PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Van Struve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mateusz Molibdenowy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Molibdenowy has chosen Hemp Gru - HWDP as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Mateusz Molibdenowy has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Van Struve's chin.

Struve
vs
Molibdenowy

205 cm
18
200 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

190 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Van Struve!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mateusz Molibdenowy!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Nard Betker and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Molibdenowy wants to clinch
and Struve counters with a stiff right hand.

Struve gets tackled into the cage by Molibdenowy. Molibdenowy maintains the clinch.

Molibdenowy breaks the clinch.
Molibdenowy shoots and misses
and Struve cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Struve tries for a takedown but Molibdenowy circles away easily
and Molibdenowy counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Molibdenowy misses the body punch

so Struve counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Struve slips nicely into half guard.
Molibdenowy is staying active underneath Struve, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Molibdenowy trying to hold on to Struve's head to control him but Struve postures up.
Struve trying to control the action but Molibdenowy is working from the bottom.
Molibdenowy wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struve stalling.
Struve not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

We're going to have a standup here because Van Struve wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Struve with a lazy takedown attempt

and Molibdenowy counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Molibdenowy.
Molibdenowy goes for a takedown attempt but Struve pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Molibdenowy tries for a takedown but Struve circles away easily

and Struve decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Molibdenowy's guard.
Van Struve has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mateusz Molibdenowy.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Struve accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Struve looking to pass the guard.
Struve postures up in Molibdenowy's guard and throws a big left but Molibdenowy blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molibdenowy controls Struve momentarily but Struve frees himself.
Struve has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Molibdenowy keeping moving, preventing Struve from controlling successfully.
Struve throws a big right hand that misses.
Molibdenowy 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.
Struve working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Struve in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Struve is fighting to break Molibdenowy's control of his arms but Molibdenowy is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Struve will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Struve pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Molibdenowy is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Molibdenowy is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Molibdenowy looks gassed!
Struve stays in close to Molibdenowy's body and controls the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mateusz Molibdenowy hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Molibdenowy lands a nice looking kick to the body. Struve takes a step back to recover.

Molibdenowy shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Struve's guard.

Molibdenowy got a little sloppy there for a moment and Struve has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Molibdenowy has managed to get both his arms back between Struve's legs - danger averted.

Struve pushes Molibdenowy off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Molibdenowy misses with a takedown

and Struve counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
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.
Struve trying to control but Molibdenowy is working from the bottom.
Molibdenowy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Struve is one step ahead there.
Molibdenowy looking to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Struve postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Van Struve dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Struve misses with a takedown attempt

and Molibdenowy counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Struve working for a triangle but Molibdenowy defends it easily.
Molibdenowy sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Struve's guard.
Molibdenowy is trying to control the action in half guard but Struve is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Molibdenowy is taking a breather. Struve says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Struve looking for subs from the bottom but Molibdenowy mounts him!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Molibdenowy prevents Struve from getting the reversal.
Molibdenowy looking to control but Struve is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Molibdenowy lands with some strikes.
Molibdenowy landing punches.
Molibdenowy fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Struve is just holding on here. Molibdenowy manages to take his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molibdenowy lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Struve is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Molibdenowy is working the ground and pound. Can Struve escape?
Struve wants to escape the position.

Molibdenowy is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Struve is defending well though. Molibdenowy let's go of the attempt for now.
Struve looking very determined here, making life difficult for Molibdenowy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Struve fending off the submission attempt from Molibdenowy.
Struve breaks Molibdenowy's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Struve scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Molibdenowy wants to control the position but Struve says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Struve drops an elbow to the side of Molibdenowy's head.
Struve wants to lay and pray for a moment but Molibdenowy keeps working.
Struve working Molibdenowy over with strikes.

Molibdenowy kicks off Struve and gets to his feet.

Molibdenowy gets caught flat footed, as Struve shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mateusz Molibdenowy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Molibdenowy shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Struve counters with a shoot takedown. Molibdenowy fights it but they end up in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Struve accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Molibdenowy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Struve trying to control the position from guard on top but Molibdenowy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Struve with a nice head shot there.
Struve trying to control but Molibdenowy is working from the bottom.
Struve wants to pass the guard but Molibdenowy is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Molibdenowy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Struve is looking to work some ground and pound but Molibdenowy has wrist control.
Struve postures up in Molibdenowy's guard and throws a big left but Molibdenowy blocks it.
Molibdenowy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Molibdenowy can't keep his opponent in guard - Struve advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Struve seems to be working for a kimura but Molibdenowy defends the submission attempt.
Molibdenowy works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Struve wants to stand but Molibdenowy has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Molibdenowy 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.
Van Struve overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Struve wants to pass the guard but Molibdenowy is keeping the position.
Struve throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Molibdenowy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struve is in close to Molibdenowy's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Struve throwing strikes from guard but Molibdenowy blocks nicely.
Molibdenowy keeping moving, preventing Struve from controlling successfully.
Molibdenowy is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Struve is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Struve works over Molibdenowy with some ground and pound from guard.
Struve postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Molibdenowy looking to control.

Struve gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Struve tries to clinch but Molibdenowy moves out of range.
Molibdenowy lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Struve backs up against the cage.
Struve is looking to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Molibdenowy clinches with his opponent.
Molibdenowy stops a takedown attempt from Struve.
Molibdenowy putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Struve in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Van Struve showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Struve 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28

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