PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raoul Duke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bas De Groote (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Duke comes to the cage accompanied by Bury Me With It. De Groote has chosen Bas' Theme as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Duke
vs
De Groote

195 cm
24
246 lbs
18 - 2 - 0

193 cm
24
245 lbs
18 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Bushido Clothing

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 18 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Raoul Duke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Bas De Groote!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Colin Fotheringham and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Groote misses with a few strikes there.
A slow jab from Duke misses its intended target.
Raoul Duke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Duke throws a shot from downtown. De Groote moves away and avoids it.
Duke jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Duke blocks a head kick by De Groote.

Duke clinches up with De Groote and pushes him back against the cage.
De Groote lands an elbow inside that Duke shrugs off.

It looks like Raoul Duke has been cut.
Duke misses with a short punch on the inside.
Duke blocks a punch to the side of the head.
De Groote is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

De Groote manages to break the clinch.
Duke throws a shot from downtown. De Groote moves away and avoids it.
Duke is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by De Groote.
Duke scores with a jab to the head.
De Groote takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Duke is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by De Groote.
Duke gets cracked with a nice right hand there by De Groote.
Duke throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A jab from Duke misses.
De Groote lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Duke throws an uppercut from half a mile away. De Groote sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A slow jab from De Groote misses its intended target.
Duke throws a hook but De Groote blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Groote takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nice uppercut there from Duke.
Duke scores with a crisp jab that stopped De Groote in his tracks.
An inside leg kick lands from De Groote.
De Groote is looking to score with low kicks.
De Groote throws a series of punches but Duke avoids them all with ease.
A head kick from Duke lands but De Groote takes it in his stride.
De Groote takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A head kick misses from De Groote.
De Groote moves out of range as Duke strikes.
Nice cross by De Groote.

De Groote drives through with a takedown into guard.

Duke throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
De Groote works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Duke is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Duke is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Groote takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Duke is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
De Groote working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Well, if De Groote 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.

De Groote is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Duke defends it well.
De Groote throwing shots but Duke is blocking nicely.
De Groote missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duke is looking for a sweep. De Groote is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
De Groote sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Duke defending well though.
Duke gets full guard.
Duke wants to sweep but no luck.
De Groote engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
De Groote trying to control the position from guard on top but Duke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Duke looking to hit a scissor sweep but De Groote is one step ahead there.
De Groote trying to control the position from guard on top but Duke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Bas De Groote.
De Groote looks to throw the jab but Duke is out of range.
Raoul Duke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
De Groote slips under a jab.
De Groote throws a head kick that misses.
Duke slips a straight right by De Groote.
De Groote steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Duke.
Duke walks forward, straight into a front kick from De Groote.
Duke throws a jab when De Groote was well out of range.
De Groote defending well as Duke loads up on a big left hand.
Duke throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Duke swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A shot to the liver by De Groote. Beautiful body shot.
De Groote steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Duke.
Duke is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
De Groote slips under a jab from Duke.
Duke thows a left - swing and a miss!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Duke looks to throw the jab but De Groote is out of range.
Duke throws out a loose jab but De Groote uses good head movement to avoid it.
De Groote with a body punch. A glancing blow.
De Groote fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Duke avoids it really well and circles away.
Duke jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bas De Groote dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Raoul Duke's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

De Groote swings away with a leg kick that misses.
De Groote throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jab by Duke.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Duke enables De Groote to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Duke manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Duke manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. De Groote manages to get himself to full guard.
Duke postures up in De Groote's guard and throws a big left but De Groote blocks it.

De Groote is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Duke is aware though and is defending well.
De Groote lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Duke!
De Groote tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
De Groote raining down hammerfists from mount.
De Groote is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Duke can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
De Groote wants to control the pace but Duke is squirming around nicely.
De Groote has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duke manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Duke works his way to full guard. Good work.
De Groote wants to control from the top but Duke keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Duke is on top in guard.
Duke wants to control from the top but De Groote keeps moving.
De Groote is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Groote is trying to control the position but Duke postures up.

De Groote working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Duke doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Duke manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as De Groote holds on and takes a little breather.
De Groote is trying to keep Duke in close.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Duke trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

De Groote is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
De Groote trying to keep a closed guard but Duke is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duke stays in close to De Groote's body and controls the position.
Duke wants to pass the guard but De Groote is keeping the position.
Duke trying to control but De Groote is working from the bottom.
Bas De Groote has got the better of the ground game so far.
De Groote is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Duke connects with a crisp jab.
De Groote tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Duke jabbing away but nothing is landing.
De Groote moves out of range of the strikes.
De Groote misses with a kick to the body.
Duke swings away with a body shot that misses

and De Groote decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Duke's guard.
De Groote trying to control the position from guard on top but Duke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duke is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Duke looking to control.
De Groote won't allow Duke to sweep him here.
Duke keeping moving, preventing De Groote from controlling successfully.
De Groote looking to pass the guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
De Groote moves out of range of the strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
De Groote avoids the head kick by Duke.
Duke fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches De Groote on the side of the head.
Duke misses with a hook. De Groote ducked under it nicely.
A solid leg kick lands there for De Groote.
De Groote moves into range and connects with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bas De Groote showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Raoul Duke's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Duke misses with a straight right.
De Groote scoring well with a low kick there.
A telegraphed right hand from Duke misses the target.
Duke tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A slow jab from De Groote misses its intended target.
A swing and a miss from Duke.
De Groote keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Duke pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
De Groote ducks under a wild hook from Duke.
De Groote takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
De Groote looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
De Groote fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Duke.
Duke throws out a loose jab but De Groote uses good head movement to avoid it.
Duke takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice takedown defense from Duke. No joy for De Groote on that attempt.
De Groote uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Duke.
De Groote cracks Duke with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Duke cracks De Groote with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duke tries to clinch up.
De Groote moves away from the strike by Duke.
Duke misses with a straight left.
De Groote is trying hard to land a takedown here. Duke sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Raoul Duke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bas De Groote.
De Groote scoring well with a low kick there.
De Groote moves out of range as Duke strikes.
Duke misses with an uppercut. De Groote saw that one coming.
Duke missing with a left hand there. De Groote was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
De Groote throws a head kick that misses.
De Groote is looking to score with low kicks.
De Groote slips a straight right by Duke.
De Groote avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
De Groote misses with a body kick.
De Groote throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Duke pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
De Groote keeps the fight on the outside.
Good shot there by Duke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Duke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from De Groote.
Duke keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Duke throws a looping overhand right but De Groote ducks down to avoid it.
De Groote moves out of range as Duke strikes.
De Groote takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
De Groote slips a straight right by Duke.
A big left from Duke misses.
De Groote fails with an attempt to clinch.
De Groote moves in looking to clinch but Duke pushes him off.
De Groote bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Duke lands with a good body shot.
De Groote throws a jab when Duke was well out of range.

Duke gets a clinch.
De Groote creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Duke's defenses.
Duke misses with the head strike.
Duke gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from De Groote.
De Groote blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Groote is looking to break free of the clinch but Duke has double underhooks.
De Groote tries a body shot but Duke blocks it.
A short left from Duke.
Duke misses with a knee to the head.
Duke tries to land knees in the clinch but De Groote avoids the damage to the body.
Duke swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Duke throws a blind hook that connects with the side of De Grootes head.
De Groote has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Duke avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Duke digs a right hand underneath De Groote's ribcage. De Groote let out a lung full of air as it connected.
De Groote takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Duke trying to control the position but instead, De Groote has worked for underhooks and has pushed Duke into the cage.
De Groote dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Duke misses with a hook from the clinch.
Duke lands a left hand.
Duke is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

De Groote manages to break the clinch.
De Groote is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
De Groote tried to score with a low kick but Duke checks it.
Duke avoids the head kick by De Groote.
Duke jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duke misses with a body punch

and De Groote counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
De Groote working Duke over with strikes.
Duke slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
De Groote forces his way into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Duke wants to control but De Groote is keeping busy and won't allow it.
De Groote wants to take a breather but Duke is having none of it.
Duke gets full guard.
Raoul Duke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bas De Groote is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
De Groote looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
De Groote trying to control the position from guard on top but Duke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bas De Groote comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got De Groote 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bas De Groote!