PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ruphus Duphus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bert Starius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bert Starius will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Duphus
vs
Starius

198 cm
22
227 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

180 cm
22
230 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ruphus Duphus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bert Starius!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Chris Edwards and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Starius stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

It looks like Ruphus Duphus has been cut.
Duphus avoids the body shot from Starius.
Duphus fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Starius manages to avoid it.
Duphus throws a front kick aimed at Starius's knee but Starius avoids it well.
Duphus looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Duphus thuds his shin into the meat of Starius's side.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Duphus cracks the inside of Starius's front leg.
Starius is looking to clinch.
Starius misses with a looping right.
Duphus looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nice defenses there by Duphus.
Duphus does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Duphus moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Starius checks the leg kick nicely there.
Starius tries to clinch there but Duphus circles away.
Starius misses with a straight left.

Starius rushes Duphus and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Duphus prevents a body shot from Starius.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duphus dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Starius works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Starius is pressed up against the cage. Duphus has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Starius down to the mat. Starius avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Duphus tries to score with a low kick but Starius moves his leg out of the way.
Starius checks a leg kick.
Duphus feints and then cracks Starius's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Starius down.
Duphus throws a hook but Starius blocks it.
Duphus misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Starius throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Duphus misses with an uppercut. Starius saw that one coming.
Starius scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Duphus staying out of range there.
Duphus avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Starius throws a series of punches but Duphus moves out of range.
Duphus throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Duphus keeps the fight on the outside.
Duphus shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Starius as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ruphus Duphus. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Starius drops Duphus with a beautiful combination! Duphus stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Starius is looking for the KO!
Ruphus Duphus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Duphus - that will leave a mark!
Starius looks to land a left hand but Duphus moved out of range nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Starius. Duphus does a little dance to reset his feet.
Starius has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Duphus.
Duphus lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Duphus fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Starius to the ground. Duphus is now in Starius's guard.
Duphus wants to pass the guard but Starius is keeping the position.
Duphus is working hard here to advance position.
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.
Duphus trying to control but Starius is working from the bottom.
Duphus throws a big elbow that misses.
Starius keeping moving, preventing Duphus from controlling successfully.
Starius tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Starius keeping moving, preventing Duphus from controlling successfully.
Duphus seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ruphus Duphus just wasn't active enough.
Starius takes a jab right on the kisser.
Duphus loads up on a big right hand but Starius slips the punch.

Duphus shoots in and bounces Starius off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Duphus will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Duphus trying to control but Starius is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Duphus tries to free his leg and advance position but Starius is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bert Starius will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ruphus Duphus's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Starius lands a nice shot that snaps Duphus's head back.

Ruphus Duphus's cut is getting worse.
Bert Starius seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A looping hook to the body misses from Starius. Duphus does a little dance to reset his feet.
Starius dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Duphus misses the shot to the body.
Duphus lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Duphus misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Starius misses the shot to the body.
Starius checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Donk. Starius catches Duphus right on the button with a cross.
Starius throws a lazy right hand but Duphus sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Duphus or perhaps it was just good defense by Starius, which made it look bad.

Duphus gets a double leg takedown into Starius's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Duphus prevents Starius from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duphus tries to free his leg and advance position but Starius is retaining full guard.
Starius manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Duphus is looking to get to half guard.
Starius controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duphus is wriggling around trying to escape.
Starius controlling from mount.
Starius tries to control but Duphus wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duphus slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Duphus is trying to get back to full guard.
Ruphus Duphus overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Bert Starius has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Duphus tries to score a power double leg takedown but Starius sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Duphus somewhat.
Duphus goes for a double leg but Starius avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Starius continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ruphus Duphus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short right from Starius on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Starius stops a takedown attempt from Duphus.
Duphus is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Duphus swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Duphus gets through Starius's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Starius lands a hook that snaps the head of Duphus backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Starius.
Starius is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Duphus is keeping busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Starius scores with an uppercut up the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice left hand lands by Duphus.
Duphus throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Duphus tries for a takedown. No joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bert Starius will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ruphus Duphus's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Duphus misses with a looping left.
Starius lands a jab-cross combination.
Starius takes a swing at Duphus's ribcage but misses.
A combination from Starius does no damage.
Good work by Starius as he checks the leg kick.
Duphus misses with a leg kick.
Starius is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Starius misses with a looping right.
Starius ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Duphus misses with an uppercut.
Duphus wants to slow Starius down by chopping away at his legs.
Starius fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Duphus manages to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Duphus jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starius blocks a leg kick.
Bert Starius is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Starius tries to clinch but Duphus is having none of it.
A combination from Starius does no damage.
Duphus lands a nice leg kick that just misses Starius's sensitive parts.
Starius on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Starius throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Duphus lands a leg kick that knocks Starius off balance momentarily.
Starius avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A nice leg kick lands there from Duphus.
Starius throws a nice looking combination but Duphus bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Starius throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Duphus sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Starius jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Duphus ducks under a wild hook from Starius.
Starius moves out of range of the body kick from Duphus.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starius throws a body shot but no joy.
Duphus misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
No joy there for Starius, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The fight stays on the outside here - Starius looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Duphus slips a jab and a cross from Starius.
Starius looks to throw the jab but Duphus is out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Both fighters circling a little - Duphus finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Starius takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Duphus lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Duphus throws a leg kick but Starius sees it coming and moves out of range.
Starius ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Duphus connects with a solid leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Starius.
Duphus looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Duphus tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Starius defends well and Duphus ends up having to push Starius into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Starius lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Starius throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Starius's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Starius swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Starius displaying some good clinch control by pressing Duphus up against the cage.
Duphus has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Starius after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ruphus Duphus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Duphus wants a takedown.
Duphus working aggressively here.
Starius stalls.
Starius continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Ruphus Duphus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Starius misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Duphus tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Duphus wants a takedown but no success here.
Duphus looking to slow down the pace here.
Bert Starius seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Starius scores with a shoulder strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Starius blocks a body shot from Duphus.
Starius goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Bert Starius.
I've got Starius 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Bert Starius!