PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stefan Struve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leblon James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stefan Struve has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Struve
vs
James

211 cm
25
255 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

203 cm
20
250 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very confident

Kobra Clothing Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Stefan Struve!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Leblon James!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Patrick Alders and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Struve shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Struve showed some decent athleticism there.
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.
Struve looks to land a strike but James avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Struve decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on James, up you get!
Jab by Struve.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from James.
James gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Struve counters with a nice kick to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Struve clinches with his opponent.
Struve tries to land a knee to the head but James blocks with his arms.

Struve has hold of one of James's legs. James is fighting the takedown attempt but Struve gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Struve is looking to stand up but James won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struve throws a big right hand that misses.
Struve is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Struve tries to free his leg and advance position but James is retaining full guard.
Struve advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
James on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Struve is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and James reverses the position - he's now on top in Struve's guard.
James sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Struve's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Struve is looking for a sweep. James is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Struve wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Struve is just riding it out for now. James eventually gives up the hold.
Struve wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

James shoots in but no luck this time.
James looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Struve tries to clinch there but James circles away.
James fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Stefan Struve has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leblon James.

Struve moves into the clinch successfully.
Struve with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Struve.
Struve prevents a takedown attempt there.
Struve tries a knee to the head but James blocks it.

Struve gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Struve knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for James on the ground.

James looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struve is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Struve decides to return to a standing position.
James with a poor takedown

so Struve counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Struve content to stall in guard here.
Struve postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struve looking to pass the guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Struve looking to sit in guard and control but James gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Struve is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

We're going to have a standup here because Stefan Struve wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Struve tries to clinch up.
James with a poor takedown
and Struve counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. James is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Struve fails with an attempt to clinch.

Struve has James up against the cage in a clinch.
Struve gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from James.
Struve lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Leblon James has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Struve has James pressed against the cage.
James tries to score a body lock takedown but Struve shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Struve turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A lull in the action here.
James tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Struve 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.

Stefan Struve dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Leblon James's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Struve looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
James keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Struve is looking to pass James's guard but actually James recovers to full guard.

James throws his legs up looking for a submission but Struve uses it to pass to side control.
James is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Struve stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Struve gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Struve works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Struve is looking to stand up but James won't let him.
Struve not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Struve is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that James can do to turn this around?
Struve wants to pass the guard but James is keeping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struve tries to stand but James is controlling from the bottom.

Stefan Struve has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Struve tries to sprawl out of it but James 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.
James tries to score a power double leg takedown but Struve sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten James somewhat.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Struve as he avoids it easily.
Stefan Struve has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leblon James.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Struve moves into the clinch.
Struve gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from James.

Struve has James pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Struve pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending James tumbling to the mat - Struve dives into James's guard.

Struve decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on James, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Struve tries to clinch there but James circles away.
Struve tries to clinch but James moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Struve.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from James.
James changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Struve tries to avoid it but James manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Struve to the ground. Struve escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Struve as he avoids it easily.
James fails with an attempt to clinch.
Struve wants to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James tries for a takedown but Struve sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stefan Struve showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Struve 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stefan Struve!