PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Struker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Handle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Struker
vs
Handle

195 cm
22
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tommy Struker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Don Handle!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Seu Braga and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Handle shoots for a double leg takedown but Struker sprawls well. He's pushed Handle's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Struker swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Handle.
Handle fails with an attempt to clinch.
Handle fails in his attempt to clinch.

Struker instigates a clinch.
Struker wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Handle managing to block the knees to the body from Struker.
Struker lands a knee to the body.
Struker on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Struker.
Handle looks gassed!
Struker landing knees to the body.
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 using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Struker unloads a knee to the mid-section. Handle lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

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

Struker moves into the clinch.
Struker is pressed up against the cage. Handle has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Struker down to the mat. Struker avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Crunch! Struker slams his shin into Handle's torso.
Handle stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Struker.
Handle stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Struker.

Struker forces Handle back against the cage and clinches.
Struker landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Struker.
Struker landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Struker lands a knee to the body.
Struker crunches a lovely knee into Handle's ribcage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handle on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Struker unloads a knee to the mid-section. Handle lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Struker lands a nice knee to the body.
Struker misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Handle.
Struker unloads a knee to the mid-section. Handle lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Struker scores a nice knee to the body.
Handle blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Handle manages to pull guard.

Handle looking for a guillotine here but Struker defends easily.
Handle controls Struker momentarily but Struker frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Handle has a closed guard, preventing Struker from standing up.

Handle had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Struker is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Handle Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Struker's back instead.
Struker trying to get back to his feet but Handle is in full control for now.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Handle. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Handle wants to control but Struker is keeping busy.
Struker knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Handle on the ground.
Struker trying to get back to his feet but Handle is in full control for now.
Handle wants to control but Struker is keeping busy.

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.
Struker covering up well and avoiding damage.
Struker controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Struker is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Handle gets his way!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Handle has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Struker dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Struker has taken the fight to the clinch.
Handle has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Struker avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Struker with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Struker connects with a nasty looking knee right to Handle's face.
Struker lands a nice knee to the body.
Struker landing knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Struker.
Struker landing knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Struker.
Struker scores a nice knee to the body.
Struker lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Handle wants a takedown.
Struker crunches a lovely knee into Handle's ribcage.
Tommy Struker has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Handle tries for a takedown. No joy.
Tommy Struker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Don Handle.
Struker wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Handle tries to score a body lock takedown but Struker shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
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!
Handle blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Handle is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Struker missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Handle fails to pull guard.
Struker using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struker misses with a knee strike.
Handle is trying to break the clinch but Struker has him pressed against the cage.
A knee to the head by Struker.
Handle goes for a takedown in the clinch but Struker prevents it.
Struker with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Struker prevents a takedown attempt there.
Struker connects with a nasty looking knee right to Handle's face.
Struker is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Handle can do to turn this around?
Struker lands a nice knee to the body.
Struker misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Handle.
Handle is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Handle tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Struker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Handle gets the takedown into side control.

Handle decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Handle tries to clinch but Struker moves away
and Struker counters with an inside leg kick.
Handle throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Struker doesn't manage to clinch there - Handle circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struker throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Handle.
Don Handle is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Struker jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Handle circles away from the clinch attempt.
Handle throws a head kick that misses
and Struker counters with a low kick, right behind Handle 's knee.
Struker dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Handle. That did some damage!
Handle tries for a takedown but Struker sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Struker throws a quick inside leg kick.
Struker is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Struker lands a jab-cross combination.
Tommy Struker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Handle shoots in but no luck this time.
Struker tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Handle counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Struker!
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!
Handle in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Handle looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Handle won't let Struker get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Handle looking to control and managing it successfully.
Struker is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

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.
Handle working the ground and pound effectively.
Struker is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Handle has taken his back!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Handle really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Struker.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Struker dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Struker clinches up with Handle and pushes him back against the cage.
Knees to the body from Struker.
Struker lands a nice knee to the body.
Handle is trying to drag Struker to the mat but Struker just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Struker manages to break the clinch.

Struker has Handle up against the cage in a clinch.
Handle goes for a takedown attempt but Struker pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Struker moves into the clinch.
Struker scores a nice knee to the body.
Struker connects with a nasty looking knee right to Handle's face.
Struker with a knee to the head.
Struker using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Struker tries to land knees in the clinch but Handle avoids the damage to the body.
Handle avoiding damage as Struker throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Handle lands a takedown into guard.
Handle trying to control the position from guard on top but Struker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Handle looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Handle trying to control the position from guard on top but Struker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Struker on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Struker tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Handle thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Handle trying to control the position from guard on top but Struker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Handle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Struker is keeping the position for now.
Handle wants to control from the top but Struker keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struker keeping full guard, as Handle tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Struker clinches up with Handle and pushes him back against the cage.
Struker misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Handle.
Knees in the clinch landing for Struker.
Struker unloads a knee to the mid-section. Handle lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Struker unloads a knee to the mid-section. Handle lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Struker landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Knees in the clinch landing for Struker.
Knees in the clinch landing for Struker.
Handle managing to block the knees to the body from Struker.
Struker trying to land knees to the body.
Handle is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Struker gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Tommy Struker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Don Handle.
Struker landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Handle tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Handle looking for a takedown.

Struker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Struker rushes Handle and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Struker connects with a nasty looking knee right to Handle's face.
Struker has had enough of the clinch but Handle keeps him there for the moment.

Struker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Handle clinches up with Struker and pushes him back against the cage.
Handle is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Struker missing with knees to the body.
Handle unloads a knee to the mid-section. Struker lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Handle tries for a takedown. No joy.
Handle goes for a takedown attempt but Struker pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Handle looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Don Handle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Struker gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tommy Struker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Handle missing with knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy Struker showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Struker, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy Struker!