PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gage R (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randolph Duke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Duke has chosen Pink Floyd - Money as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

R
vs
Duke

187 cm
23
195 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

182 cm
20
182 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gage R!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Randolph Duke!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Reed Andrews and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Duke tries to clinch but R is having none of it.
Gage R seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Duke shoots in for a double leg but R sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Duke.

R clinches.
Duke pushes off an throws an elbow but R leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
R misses with a body punch.
A short right from R.
R wants a takedown.
R stalling against the cage.
Duke tries for a takedown. No joy.
Gage R has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randolph Duke.
Duke drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
R misses with a body punch.
Duke tries to pull guard but R won't allow it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Duke just misses with a elbow thrown towards R's brow.
Duke is working for takedown but R is calmly controlling the position for now.
R avoiding damage as Duke throws knees to the body.
R gets underhooks to prevent Duke's takedown attempt.

Duke gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Duke has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of R is proving hard to escape from.

Duke drops back looking for a leg! R is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and R manages to kick Duke off! Duke jumps back into R's guard.
Duke looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
R trying to control the position.
R is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
R lands with a punch from half guard.
R works his way into full mount!
R pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
R controlling from the full mount.
R working Duke over with strikes here.
R controlling from mount.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
R thowing shots but they're missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
R lands a heavy elbow.
Duke is in a horrible position here. R smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Duke is in all sorts of trouble here.
R lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
R landing strikes from the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, R cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Duke is rocked!
R sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

R goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Duke is on top in guard.
Duke has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of R is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Duke wants to pass the guard but R is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gage R dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

R gets a takedown into half guard.
R stalling.
Gage R overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
R is nestled in close to Duke, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
R not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
R is controlling the pace.
R is trying to control. Duke wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
R working the head and body with strikes.
R is looking to stall here but Duke recovers full guard.

Duke escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. R gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
R with a flurry of punches that miss.
R throwing strikes but missing.
R is looking to work some ground and pound but Duke has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
R throws a strike but Duke rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Duke is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! R is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! R has escaped and now he's on top!
R chips away with some ground and pound.
R looking to sit in guard and control but Duke gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Duke preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Duke decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on R, up you get!
Duke wants to clinch

and R counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
R is taking a breather. Duke says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
R thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Duke's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. R lands a nice short elbow.
R throwing shots but Duke is blocking nicely.
Duke tries to kick R off but R keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gage R dominated that second round.
That's time! R's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

R jabbing away but nothing is landing.
R thows a body shot but no joy.
R throws a looping overhand right but Duke ducks down to avoid it.
R just misses with a punch to the body.

R moves into range and clinches up with Duke.
Duke misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from R.
Duke tries to pull guard but R holds him up against the cage and eventually Duke drops back down to his feet.
R tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duke has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. R avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
R stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Duke tries to score a body lock takedown but R shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Gage R has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randolph Duke.
R lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Duke.
R lands with a short shot to the head.
Duke stops a takedown attempt from R.
R lands with a light punch inside.
R slows down the pace here.
Duke takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Duke jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as R walks away with a smile on his face. Duke gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
R waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Duke.
R lands a jab-cross combination.

R looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Duke!
R trying to control but Duke is having none of it.
R landing punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

R jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Duke is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Duke and R has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Duke dodges the ground and pound from R.
R wants to lay and pray for a moment but Duke keeps working.

R looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
R working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
R working the ground and pound from side control.

R is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Duke knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Duke is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked R off and has taken his back!

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 finish the fight by rear naked choke. R knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften R for a finish.

Duke is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but R has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Duke is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but R has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Duke not allowing R to control his hands.

Duke looking for the choke from the back.

Duke looking for the RNC.
R trying to control the hands but Duke breaks the grip.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gage R clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

R stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
R tries to close the distance and clinch but Duke swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
R misses the jab.
Duke tries to close the distance and clinch but R swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Duke tries to move into range but R moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Duke uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by R.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Duke shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. R manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Duke would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
R bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Duke's guard.
Duke is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as R accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
R thows a big elbow that misses.
R lands a couple of digs.
R has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
R works over Duke with some ground and pound from guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as R accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Duke throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Duke is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and R defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
R connects with a couple of short punches.
R missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Duke preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
R wants to control from the top but Duke keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Duke had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. R defends it easily.
R postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
R sitting in guard here, content to control.
Duke keeping moving, preventing R from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
R dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

R has closed the distance and engaged Duke in a clinch.
Duke prevents a takedown attempt there.
Duke has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. R is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
R jumps guard but Duke stands there with R around his waist. R gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A short uppercut from R.
Duke is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
R stops a takedown attempt from Duke.
Gage R has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randolph Duke.
R gets underhooks to prevent Duke's takedown attempt.
R is leaning against Duke and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
R lands with a left to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gage R had his way with Randolph Duke in that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by R.
Duke regains half guard there - taking advantage of R's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

R is trying to work for a kimura but Duke is defending well.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
R is trying to control. Duke wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
R stalling away here and it's allowed Duke to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
R working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Duke's head.
R throws a strike but Duke rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
R looking for a sweep. Not yet R, not yet.
Duke passes into half guard.

Duke seems to be working for a kimura but R defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duke moves into full mount! R won't be happy about that!
R is looking to improve his position but Duke isn't that keen on the idea.
Duke avoids the attempt from R to control.

Duke is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. R can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Duke has control of R's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and R regains control of the situation pretty easily.
R can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
R is working hard here to advance position.

Duke has control of R's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and R regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Duke goes for an armbar but R turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from R.
R trying to control but Duke is working from the bottom.
Randolph Duke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gage R is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Duke has momentary wrist control but R slips an elbow through the middle.
R is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
R passes Duke's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gage R showed his dominance in that final round.
Well R has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 50:45
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 50:45
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gage R!
Gage R retains his middleweight title!