PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sebaastian Struve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabilondo Soler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Struve
vs
Soler

179 cm
23
183 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

170 cm
28
176 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

BALCO MMA ELITE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sebaastian Struve!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gabilondo Soler!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soler throws a combination that misses
and Struve connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Soler throws a hook but Struve blocks it.
Struve tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Soler paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sebaastian Struve seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Struve throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A good leg kick by Struve.
Struve throws a head kick that misses.
Soler misses with a hook. Struve ducked under it nicely.
Soler connects with a nice looking jab.
Struve connects with an inside leg kick.
Struve on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Soler smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Struve throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Struve wants to clinch
and Soler counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struve lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Soler jabs Struve to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Soler thows a body shot but no joy.
A clash of legs there as Soler blocks the low kick.
Struve misses with a low kick.
Struve shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Struve tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Soler is able to avoid easily.
Struve throws a sloppy head kick
enabling Soler to counter with a crisp jab.
Soler connects with a looping right hand.
Struve fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Soler is out of range.
Struve misses with a low kick.
Struve tries to land a front kick but Soler steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Soler misses.
Struve fails with the takedown
and Soler counters with a straight right hand.
Struve is looking to slow Soler down with leg kicks.
Struve wants to clinch.
Struve shoots and misses
and Soler counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Struve blocks a jab.
Struve falls off balance throwing a combination
and Soler counters with a nice uppercut.
Struve fails with the takedown

and Soler decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Struve's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sebaastian Struve. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Soler looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soler trying to control the position from guard on top but Struve is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soler is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Soleris looking to pass into half guard but Struve pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Struve is in guard.
Soler 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.

Soler is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Struve defends well.
Soler keeping moving, preventing Struve from controlling successfully.
Soler working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Struve showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Soler tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Struve wants to control from the top but Soler keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Soler throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Struve throws a nice inside leg kick.
Struve is looking to clinch but Soler is avoiding it.
Soler throws out a loose jab but Struve uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabilondo Soler dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Struve swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Soler to counter with a crisp jab.
Soler tries to bum rush Struve with a series of wild strikes but Struve uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Soler closes this distance looking for a takedown but Struve circles away.
Struve is looking to chop away at Soler's legs.
Soler shoots in and drives through. Struve sprawls well.
Soler tries for a takedown but Struve sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sebaastian Struve has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabilondo Soler.
Struve with a lazy takedown attempt
and Soler counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Struve thinking.
Soler shoots in looking for a takedown. Struve tries to sprawl out of it but Soler keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Struve manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck for Struve with that takedown attempt.
Soler avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struve tries to clinch

and Soler counters with a shoot takedown. Struve fights it but they end up in guard.
Struve trying to control the position.
Soler trying to control the position from guard on top but Struve is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soler wants to pass the guard but Struve is keeping the position.
Struve keeping moving, preventing Soler from controlling successfully.
Soler wants to pass the guard but Struve is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Soler works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Soler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Struve keeps working.
Soler trying to control the pace.
Soler is looking to stall here but Struve recovers full guard.
Struve seems keen to control Soler's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soler trying to control but Struve is working from the bottom.

Struve is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Soler looking to sit in guard and control but Struve gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Soler keeping moving, preventing Struve from controlling successfully.
Soler is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Soler wants to sweep but no luck.

Soler has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Struve can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Soler looking to hit a scissor sweep but Struve is one step ahead there.
Struve is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Struve thows a big elbow that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Struve pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Soler is keeping the position for now.
Struve trying to control but Soler is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabilondo Soler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Struve looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Struve will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Struve lets loose with a powerful body kick. Soler will feel that in the morning.
Struve throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Soler.
Struve ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Struve tries to score with a low kick but Soler moves his leg out of the way.
Struve pivots, looking for a leg kick but Soler is out of range and Struve settles back down.
Soler scores with a body shot.
Soler shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Struve defends it nicely.
Soler throws a right hand that misses
and Struve counters with an inside leg kick.
Soler keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struve misses with a leg kick
letting Soler counter with a right hand.
Soler swings for the body but Struve moves out of range.
Soler just misses with a punch to the body.
Soler checks a low kick from Struve.
Soler checks a leg kick.
Struve throws a leg kick but Soler checks it.
Struve is looking to score with low kicks.
Struve scoring well with a low kick there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Struve.
Soler connects with a body shot that sends Struve's belly button to the back.
Struve throws a head kick but Soler moves out of range.
Gabilondo Soler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struve looks for a takedown but Soler sprawls well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Soler will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Struve throws a leg kick but Soler sees it coming and moves out of range.
Struve takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Struve tries to work over Soler's front leg with a kick but Soler checks it.
Soler shoots in for a double leg but Struve sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Soler throws a poor cross that misses
and Struve counters with a nice leg kick.
Sebaastian Struve has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Struve on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Struve throws the kick towards the body but Soler avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struve throws a leg kick but Soler checks it.
Soler misses with a wild body shot.
Soler lands a jab to Struve's midsection.
Soler ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Soler swings widly with a right hand

and Struve counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Soler!
Struve lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soler wants to hold on but Struve pushes him away.
Soler is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Soler is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soler really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Struve looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Struve trying to control but Soler is having none of it.
Struve is landing with some decent strikes but Soler is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Soler tries to hold on but Struve postures up.
Struve is in the full mount, landing strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Struve lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sebaastian Struve showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Soler has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabilondo Soler!