PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Giovani Sobrinho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Struker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Sobrinho
vs
Struker

192 cm
28
220 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

195 cm
34
214 lbs
17 - 12 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Giovani Sobrinho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tommy Struker!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Ryoma Takatsuka and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sobrinho throws a right and a left that both miss.
Struker with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sobrinho counters with a three punch combo that has Struker backing up. Struker nods at Sobrinho to acknowledge the strikes.
Struker misses with a takedown attempt
and Sobrinho counters with an inside leg kick.
Struker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sobrinho.
Sobrinho throws a right and a left that Struker avoids nicely.
Sobrinho connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Struker momentarily.
A punch combination from Sobrinho misses.
Sobrinho checks the leg kick.
Sobrinho fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struker fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Giovani Sobrinho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommy Struker.
Sobrinho lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Struker shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sobrinho pinned against the cage. Sobrinho gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Struker is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sobrinho sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sobrinho falls off balance throwing a combination
and Struker counters with a one-two to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struker gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sobrinho counters with a thumping low kick.
Struker shoots in looking for a takedown but Sobrinho manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Struker's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sobrinho misses with a series of wild punches.
Struker shoots in looking for a takedown. Sobrinho tries to sprawl out of it but Struker keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sobrinho manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sobrinho waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Struker.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struker tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sobrinho swivels and escapes.
Sobrinho misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Struker.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Struker tries for a takedown but Sobrinho circles away easily
and Struker takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Struker throws a combination. Sobrinho tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Sobrinho throws a combination that misses

and Struker counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Sobrinho tries to roll over but Struker keeps him under control.
Sobrinho trying to hold on to Struker's head to control him but Struker postures up.
Sobrinho tries to get to full guard but Struker has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Giovani Sobrinho will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Struker shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Sobrinho eats them both and turns towards Struker to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

It looks like Giovani Sobrinho has been cut.
Sobrinho misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A combination from Sobrinho does no damage.
Struker shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sobrinho sprawls well. Sobrinho wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Struker gets slowly back to his feet.
Sobrinho falls off balance throwing a combination
and Struker counters with a thumping low kick.
Struker fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struker checks a low kick from Sobrinho.
Giovani Sobrinho is winning the standup battle so far.
Struker shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sobrinho defends it nicely.
Giovani Sobrinho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommy Struker.
Sobrinho lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Tommy Struker has been cut.
Struker misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sobrinho closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sobrinho avoids it really well and circles away.
Sobrinho ducks under a wild hook from Struker.
Giovani Sobrinho is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Struker slips a straight right by Sobrinho.
Sobrinho tries to work over Struker's front leg with a kick but Struker checks it.
Sobrinho leaves Struker with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struker throws a head kick but Sobrinho moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Sobrinho.
A punch combination from Sobrinho misses.
Sobrinho avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sobrinho swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Struker counters with a body kick.
Struker with a poor takedown
and Sobrinho counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sobrinho throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Struker counters with a leg kick.
Struker with a poor takedown
and Sobrinho makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Sobrinho misses with a low kick.
Sobrinho looks to land a combination but Struker avoids it well.
Sobrinho throws a leg kick
enabling Struker to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Struker misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sobrinho pivots, looking for a leg kick but Struker is out of range and Sobrinho settles back down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovani Sobrinho dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Struker swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Struker misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sobrinho fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sobrinho throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Struker shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sobrinho as he avoids it easily.
Struker shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sobrinho as he avoids it easily.
Giovani Sobrinho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommy Struker.
Sobrinho throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Struker counters with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Sobrinho.
Giovani Sobrinho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sobrinho misses with a double jab

and Struker counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sobrinho's guard now.

Struker postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sobrinho is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Struker, into his guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struker wants to stand up but Sobrinho is controlling him.
Sobrinho controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Sobrinho got a little sloppy there for a moment and Struker has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sobrinho has managed to get both his arms back between Struker's legs - danger averted.
Sobrinho working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Struker avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
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!

Struker looking for a guillotine here but Sobrinho defends easily.
Sobrinho controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Struker looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Struker is looking for a triangle but Sobrinho pushes his legs off easily.

Struker working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sobrinho doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sobrinho manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sobrinho postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sobrinho trying to control but Struker is working from the bottom.

Struker looking for a guillotine here but Sobrinho defends easily.
Struker keeping moving, preventing Sobrinho from controlling successfully.
Tommy Struker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sobrinho stands and throws Struker's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sobrinho tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Struker misses with an elbow from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy Struker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sobrinho 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Giovani Sobrinho!
Giovani Sobrinho seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.