PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jack Yu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stefan Struve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stefan Struve has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Jack Yu's chin.

Yu
vs
Struve

195 cm
19
255 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

211 cm
19
245 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jack Yu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Stefan Struve!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Struve looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Struve trying to control the position from guard on top but Yu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Yu working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Struve doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Struve manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Struve is looking to work some ground and pound but Yu has wrist control.
Struve passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Struve working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Struve in side control, throwing shots but Yu defends.
The strikes coming from Struve are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Yu might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Struve trying to control the action but Yu is working from the bottom.
Yu is trying to get back to half guard.
Struve cracks Yu with a big right hand but Yu just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Struve tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Struve has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Yu tries to bench press Struve off him but Struve keeps the position.
Yu is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Struve is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

Struve is going olschool here, as he tries to force Yu to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Yu shrugs it off.
Yu is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Yu manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Yu is looking to control Struve's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Yu avoid being mounted?
Struve has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Yu is breathing heavily.

Struve is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Struve is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struve prevents Yu from improving his position.

Struve seems to be working for a kimura but Yu defends the submission attempt.
Struve is thwarting Yu's attempts to control the position.
Struve wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yu keeps working.
Struve tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Yu.

Struve is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Yu is pressing down on Struve's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yu trying to strike off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Struve takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Yu misses with a takedown

and Struve counters with a takedown into side control.

Struve working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Yu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Struve works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Struve tries for a kimura but Yu is defending well.
Yu tries to buck Struve off but Struve is having none of it.
Struve landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Yu is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Struve lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Yu throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Yu is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Struve lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Yu down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Struve with a poor takedown

and Yu counters with a takedown into side control.
Struve struggling a bit here.
Struve manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Yu is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Struve sees it coming and defends easily.

Yu is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Struve defends it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Struve landing rabbit punches to the side of Yu's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.

Struve looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Struve wants to improve his position but Yu is controlling well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Struve looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yu tries to pass the half guard into mount. Struve knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Yu is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Struve shoots and misses
and Yu counters with a one-two to the body.
Yu doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Struve counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Struve.
Yu has momentary wrist control but Struve slips an elbow through the middle.

Struve 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.

Yu has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Struve can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Yu looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Yu wants to get back to his feet but Struve is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Struve trying to control but Yu is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Struve shoots and misses

and Yu counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Struve!
Jack Yu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stefan Struve.
Struve slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Struve wants to get back to full guard.

Yu looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Struve looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Stefan Struve has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yu trying to pass the guard but Struve defending well.

Yu is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Struve is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Struve flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Struve is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Yu's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Yu's back!

Yu preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Struve.
Struve connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Yu to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Struve is persistently looking for the submission but Yu is defending it well.
Struve trying to control momentarily.
Yu turns into Struve and is now in his guard.
Yu postures up.
Yu wants to control from the top but Struve keeps moving.

Yu postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Struve is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Yu, into his guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Yu has his foot on Struve's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Struve works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stefan Struve showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Struve with a lazy takedown attempt

and Yu decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Struve's guard.

Struve looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Yu with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Yu postures up.

Yu drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Yu jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Struve manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Yu manages to get himself to full guard.
Struve cracks Yu with a solid left hand.

Yu working for a triangle but Struve defends it easily.
Struve scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Struve showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Struve defends well.

Yu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Struve is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Yu keeping moving, preventing Struve from controlling successfully.
Struve is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Struve 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.

Yu is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Struve forces his way into half guard.
Yu taking some punishment here, with Struve in his half guard.
Struve prevents Yu from improving his position.

Yu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Struve is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struve passes to full mount!
Struve postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Yu looks a forlorn figure.
Yu is trying to escape the mount.

Struve is working for a guillotine from mount but Yu frees his head quite easily.
Yu really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Struve has control of Yu's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Yu regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Stefan Struve is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Struve dominating with strikes here.
Struve can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Yu is looking to escape.
Yu avoids a series of strikes thrown by Struve.
Yu keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Struve avoids the attempt from Yu to control.
Jack Yu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Struve is landing with some decent strikes but Yu is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stefan Struve comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Struve 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stefan Struve!