PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stefan Struve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alfredo da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Struve
vs
da Silva

225 cm
22
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
22
234 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Stefan Struve!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alfredo da Silva!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Aafke Stam and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

da Silva shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. da Silva showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Struve looking for submissions off his back.

Struve looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
da Silva perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Struve looking for submissions off his back.
da Silva controlling the pace.

Struve actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Struve looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
da Silva takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Struve looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
da Silva is looking to advance position but Struve won't allow it.
Well, if da Silva is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Struve works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

da Silva avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
da Silva not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
da Silva passes Struve's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Struve wants to improve his position but da Silva is controlling well.
da Silva stalling.

Struve looking for submissions off his back.
Struve is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with da Silva in particular looking to stall.

Despite being in the dominant position, Alfredo da Silva just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

da Silva is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Struve's half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
da Silva takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Struve regains full guard. Nicely done.

Struve is looking for a triangle but da Silva pushes his legs off easily.

Struve looking for a guillotine here but da Silva defends easily.
da Silva is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Struve looking for a guillotine here but da Silva defends easily.
da Silva passes Struve's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
da Silva slows the pace down in half guard.

Struve looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
da Silva content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
I looks like da Silva might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alfredo da Silva dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

da Silva scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
da Silva is staying tight to Struve's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Struve is looking to regain half guard here but da Silva keeps moving and retains side control.

da Silva has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Struve with a poor takedown

and da Silva counters with a nice double leg into side control. Struve won't be happy with that.
da Silva in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Struve really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
da Silva trying to control the position but Struve is working away.
da Silva controls the position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Alfredo da Silva just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

da Silva bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Struve tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Struve is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked da Silva off and has taken his back!
da Silva just trying to survive but Struve is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Struve is persistently looking for the submission but da Silva is defending it well.
da Silva rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Struve is working for a kimura but da Silva is defending it quite comfortably.
da Silva is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Struve is pressing down on da Silva's thigh, looking to free his foot. da Silva is holding on for now.
da Silva works his way to full guard. Good work.
da Silva has his hands on Struve's head, controlling the position.

Struve drops back looking for a leg! da Silva is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and da Silva manages to kick Struve off! Struve jumps back into da Silva's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
da Silva wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
da Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Struve is proving a slippery customer.
Struve will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Struve pushing down on da Silva's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Struve is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so da Silva is just riding it out for now. Struve eventually gives up the hold.
da Silva slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

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.
da Silva pulls Struve in close to his closed guard and prevents Struve from doing any damage or advancing position.

Struve thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
da Silva has control of Struve's left arm, preventing Struve from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alfredo da Silva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

da Silva closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
da Silva taking a breather here.
Struve is not content to let da Silva control the position.
Struve seems a little lost for a moment, as da Silva dominates the positioning.

Despite being in the dominant position, Alfredo da Silva just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
da Silva with a lazy takedown attempt

and Struve counters with a nice double leg into side control. da Silva won't be happy with that.
Alfredo da Silva has got the better of the ground game so far.
Struve in the domination position with da Silva hanging on.

Struve has hold of da Silva's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! da Silva tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Struve cranks the arm and da Silva screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from da Silva, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Stefan Struve!