PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steven Zisteau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samuel Duke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Samuel Duke enters the cage!

Zisteau
vs
Duke

168 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

178 cm
19
170 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing over 40$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Steven Zisteau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Samuel Duke!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zisteau avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zisteau takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Decent striking displayed by Duke there.
Duke misses with a wild body shot.
Duke falls off balance throwing a combination

and Zisteau counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Zisteau.
Duke content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Duke breaks the clinch.
Duke misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zisteau fails with the takedown.
Duke defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zisteau.
Duke comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Duke fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Zisteau looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Duke lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zisteau circles away quickly and effectively.
The crowd cheers as Duke lands an impressive looking overhand right. Zisteau doesn't seem phased though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duke throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Duke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Duke feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Zisteau's calf.
Duke fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Duke throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zisteau shoots for a double leg takedown but Duke sprawls well. He's pushed Zisteau's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Zisteau. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Duke misses with a body shot.
Duke lands with an uppercut that bounces Zisteau off the cage and back into range.
Zisteau is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Duke.
Zisteau swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Duke throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zisteau throws a looping overhand right but Duke ducks down to avoid it.
Some wild striking there from Duke.
Sloppy strikes from Duke. Those never looked like landing.
Samuel Duke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Duke.
Duke throws a right and a left that both miss.
Duke throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Duke fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zisteau is trying hard to land a takedown here. Duke sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Duke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Duke is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Zisteau rather than just go for the knockout.
Duke misses with a jab, cross combination.
Duke throws a right and a left that both miss.

Zisteau closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Zisteau lands in his opponent's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Zisteau stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Duke swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zisteau cracks Duke with a solid left hand.
Zisteau trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zisteau working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Zisteau pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Duke is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zisteau is working hard here to advance position.

Zisteau drops back, looking for a kneebar! Duke looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Duke looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Duke!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duke wants to stand but Zisteau has his arm trapped.
Zisteau is letting Duke control him for a moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Duke tries to stand but Zisteau is controlling his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Duke falls off balance throwing a combination

and Zisteau moves into the clinch.

Zisteau breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Duke avoids the head kick by Zisteau.
Duke throws a right and a left that Zisteau avoids nicely.
Duke throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zisteau.
Duke scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Zisteau takes a kick to the side of the head.
Zisteau takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A shot to the liver by Duke. Beautiful body shot.
A combination from Duke does no damage.

Zisteau closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Duke quickly recovers to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zisteau is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Zisteau scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zisteau lands a couple of digs.

Zisteau has gone for a leg lock! Duke slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zisteau's guard.
Duke wants to stand but Zisteau has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Zisteau wants to stand but Duke is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duke would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Duke is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Duke lands the left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zisteau takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Zisteau looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Duke jabs at Zisteau's body.
Duke throws a right and a left that Zisteau avoids nicely.
Zisteau gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Duke lets loose with a powerful body kick. Zisteau will feel that in the morning.
Zisteau fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Duke avoids it really well and circles away.
Duke works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Duke rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zisteau moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Samuel Duke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Duke misses with a jab, cross combination.
Duke misses with a double jab.
Zisteau changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Duke tries to avoid it but Zisteau manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Duke to the ground. Duke escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duke scores with a nice right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Duke lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zisteau circles away quickly and effectively.
Duke is breathing heavily.
Duke will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Duke throws the left hand but Zisteau avoids the punch easily.
Zisteau misses the shot to the body.
Duke has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A right-left combo lands from Duke.
Samuel Duke seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zisteau will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Zisteau. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Duke throws a right and a left that both miss.
Duke leaves Zisteau with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Duke misses with a wild combination.
Duke scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samuel Duke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Zisteau takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Zisteau is rocked!
Duke steps into range and unloads a brutal right left combo! Zisteau is out on his feet! Duke sets himself and nearly takes Zisteau's head off with a straight right, sending him crashing to the mat! Wow, that was nasty... but awesome! Wooo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:11 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Samuel Duke!
In defeat, Steven Zisteau stepped up to the mic, saying 'Man pance failed me.'.