PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Randolph Duke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Taker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Duke comes to the cage accompanied by Pink Floyd - Money. Randolph Duke has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Duke
vs
Taker

182 cm
19
182 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

189 cm
21
187 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp
PWNAGE $17.50 Clothing & BOTC TUF show

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Randolph Duke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jim Taker!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, John Kavanagh and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taker throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Duke moves out of range of the body kick.
Duke avoids the head kick by Taker.
Taker defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Duke.
Taker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Duke checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Taker throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Taker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Duke.
Taker throws a body punch but Duke moves out of range.
Jim Taker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taker throws a leg kick but Duke moved away.
Duke closes this distance looking for a takedown but Taker circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duke shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Taker pinned against the cage. Taker gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randolph Duke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taker looks to score with a jab to the body but Duke is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duke fails to land the takedown.
Taker misses with a double jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Taker misses the target.
Taker throws a low kick but Duke avoids it.
Duke ducks under a wild hook from Taker.
A jab from Taker misses.
Taker lands a nice shot that snaps Duke's head back.
Duke fails with the takedown.
Taker scoring well with a low kick there.
Taker throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Duke sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Taker has Duke up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duke tries for a takedown but Taker manages to get underhooks.
Taker tries a knee to the head but Duke blocks it.
Duke throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Duke letting Taker take a breather here.

Taker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Duke moves away.
Taker misses with a few strikes there.
Taker throws a right and a left that Duke avoids nicely.
Taker looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Taker misses with an attempted mid kick.

Duke drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Duke won't allow Taker to get back to his feet.
Duke wants to control from the top but Taker keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Duke stands up from Taker's guard - Duke perhaps looking for a knockout.
Nice sprawl there from Taker as Duke shoots in.
Duke shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Taker sprawls well. Taker wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Duke gets slowly back to his feet.
Taker scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Duke misses with a two punch combination.
Taker circles away from the clinch attempt.

Duke shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taker is looking for a sweep. Duke is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Duke is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Duke is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Taker defends it well.

Duke is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Taker is looking to improve his position.
Nice strikes from Duke there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Taker dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A solid leg kick lands there for Taker.
Duke blocks a head kick by Taker.
Taker is looking to chop away at Duke's legs.
Taker misses with a takedown

and Duke counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Duke is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Taker has managed to free his arm - good work.
Taker tries to get to full guard but Duke has control of the leg.
Duke tries to pass to full mount but Taker defends it.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Duke decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Randolph Duke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Duke looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Taker is fending him off so far but Duke persists. Nope, Taker circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Taker, right into the meat.
Duke tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Taker swivels and escapes.
Duke checks the leg kick.
Duke fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Taker avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randolph Duke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taker throws a nice head kick!
Duke swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Taker throws a nice looking combination but Duke bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Duke with a lazy takedown attempt
and Taker counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Taker connects with a solid leg kick.
Duke shoots in for a double leg but Taker sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taker thows a leg kick but Duke checks it

and Duke counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taker tries to get to full guard but Duke has control of the leg.
Taker trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Duke manages to pass to mount!
Taker is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Duke looking to finish Taker with some ground and pound. This is bad for Taker!
Duke trying to control but Taker is having none of it.

Duke is standing up, even though he is in mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taker fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The fight stays on the outside here - Duke looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taker tries to clinch there but Duke circles away.
Taker thows a leg kick but Duke checks it

and Duke counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Taker slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Duke is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Duke trying to control but Taker is working from the bottom.
Randolph Duke overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Duke gets to his feet - Taker follows without any prompting.
Taker tries to score with a low kick but Duke moves his leg out of the way.
Taker tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Duke counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taker looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Duke has picked Taker up and slammed him! Taker can't keep hold of the triangle and Duke manages to pass to side control!
Duke is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Duke is trying to get an arm triangle but Taker is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Duke lands some shots froms side control.

Duke is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Taker has escaped the position, nice work there.
Taker tries to escape but Duke is in control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taker tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Duke wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randolph Duke dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Duke fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Taker avoids it really well and circles away.
Duke shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Taker pinned against the cage. Taker gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Duke shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Taker napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Taker is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Taker manages to work his way to half guard, despite Duke's best efforts.
Duke lands with a punch from half guard.
Duke passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Taker!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Duke is standing up, even though he is in mount.
A head kick misses from Duke.

Duke looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Taker!
Taker is in a horrible position here. Duke smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Duke looking to control but Taker is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Taker tries to lock up and control but Duke gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Taker is looking to get to half guard.
Duke lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duke controlling from mount.
Duke trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Duke avoids the attempt from Taker to control.

Duke wants to finish this one by submission but Taker is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Duke.
Taker is in all sorts of trouble here.

Duke jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Taker manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Duke tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Duke has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taker tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Duke wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Taker manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Well, if Taker is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Duke is defending against the submission attempts here by Taker.

Taker is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Duke is just riding it out for now. Taker eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Duke is looking to improve his position.
Taker not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randolph Duke showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Duke has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randolph Duke!