PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gilberto Duque (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sthawy Sthowp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sthowp has chosen Blind Guardian - Into the Storn as his entrance music. Sthawy Sthowp is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Duque
vs
Sthowp

183 cm
21
178 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
183 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gilberto Duque!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sthawy Sthowp!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Paulo Santos and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sthowp looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Duque drives through with a takedown into guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sthowp wants to sweep but no luck.
Duque pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sthowp is keeping the position for now.
Duque postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Duque shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sthowp but Sthowp pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Sthowp gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Duque postures up in Sthowp's guard and throws a big left but Sthowp blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sthowp working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Duque has passed into half guard!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Duque throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Duque seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sthowp does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sthowp tries to roll over but Duque keeps him under control.
Sthowp is not content to let Duque control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gilberto Duque wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sthowp. Duque does a little dance to reset his feet.
Duque throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sthowp's waist but Sthowp gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Duque off to one side.
Sthowp with a jab.
Sthowp throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Duque sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sthowp misses with a takedown attempt

and Duque counters with a takedown into side control.
Sthowp stops Duque from passing to mount.
Sthowp tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Duque wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Duque tries to score with some ground and pound. Sthowp controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Duque sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Sthowp is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Duque decides to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duque shoots in for a takedown but Sthowp shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gilberto Duque. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sthowp misses with a few strikes there.
Sthowp thows a body shot but no joy.
Duque tries for a takedown but Sthowp circles away easily
letting Sthowp counter with a right hand.
Sthowp shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Duque as he jumps to the side.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Duque bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Duque throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sthowp was covering up waiting for the punch and Duque finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sthowp is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Duque keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sthowp thows a body shot but no joy.
Nice defenses there by Duque.
Sthowp looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Duque fails with the takedown.
Sthowp misses with a shot to the body

and Duque decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sthowp's guard.
Sthowp wants to sweep here but Duque controlling him for the moment.
Duque throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Duque accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Duque wants to control from the top but Sthowp keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Gilberto Duque just wasn't active enough.

Duque closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sthowp's guard.
Duque wants to control from the top but Sthowp keeps moving.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sthowp not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gilberto Duque has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Sthowp bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sthowp advances to full mount.
Sthowp unloads with some shots from mount but Duque bucks and avoids them well.
Duque wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Sthowp.
Duque is in all sorts of trouble here.
Duque is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sthowp tries to control but Duque wriggling away.
Duque sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Sthowp is trying to control. Duque wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sthowp might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Duque kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Duque tries to roll over but Sthowp keeps him under control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Sthowp lands with a punch from half guard.
Sthowp throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sthowp trying to control from Duque's half guard. Duque has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Duque working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Duque wants to stand and escape but Sthowp is having none of it.

Sthowp avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Duque has his foot on Sthowp's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sthowp works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sthowp throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Gilberto Duque will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sthowp thows a body shot but no joy.
Sthowp digs a good body shot into Duque's ribs.
Sthowp throws out a loose jab but Duque uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sthowp fails with a takedown attempt.
A jab from Sthowp misses.
Sthowp displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Duque.
Sthowp shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Duque closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sthowp's guard.
Sthowp working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Duque.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duque with a flurry of punches that miss.
Duque engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Gilberto Duque just wasn't active enough.
Duque staying out of range there.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sthowp.
Sthowp misses with a looping left.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Duque.
Duque creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Sthowp sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Duque stands up and beckons Sthowp to his feet.
Sthowp feints a jab promting Duque to slip. Sthowp then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Duque slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Duque drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sthowp looks to move to half guard but instead Duque has passed into mount! Damn!
Sthowp takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duque thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Duque thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Sthowp is looking to get to half guard.
Sthowp is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Sthawy Sthowp has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duque throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Sthowp because Duque loaded up on that one.
Duque thowing shots but they're missing.
Sthowp sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sthowp tries to roll over but Duque keeps him under control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gilberto Duque showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Duque, 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gilberto Duque!