PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Felix Sturm (ranked 11 p4p, 1 weight class) and Jeff Gower (ranked 79 p4p, 15 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sturm
vs
Gower

180 cm
29
158 lbs
23 - 5 - 0

165 cm
28
156 lbs
18 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

IniTech Nutrition
Bullet Proof System

Urban Fighter
Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Felix Sturm!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jeff Gower!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sturm's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Sturm duly obliges.
Gower swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gower swings widly with a right hand
and Sturm connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A chopping leg kick lands by Gower.
Gower misses with a hook. Sturm ducked under it nicely.
Sturm is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gower.
Gower displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sturm throws out the jab.
Sturm has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sturm there as he acknowledges the shot.
Gower smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Sturm is rocked!
Sturm throws a hook to the side of Gower's head but Gower sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Oh Sturm is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Jeff Gower seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice body punch from Sturm.
Sturm seems to have got his legs back now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gower stuns Sturm with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sturm is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gower.
Gower throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gower scores with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gower misses with a hook.
Sturm takes a swing at Gower's ribcage but misses.
Sturm connects with a looping right hand.
Gower tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sturm was well out of range. Poor timing from Gower.
Gower misses with a hook.
Gower steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sturm.
Gower throws a head kick that misses.
Sturm jabs Gower right on the nose. Gower blinks but takes it well.
Sturm misses with a jab to the body
enabling Gower to counter with a crisp jab.
Gower misses with a hook.
Sturm is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gower.
Sturm moves out of range of the body kick.
Sturm misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Gower to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gower throws a low kick but Sturm moves out of range easily.
Gower missing with a left hand there. Sturm was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gower keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
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!
Sturm lands with a nice body punch.
Gower ducks under a wild hook from Sturm.
Gower takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Gower attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Sturm fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gower looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Gower tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Gower displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sturm throws out the jab.
Sturm misses with a straight right.
Gower misses with a leg kick
and Sturm counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gower misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gower drops his hands momentarily and Sturm takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Gower misses the shot to the body.
Gower swings away with a body shot that misses
and Sturm counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gower throws a body kick that misses.
It looked like Sturm wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Sturm misses with a looping left.
Gower throws a lazy uppercut
and Sturm counters with a stiff right hand.
Sturm waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gower.

Sturm lands a big right hand that sends Gower crashing to the mat! Sturm stays standing though and waves Gower back to his feet!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sturm avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sturm blocks a jab.
Sturm is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Sturm throws out a leg kick but Gower moves out of range and Sturm only half commits.
Gower lands an overhand right.
Gower pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sturm thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sturm misses with a looping right.
Gower only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Gower lands with a nice body punch.
Sturm on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Gower moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Gower misses with a kick to the body
and Sturm counters with a nice uppercut.
Gower walks into a straight right hand from Sturm.
Gower staying out of range there.
Gower counters with a body kick.
Gower throws a head kick that misses
and Sturm counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gower thinking.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sturm throws a big shot that misses.
Sturm checks a low kick from Gower.
Gower misses with a right hand
letting Sturm counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix Sturm dominated that round.
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.

Gower misses with a body kick.
Sturm checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Gower works the jab nicely.
Sturm swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Gower.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Gower might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Sturm has got the better of the exchanges.
The fighters circling - Gower throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sturm throws the left hand but Gower avoids the punch easily.
Sturm dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gower misses with a hook.
It looked like Sturm was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Gower.
Felix Sturm is winning the standup battle so far.
Sturm fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gower manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gower throws a hook to the side of Sturm's head but Sturm sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gower looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sturm is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Sturm lands a slapping body shot.
Sturm is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gower can do to turn this around?
Sturm swings for the body but Gower moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturm avoids the body shot from Gower.
Sturm takes one on the button.
Gower throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A little feinted left hand from Sturm on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Sturm takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sturm scores with a body shot.
Gower displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sturm throws out the jab.
Gower looks to score with a jab to the body but Sturm is just out of range.
Sturm is looking to counter punch.
Sturm throws a jab when Gower was well out of range.
Gower swings for the body but Sturm moves out of range.
A clash of legs there as Sturm blocks the low kick.
Sturm swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Gower waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sturm.
Gower takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Gower looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sturm is looking to counter punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sturm looks to land a left hand but Gower moved out of range nicely.
Gower takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Sturm jabs Gower right on the nose. Gower blinks but takes it well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gower misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sturm.
A little feinted left hand from Sturm on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Gower tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sturm cracks a nice hook into Gower's ribs.
Gower misses the jab.
Sturm throws a shot from downtown. Gower moves away and avoids it.
Sturm throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sturm scores with a nice head shot.
Gower takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A thudding body kick lands there by Gower!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gower throws a lazy uppercut
and Sturm counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gower thinking.
Gower throws a sloppy head kick
and Sturm cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gower misses with a body shot
and Sturm counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gower tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
An attempted straight right counter from Sturm misses the target.
Gower missing with a left hand there. Sturm was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sturm swings widly with a right hand
and Gower makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Sturm really felt that one!
A low kick from Gower misses
and Sturm counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gower missing with a left hand there. Sturm was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A jab from Sturm finds it's way through Gower's defenses.
Sturm throws a poor cross that misses
letting Gower counter with a right hand.
Sturm misses the shot to the body.
A head kick misses from Sturm.
And Gower responds with a good body kick, but Sturm manages to step out the way in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sturm lands a nice shot that snaps Gower's head back.
Nice straight punches there by Sturm. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sturm.
Gower misses with a lunging right hand

and Sturm counters with a crisp right hand that drops Gower! Sturm lets Gower back up to his feet, looking for a finish!

Gower is rocked!
Sturm slips a straight right by Gower.
A little feinted left hand from Sturm on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Gower is still on wobbly legs! Can Sturm finish him?
Gower looks to throw the jab but Sturm is out of range.
Gower misses with an uppercut
and Gower takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gower looks to throw the jab but Sturm is out of range.
Sturm throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Gower to counter with a crisp jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Gower misses the target.
Gower has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Gower misses with a right hand
and Sturm counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gower thinking.
Gower seems to have recovered his senses.
Gower misses with an attempted mid kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sturm slips a straight right by Gower.
Sturm gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Gower.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix Sturm dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sturm uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gower.
Gower misses with a body shot.
Sturm was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Sturm walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Gower misses with an uppercut. Sturm saw that one coming.
Gower throws a leg kick
and Sturm counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sturm ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gower moves away.
Gower looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Gower misses with a left hand
and Sturm counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sturm stuns Gower with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sturm scores with a jab to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gower misses with a straight left.
Sturm was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Gower feints and then cracks Sturm's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sturm down.
Gower missing with a left hand there. Sturm was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sturm cracks Gower with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturm throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gower doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Gower ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sturm moves away.
Gower ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sturm moves away.
It looked like Sturm was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Gower.
Sturm scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Gower scores with a head kick.
Sturm is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Gower rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sturm moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gower tries to land a front kick but Sturm steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sturm is looking to counter punch.
Gower thuds his right hand into Sturm's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Gower throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Sturm counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gower throws a body kick that misses
and Sturm counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gower takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sturm.
Sturm throws a big shot that misses.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Gower lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sturm doesn't seem phased though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sturm walks into a left hand.
A big right from Sturm misses.
Sturm moves out of range of the body kick from Gower.
Sturm swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Sturm connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Sturm swinging wildly here.
Gower pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Gower throws a wild body kick that Sturm sees coming a mile off.
Sturm misses with an uppercut.
Gower throws a big counter head kick but Sturm avoids it with no problem.
Sturm gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Gower.
Gower takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gower throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Gower pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sturm bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Sloppy strikes from Sturm. Those never looked like landing.
Gower gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Gower looks to land a right hand but Sturm moved out of range.
Gower swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Gower takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gower takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A big right from Sturm misses.
Gower lands a front kick.
A lazy left from Gower finds it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sturm is looking to slow Gower down with leg kicks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gower feints and then cracks Sturm's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sturm down.
Sturm uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gower.
Gower connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sturm. Sturm circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Gower ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sturm moves away.
Gower lands a jab to the head.
Gower misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gower ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Gower lands a front kick.
Sturm misses with a hook.
Gower lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sturm is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gower.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Jeff Gower just about did enough to take it.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sturm ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gower throws a sloppy head kick and Sturm moves out of range easily.
Gower looks to land a right hand but Sturm moved out of range.
Gower lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Gower moves out of range of the strikes.
Gower misses with a few strikes there.
Sturm was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Sturm feints and then cracks Gower's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gower down.
Sturm throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sturm's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Gower connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Sturm scrambles back to his feet.
Sturm blocks the body kick.
Gower swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Sturm counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice body kick from Gower.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gower looks to score with a jab to the body but Sturm is just out of range.
Sturm takes a swing at Gower's ribcage but misses.
Gower bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gower is looking for the big counter here.
Gower lands a right hook to the body.
A low kick from Gower is predictable there
and Sturm cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sturm uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gower.
As Gower backs away, Sturm returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Gower throws an off balance right hand
and Sturm counters with a straight right hand.
Sturm looks to land a right hand but Gower moved out of range.
Sturm throws a head kick that misses.
Gower takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Sturm cracks Gower with a right hand to the side of the head.
Gower misses with a double jab
and Sturm counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gower bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gower throws a jab when Sturm was well out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sturm drops his hands momentarily and Gower takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Gower looks to land a left hand but Sturm moved out of range nicely.
Gower throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jab by Sturm.
Gower misses with a right hand

and Sturm counters with a nice right hand that sends Gower toppling to the canvas! Gower scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Sturm finish him?!
Sturm takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A swing and a miss from Sturm.
Gower throws a sloppy head kick
and Sturm rattles Gower with a well-timed uppercut counter. - Gower tries to back away and recover but his hands are down low and he gets tagged again, sending him stumbling down to the canvas. Sturm dives in after him and quickly finishes the job with a trio of brutal punches, leaving Gower stiff and motionless on the mat!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 4, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Felix Sturm!
Felix Sturm retains his lightweight title!
Felix Sturm thanked the fans post fight for their support.