PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bernie Strong (ranked 24073 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kovacs Istvan (ranked 4656 p4p, 213 weight class). The key to victory for Bernie Strong has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Strong
vs
Istvan

164 cm
25
140 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

176 cm
20
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bernie Strong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kovacs Istvan!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Dillan Fox and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strong jabs Istvan right on the nose. Istvan blinks but takes it well.

Istvan rushes Strong and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Strong jumps into guard, dragging Istvan to the mat.
Strong might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Strong throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Strong keeping moving, preventing Istvan from controlling successfully.
Strong working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Istvan.
Istvan is stalling in the full guard.
Istvan throws an elbow that misses. Strong uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Istvan's guard. Nice move by Strong!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strong looking to sit in guard and control but Istvan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Istvan got a little sloppy there for a moment and Strong has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Istvan has managed to get both his arms back between Strong's legs - danger averted.
Istvan lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Istvan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Strong has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Istvan has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Istvan has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Strong regains guard immediately.

Strong working for a triangle but Istvan defends it easily.
Istvan throws a strike but Strong rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Strong showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Istvan is trying to control the position but Strong postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Istvan trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Strong wants to control from the top but Istvan keeps moving.

Istvan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Strong throws a big elbow that misses.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Istvan can do anything to dispel that myth.
Strong with a flurry of punches that miss.

Istvan has an active guard here but Strong has managed to pass into half guard.
Istvan is not content to let Strong control the position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Istvan trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strong is trying to control the action in half guard but Istvan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strong tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Istvan.
Strong is controlling the pace.
Istvan punching from the bottom.
Istvan trying to control but Strong postures up.
Istvan wants to get back to full guard.
Istvan works his way to full guard. Good work.

Strong got a little sloppy there for a moment and Istvan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Strong has managed to get both his arms back between Istvan's legs - danger averted.
Istvan doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Istvan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Istvan looking to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Strong closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Strong lands in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Istvan keeping moving, preventing Strong from controlling successfully.
Strong slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Strong wants to control from the top but Istvan keeps moving.
Istvan wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Istvan keeps trying to improve his position.
Istvan keeping moving, preventing Strong from controlling successfully.
Strong won't allow Istvan to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernie Strong dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Istvan manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Strong on his heels. He'll look to pass Strong's guard now, I'm sure.

Strong wriggles free and stands up.

Strong changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Istvan looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Istvan tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Istvan tries to lock up and control but Strong gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Strong wants to control the pace but Istvan is squirming around nicely.
Istvan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Strong avoids the attempt from Istvan to control.
Strong can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Istvan is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Strong is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Istvan tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Strong counters with a good, hard body kick but Istvan shrugs it off.

Strong drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Strong is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Istvan can do to turn this around?
Strong is working Istvan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Istvan looking to control.
Istvan throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Istvan throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strong wants to control from the top but Istvan keeps moving.
Strong won't allow Istvan to sweep him here.
Strong trying to control the position from guard on top but Istvan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Strong throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Strong wants to control from the top but Istvan keeps moving.
Istvan 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.
Bernie Strong overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Strong sitting in guard here, content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Strong changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Istvan looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Strong controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Strong decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Istvan shoots for a double leg takedown but Strong sprawls well. He's pushed Istvan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Strong leaves Istvan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Strong looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Istvan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Istvan 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.

Strong decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Istvan closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Strong did well to prevent Istvan getting side control.
Istvan with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Strong flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Istvan is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Strong doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Istvan.
Istvan looks to land a strike but Strong avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernie Strong dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Strong dives in and scores a takedown into Istvan's guard.
Strong trying to control but Istvan is working from the bottom.
Strong makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Istvan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Istvan is still trying to improve position.
Istvan keeping moving, preventing Strong from controlling successfully.
Strong is really struggling to control Istvan but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Istvan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Strong is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Istvan trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Istvan throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Strong got a little sloppy there for a moment and Istvan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Strong has managed to get both his arms back between Istvan's legs - danger averted.
Strong trying to control but Istvan is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Strong seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kovacs Istvan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Istvan scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Strong sneaks out the side door and pushes Istvan away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Strong closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Istvan to the mat! Istvan manages to get full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Istvan will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Istvan 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.
Strong postures up.
Strong wants to control from the top but Istvan keeps moving.
Istvan looking to control.
Istvan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Strong is one step ahead there.
Strong trying to control but Istvan is working from the bottom.
Strong is working Istvan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Strong trying to control but Istvan is working from the bottom.

Strong stands up from Istvan's guard - Strong perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Istvan drives through with a takedown into guard.

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

Istvan is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Strong is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Strong has escaped and now he's on top!

Istvan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Istvan being controlled here, momentarily.
Strong wants to control from the top but Istvan keeps moving.
Istvan trying to keep a closed guard but Strong is proving a slippery customer.
Kovacs Istvan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Strong accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Strong trying to control but Istvan is working from the bottom.
Istvan lands an upkick as Strong stands over him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Strong avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bernie Strong is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Istvan has his foot on Strong's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Strong works his way back into a safe position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bernie Strong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Strong, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bernie Strong!