Nerek persists. Nope, Striegl circles away and we're back to standing.
Mark Striegl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cabek Nerek.

Striegl shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Striegl was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Striegl has hold of Nerek's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Nerek manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Striegl can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nerek is looking to escape.
Nerek is working to get back to half guard.
Nerek is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nerek is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Striegl landing strikes, looking to finish!

Striegl is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Nerek has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Nerek bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
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!
Striegl trying to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nerek sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Striegl's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cabek Nerek 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! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nerek defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Striegl.
Nerek shoots in but no luck this time.

Striegl shoots in and gets a takedown into Nerek's guard.
Nerek has a closed guard, preventing Striegl from standing up.

Striegl avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Striegl avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Striegl wants to control from the top but Nerek keeps moving.

Nerek is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Striegl is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Striegl trying to control the position from guard on top but Nerek is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Striegl working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Striegl postures up in Nerek's guard and throws a big left but Nerek blocks it.

Nerek is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Nerek looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Nerek throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Nerek is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nerek keeping full guard, as Striegl tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nerek looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Striegl works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nerek is staying active underneath Striegl, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nerek keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Striegl throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Nerek looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nerek tries to roll over but Striegl keeps him under control.

Nerek looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nerek looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Nerek actively working from the bottom here.
Nerek is trying to stand.

Nerek looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nerek looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Nerek looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nerek looking for submissions off his back.
Striegl working Nerek over with strikes.

Striegl stands up and beckons Nerek to join him on the feet.
Nerek fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Striegl tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nerek paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Striegl is defended easily by Nerek.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nerek shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Striegl but Striegl pushes him off and we're back to square one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cabek Nerek comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nerek 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight for Cabek Nerek!
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight for Cabek Nerek!
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight for Cabek Nerek!

Cabek Nerek wins by unanimous decision!