PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stefan Struve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Icus Mantovo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Struve comes to the cage accompanied by nie Tempah - Written In The Stars. Icus Mantovo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Struve
vs
Mantovo

211 cm
25
282 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
244 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

BioPharm Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super 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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Icus Mantovo!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Patrick Alders and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mantovo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mantovo on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Struve misses with a head kick.
Mantovo slips a jab and a cross from Struve.
Mantovo fails with a takedown attempt.
Mantovo is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

It looks like Icus Mantovo has been cut.
Struve throws a good cross that connects.
Struve misses with a two punch combination.

Mantovo scores with a takedown into Struve's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Struve throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Struve wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Struve wants to get back to his feet but Mantovo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mantovo throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Struve is on top in guard.
Struve wants to control from the top but Mantovo keeps moving.
Struve has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mantovo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Struve is controlling him.

Struve postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Mantovo is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Struve, into his guard.
Struve looking to control.
Mantovo is fighting to break Struve's control of his arms but Struve is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Stefan Struve wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A good leg kick by Struve.
Mantovo misses with a double jab.
Mantovo scores with a nice head shot.

It looks like Stefan Struve has been cut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Struve closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mantovo to the mat! Mantovo manages to get full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mantovo can do anything to dispel that myth.
Struve in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Struve is looking to stand up but Mantovo won't let him.
Struve slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Struve wants to control from the top but Mantovo keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struveis looking to pass into half guard but Mantovo pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Mantovo is in guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Struve wants to stand and escape but Mantovo is having none of it.
Struve avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Struve 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.
Mantovo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Struve manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Struve wants to finish this one by submission but Mantovo is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Struve.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Struve tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Struve trying to control the position but Mantovo is working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Struve wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mantovo, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stefan Struve dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Struve falls off balance throwing a combination
and Mantovo counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Struve dips to his left and cracks Mantovo with an uppercut!
Struve throws a head kick that misses.
Stefan Struve is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mantovo misses with a series of wild punches.
Mantovo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sloppy strikes from Struve. Those never looked like landing.
Struve lands a nice shot that snaps Mantovo's head back.

Struve scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Struve working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Struve wants to control but Mantovo is keeping him busy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mantovo is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Struve is working to tighten is grip on Mantovo's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Mantovo has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Struve is really squeezing tight and eventually Mantovo passes out! Struve breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Stefan Struve!
Stefan Struve bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.