PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yeshua Immanuel (ranked 2822 p4p, 2685 weight class) and Sven Ludwig (ranked 361 p4p, 348 weight class). Sven Ludwig acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Immanuel
vs
Ludwig

181 cm
32
190
6 - 6 - 0

185 cm
34
199
26 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yeshua Immanuel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 20 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sven Ludwig!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Hirohito Nitta and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ludwig moves in looking to clinch but Immanuel pushes him off.

Immanuel closes the distance and clinches.
Ludwig is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ludwig has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Immanuel avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ludwig is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Immanuel pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Yeshua Immanuel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sven Ludwig.
Immanuel lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Immanuel stops a takedown attempt from Ludwig.
Ludwig tries for a takedown. No joy.
Immanuel looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Immanuel prevents a takedown attempt there.

Ludwig turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Ludwig throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Immanuel is not content to let Ludwig control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ludwig wants to stand but Immanuel is controlling his arm.
Ludwig trying to control the action but Immanuel is working from the bottom.
Ludwig has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Immanuel struggling a bit here.
My spies in Catch Wrestling L.A. inform me that Ludwig has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Ludwig wants to stand but Immanuel has his arm trapped.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Immanuel is trying to get back to half guard.
Ludwig sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Immanuel is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Immanuel defending against the ground and pound.
Immanuel tries to improve position but can't.
Ludwig landing a few strikes.
Ludwig tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Immanuel taking a bit of punishment here - Ludwig scoring with strikes.
Ludwig trying to control the position but Immanuel is working away.
Ludwig wants to stand but Immanuel has his arm trapped.
Ludwig working the head with strikes.
Immanuel dodges the ground and pound from Ludwig.
Immanuel tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ludwig wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ludwig throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Immanuel takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Ludwig throws an elbow but Immanuel slips to the side and avoids it well.
Immanuel is trying to control Ludwig's posture but Ludwig avoids it.
Ludwig scores with a couple of short elbows.
Ludwig looks up at the clock and then as Immanuel takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Ludwig smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The ground and pound from Ludwig seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Ludwig misses with the ground and pound.
Ludwig misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Ludwig postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ludwig is looking to take a break and control but Immanuel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The strikes coming from Ludwig are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Ludwig throws an elbow but Immanuel slips to the side and avoids it well.
Immanuel is trying to improve his position.
Ludwig looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Immanuel is avoiding damage well.
Ludwig in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ludwig in side control, throwing shots but Immanuel defends.
Immanuel is looking for a sweep.
Ludwig is putting a hurting on Immanuel here, landing some big shots from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Ludwig dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Immanuel tries a low kick but Ludwig avoids it.
Ludwig misses with a low kick.
A head kick misses from Ludwig.
Immanuel looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A shot to the liver by Ludwig. Beautiful body shot.
Ludwig throws a looping overhand right but Immanuel ducks down to avoid it.

Ludwig closes the distance and clinches.
Immanuel digs a right hand into Ludwig's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ludwig's gas tank.
Ludwig prevents the takedown attempt.
Immanuel working aggressively here.
Ludwig lands a nice knee to the body.
Ludwig drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Immanuel gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Immanuel throws a punch but it's blocked by Ludwig.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ludwig goes for a takedown in the clinch but Immanuel prevents it.

Immanuel is fighting off a takedown attempt but Ludwig is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Immanuel to the mat. Immanuel regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Ludwig postures up and lands a big shot to Immanuel's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Immanuel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ludwig stands up over Immanuel, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ludwig stopping the sweep attempt from Immanuel.
Ludwig wants to control from the top but Immanuel keeps moving.
Ludwig engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ludwig accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ludwig connects with a couple of short punches.
Ludwig trying to control the position from guard on top but Immanuel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ludwig with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sven Ludwig has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Immanuel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ludwig or perhaps it was just good defense by Immanuel, which made it look bad.
Yeshua Immanuel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sven Ludwig.

Ludwig shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Immanuel regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Ludwig.
Immanuel wants to sweep but no luck.
Ludwig looking to pass the guard.
Ludwig trying to control the position from guard on top but Immanuel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ludwig postures up in Immanuel's guard and throws a big left but Immanuel blocks it.
Ludwig is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ludwig has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ludwig postures up.
Ludwig throws a big right hand that misses.
Ludwig is working Immanuel over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ludwig throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ludwig scoring with punches to the head and body.
Immanuel pulls Ludwig in close to prevent any damage.
Immanuel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ludwig steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Immanuel.
Ludwig lands a jab-cross combination.
Immanuel throws a low kick but Ludwig moves out of range easily.
Immanuel fails in his attempt to clinch.

Ludwig drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ludwig loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Immanuel is trying to control the position but Ludwig postures up.
Ludwig missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ludwig throws a big elbow that misses.
Ludwig scoring with some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Immanuel has control of Ludwig's left arm, preventing Ludwig from doing any damage.
Immanuel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Ludwig showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Immanuel takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Immanuel scores with a nice body kick.
Ludwig throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Immanuel looks to land a left hand but Ludwig moved out of range nicely.
Immanuel throws a hook but Ludwig avoids it easily.
Immanuel tries to clinch up.
Ludwig throws a right hand that Immanuel ducks under and follows up with a left that Immanuel also avoids with ease.
Immanuel is looking to counter punch.
Ludwig cracks Immanuel with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Immanuel moves in looking to clinch but Ludwig pushes him off.

Immanuel clinches with his opponent.

Immanuel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Immanuel is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ludwig throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Immanuel sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sven Ludwig seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Immanuel misses with a takedown

and Ludwig counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Immanuel!
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!
Immanuel dodges the ground and pound from Ludwig.
Immanuel takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ludwig misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Ludwig landing a few strikes.
Immanuel defending against the ground and pound.
Ludwig cracks Immanuel with a big right hand but Immanuel just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Immanuel wants to control but Ludwig postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
An elbow from Ludwig crashes against the mat.
Immanuel is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Immanuel regains half guard, as Ludwig was trying to land strikes.
Immanuel is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ludwig scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ludwig trying to control the action but Immanuel is working from the bottom.
Ludwig sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Immanuel defending well though.
Immanuel is trying to control but can't.
Ludwig lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ludwig sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Immanuel defending well though.
Ludwig throwing shots but Immanuel is blocking nicely.
Ludwig thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Immanuel's head.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Immanuel stuffs the takedown attempt from Ludwig. Ludwig gets slowly back to his feet.
Ludwig connects with a looping right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Immanuel scores with a nice strike.

Ludwig gets caught flat footed, as Immanuel shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ludwig looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Immanuel not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Immanuel won't allow Ludwig to sweep him here.
Ludwig is controlling Immanuel's posture.
Immanuel preventing the sweep.
Immanuel prevents Ludwig from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Immanuel tries to free his leg and advance position but Ludwig is retaining full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Immanuel misses with a two punch combination.
Ludwig uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Immanuel.
Immanuel wants to clinch up but Ludwig keeps it at a distance.
Ludwig shoots in for a takedown but Immanuel shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ludwig is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Immanuel.
Immanuel misses with a head kick.
Ludwig is looking to clinch.
Ludwig takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ludwig.
Yeshua Immanuel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sven Ludwig.
Ludwig doesn't manage to clinch there - Immanuel circles away.
Immanuel was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ludwig tries a head kick but it misses.
Yeshua Immanuel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ludwig throws the kick towards the body but Immanuel avoids it.
Ludwig tries for a takedown but Immanuel circles away easily
and Ludwig takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sven Ludwig comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ludwig winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sven Ludwig!
Sven Ludwig decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
In defeat, Yeshua Immanuel stepped up to the mic, saying 'Thanks to my coaches, sorry I came up short. Great game plan by my opponent. It was his night tonight. '.