PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Danaher (ranked 24354 p4p, 5558 weight class) and Dude Dukes (ranked 602 p4p, 562 weight class). Dude Dukes acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Danaher
vs
Dukes

194 cm
22
221
2 - 8 - 0

195 cm
25
205
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Danaher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dude Dukes!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Viktor Lagutenko and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Danaher tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dukes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Danaher misses the shot to the body.
A punch combination from Dukes misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dukes.
Dukes lands with a nice combination. Danaher backs away looking to recover.

It looks like John Danaher has been cut.
Dukes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Dukes feints and as Danaher raises his hands in defense, Dukes changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Dukes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Danaher definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Dukes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dukes scoring with punches to the head and body.
Dukes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Dukes throwing strikes but missing.
Dukes throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dukes wants to control from the top but Danaher keeps moving.
Dukes chips away with some ground and pound.

Dukes drops back looking for a leg! Danaher is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Danaher manages to kick Dukes off! Dukes jumps back into Danaher's guard.
Dukes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dukes working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Dukes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Danaher has momentary wrist control but Dukes slips an elbow through the middle.
Dukes trying to control the position from guard on top but Danaher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dukes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

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

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.
Dukes takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
A head kick misses from Danaher.
Dukes is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Dukes fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Danaher avoids it really well and circles away.
Danaher half committed to a counter leg kick.
John Danaher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dude Dukes.
Dukes looks winded!
Some wild striking there from Dukes.
Danaher with the inside leg kick.
Danaher lands a leg kick that knocks Dukes off balance momentarily.
Danaher lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Danaher connects with a high kick.
John Danaher is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Danaher throws a nice head kick!
Dukes misses with a combination
enabling Danaher to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dukes scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Danaher is trying to stand back up but Dukes is controlling him
Danaher avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dukes.
Dukes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Danaher avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dukes.

Dukes is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Danaher is just riding it out for now. Dukes eventually gives up the hold.
Still in half guard, Dukes seems content to control.
Danaher knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dukes on the ground.

Dukes seems to be working for a kimura but Danaher defends the submission attempt.
Dukes thows a huge punch but Danaher dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dukes working over Danaher with some ground and pound. Danaher looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Dukes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dukes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dukes not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Dukes missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Dukes wants to control but Danaher is keeping him busy.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Dukes is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Danaher has managed to free his arm - good work.
Dukes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dukes not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dude Dukes will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on John Danaher's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Danaher pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dukes fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Danaher avoids it really well and circles away.
Danaher is looking for a counter combo.
John Danaher is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dukes takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Danaher throws a sloppy head kick and Dukes moves out of range easily.
Dukes tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Danaher scores with a spinning back kick!
Dukes goes for a double leg but Danaher avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Danaher continues to drive forward.
John Danaher seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dukes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Danaher tries to avoid it but Dukes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Danaher to the ground. Danaher escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
John Danaher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dude Dukes.
Danaher throws a head kick that half lands.
A head kick from Danaher lands but Dukes takes it in his stride.
Dukes takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Dukes is breathing heavily.
Nice body kick there by Danaher.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danaher turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Danaher throws a front kick that sends Dukes stumbling back into the cage.
Danaher tries to clinch there but Dukes circles away.
Danaher is looking to slow Dukes down with leg kicks.
Danaher fakes the leg kick and cracks Dukes in the body.

Dukes closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Danaher's guard.
Dukes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dukes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Danaher working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dukes.
Danaher keeping moving, preventing Dukes from controlling successfully.
Danaher working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dukes.
Dukes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Danaher keeping full guard, as Dukes tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dukes is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Dukes blocks a head kick by Danaher.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dukes is defended easily by Danaher.
Dukes takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Danaher delivers a nice body kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Danaher lands a head kick. Dukes smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Dukes has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Danaher.

Dukes closes the distance and pushes Danaher back into the cage.

Danaher breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danaher throws a front kick that sends Dukes stumbling back into the cage.
Dukes looks for a takedown but Danaher sprawls well.
John Danaher is winning the standup battle so far.
Danaher connects with a high kick.
Danaher lands a head kick. Dukes smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Dukes takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Danaher lands with a kick to the ribs.
Danaher tries to clinch but Dukes moves away
and Dukes counters with a left and a right that stings Danaher.
A slapping leg kick lands for Danaher.
Danaher throws a nice outside leg kick.
Dukes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Danaher throws a head kick that half lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danaher throws a nice head kick!
Dukes takes a kick to the side of the head.
Danaher buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Danaher clinches up with Dukes and pushes him back against the cage.
Dukes has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Danaher.
Dukes is working for takedown but Danaher is calmly controlling the position for now.
Dukes avoiding damage as Danaher throws knees to the body.
Danaher misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Danaher breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Danaher lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Danaher throws a quick inside leg kick.

Danaher gets tackled into the cage by Dukes. Dukes maintains the clinch.
Dukes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nice body punch from Dukes - that landed with a thud.
Dukes is working for takedown but Danaher is calmly controlling the position for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Danaher dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on John Danaher'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 get this one finished - here comes the final round!

No luck for Dukes with that takedown attempt.
Danaher lets loose with a powerful body kick. Dukes will feel that in the morning.
Danaher lands with a slapping head kick.

Danaher forces Dukes back against the cage and clinches.

Danaher breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Danaher turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Dukes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Danaher circles away quickly and effectively.
Dukes chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Danaher can pounce on him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danaher throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
As Danaher backs off Dukes throws a huge counter combo but Danaher manages to avoid it all.
Dukes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Danaher is looking to clinch.
Danaher throws a nice outside leg kick.
Danaher lands a nice looking kick to the body. Dukes takes a step back to recover.
Danaher scores with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danaher scores with a kick to the body.
Danaher buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Dukes crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Danaher - the referee stops the clock and Dukes gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Danaher. Dukes manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Danaher explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Danaher bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Dukes's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Dukes tries for a takedown but Danaher sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Danaher takes the fight into the clinch.
Danaher misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dukes.

Danaher manages to break the clinch.
Dukes takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Danaher moves into the clinch successfully.
Danaher missing with knees to the body.
Danaher is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dukes can do to turn this around?
Dukes tries for a takedown. No joy.
John Danaher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dude Dukes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danaher misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dukes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dukes prevents a body shot from Danaher.
Danaher tries a knee to the head but Dukes blocks it.
Danaher tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Danaher misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dukes is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Danaher is defending well.
Danaher prevents the takedown attempt.
Danaher goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dukes on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Danaher tries to land knees in the clinch but Dukes avoids the damage to the body.
Danaher displaying some good clinch control by pressing Dukes up against the cage.

Dukes turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dukes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Danaher keeps working.
Dukes postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Dukes lands an elbow.
Dukes misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Dukes in side control, throwing shots but Danaher defends.

Dukes is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Danaher knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Dukes misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Dukes tries for a kimura but Danaher is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Dukes is trying to get an arm triangle but Danaher is defending well.
Dukes tries to score with some ground and pound. Danaher controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Dukes goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Danaher has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Dukes but great work by Danaher.
Dude Dukes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dukes is trying to get back to half guard.
Danaher wants to stand but Dukes has his arm trapped.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Danaher showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Danaher has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Danaher!
The defeated Dude Dukes had this to say: 'I was robbed. I demand a rematch.'.