PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cid Strife (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manolito Damhuis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Strife
vs
Damhuis

183 cm
23
189 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

184 cm
23
182 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Sun-Tzu
Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cid Strife!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Manolito Damhuis!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Albert Achterberg and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Damhuis tries a low kick but Strife avoids it.
Good leg kick by Damhuis there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Strife tries to clinch up but Damhuis circles away and keeps his distance.
Strife with a hook.
Strife looks to score with a jab to the body but Damhuis is just out of range.
Strife moves into range and connects with a jab.
Strife fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Damhuis manages to avoid it.
Strife takes a swing at Damhuis's ribcage but misses.
Damhuis changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A leg kick checked by Strife.

Damhuis bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Strife's coaches at Mary Gracies Jiu Jitsu have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Damhuis landing a few strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Strife is trying to control Damhuis's posture but Damhuis avoids it.
Strife is looking to regain half guard here but Damhuis keeps moving and retains side control.
Damhuis has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strife has one of Damhuis's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Damhuis throwing strikes but Strife manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Damhuis is letting Strife control him for a moment.
Damhuis is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strife wants to control but Damhuis is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Damhuis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Strife staying calm.
Strife trying to control the position but Damhuis is working away.
Strife in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Damhuis tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strife controls the position.
Strife passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Damhuis!
Strife controlling from the full mount.
Damhuis tries to hold on but Strife pushes him away.
Damhuis working to try and regain half guard.
Strife looking to control and managing it successfully.
Damhuis tries to hold on but Strife postures up.
Strife content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strife can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Damhuis is looking to escape.
Damhuis working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Damhuis tries to hold on but Strife postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Damhuis misses with a low kick.
Strife swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Damhuis.
Strife connects with a right hand. Damhuis shakes it off.
Strife lands with a thumping leg kick.
Jab, jab by Strife - just one landing.
Damhuis walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Damhuis misses with a body kick.
Strife connects with a right hand. Damhuis shakes it off.
Strife lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Damhuis.
Strife misses with a looping left.
And Damhuis tries to counter it with a takedown but Strife pushes his down on his head and steps out.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Damhuis checks a leg kick.
Strife is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Damhuis can do to turn this around?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Strife jabs at Damhuis's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strife throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A slapping leg kick lands for Strife.
Strife loads up on a big right hand but Damhuis slips the punch.
Strife misses the shot to the body.
Damhuis changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Strife looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Strife connects with a solid leg kick.
Strife misses with a looping right.
Damhuis avoids the body shot from Strife.
Strife fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Damhuis manages to avoid it.
Damhuis changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Damhuis steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Strife.
Strife fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Damhuis manages to avoid it.
Damhuis lands a leg kick that knocks Strife off balance momentarily.
Damhuis gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Strife.
Strife avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strife scores with a jab to the body.
Strife throws a leg kick that misses.
And Damhuis tries to counter it with a takedown but Strife pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Strife fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Damhuis manages to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Strife fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Damhuis, pushing him back against the cage.
Damhuis prevents a body shot from Strife.
Strife working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Damhuis jumps guard and drags Strife to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Strife postures up.
Strife stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Damhuis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Strife trying to control but Damhuis is working from the bottom.
Strife has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Damhuis has his foot on Strife's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Strife works his way back into a safe position though.
Strife wants to control from the top but Damhuis keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Damhuis is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Strife defends well.

Damhuis has his foot on Strife's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Strife works his way back into a safe position though.
Damhuis managing to control the position.

Damhuis looking for a guillotine here but Strife defends easily.

Damhuis has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Strife can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Damhuis can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Strife controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Damhuis tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Damhuis wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Damhuis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Strife gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Strife trying to control but Damhuis is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Strife controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cid Strife is winning the standup battle so far.
Strife jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Damhuis ducks under a wild hook from Strife.
Strife connects with a nice looking jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cid Strife dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Strife misses with an uppercut.
Strife throws out a loose jab but Damhuis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Strife loads up on a big right hand but Damhuis slips the punch.

Strife gets caught napping as Damhuis dives in and scores a takedown. Strife manages to retain guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strife is adopting a defensive guard.
Strife has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Strife working a defensive guard but Damhuis manages to pass into side control anyway.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strife is trying to control Damhuis's posture but Damhuis avoids it.
Strife is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strife regains half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Damhuis looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Manolito Damhuis has got the better of the ground game so far.

Damhuis is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Strife is looking to improve his position.
Strife manages to get to full guard.
Damhuis wants to pass the guard but Strife is keeping the position.
Damhuis postures up in Strife's guard and throws a big left but Strife blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Damhuis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Strife is keeping the position for now.
Damhuis stands up over Strife, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Strife trying to control the position here.
Strife is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Strife is pulling down on Damhuis's head to control his posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.
Damhuis takes one to the chin there.
Damhuis throws a low kick, looking for Strife's leg but Strife calmly moves out of range.
Strife stuns Damhuis with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Damhuis lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Damhuis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Strife connects with a body shot that sends Damhuis's belly button to the back.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Damhuis.
Strife throws a shot from downtown. Damhuis moves away and avoids it.
Cid Strife seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strife throws a hook to the side of Damhuis's head but Damhuis sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Damhuis drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Strife defends it well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strife tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Damhuis is able to avoid easily.

Strife instigates a clinch.
Strife fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Manolito Damhuis just about did enough to take it.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Decent striking displayed by Damhuis there.
Damhuis walks into a stiff left hand from Strife.
Damhuis bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Damhuis takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Damhuis ducks under a wild hook from Strife.
Damhuis changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Strife wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Strife misses with a body shot.
Donk. Strife catches Damhuis right on the button with a cross.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Still in the clinch, Strife scores with a nice short uppercut.
Damhuis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Damhuis stalling the fight.

Damhuis successfully pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strife looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Damhuis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Damhuis working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Strife doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Strife manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Damhuis being controlled here, momentarily.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Strife.

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.

Damhuis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Damhuis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Strife slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Damhuis is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Strife defends well.
Damhuis tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Damhuis keeping moving, preventing Strife from controlling successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Damhuis working for a triangle but Strife defends it easily.

Damhuis is looking for a triangle but Strife pushes his legs off easily.
Strife engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Damhuis throws a head kick that misses
and Strife counters with a stiff right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Strife. Damhuis does a little dance to reset his feet.
Strife misses the shot to the body.
Strife thuds his shin into the meat of Damhuis's side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strife lands a high kick!
A nice leg kick lands there from Strife.
Damhuis with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Damhuis moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Strife throws the left hand but Damhuis avoids the punch easily.
And Damhuis tries to counter it with a takedown but Strife pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Damhuis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Strife misses with a wild body shot.
Damhuis changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Damhuis ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Strife moves away.
Damhuis swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Strife throws a shot from downtown. Damhuis moves away and avoids it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Strife moves out of range of the body kick.
Strife looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Strife misses with a wild body shot.
Strife scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cid Strife had his way with Manolito Damhuis in that round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Damhuis connects with a leg kick. Strife looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Strife. Damhuis does a little dance to reset his feet.
Damhuis with the counter takedown but Strife avoids it easily.
Strife fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Damhuis has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Strife swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Strife feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Damhuis's calf.
Strife jabs Damhuis right on the nose. Damhuis blinks but takes it well.
Strife finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Damhuis changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Strife misses with a body shot.
Damhuis feints the counter takedown.
Strife misses with a leg kick.
Damhuis tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strife throws a leg kick but Damhuis sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Damhuis throws a front kick aimed at Strife's knee but Strife avoids it well.
An attempted straight right counter from Strife misses the target.
Strife swings for the body but Damhuis moves out of range.
Damhuis with the counter takedown but Strife avoids it easily.
Damhuis throws a leg kick which misses Strife's front leg but catches the back leg as Strife tries to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strife moves in looking to clinch but Damhuis pushes him off.
Strife swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Strife doesn't manage to clinch there - Damhuis circles away.
Damhuis changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Strife misses the shot to the body.
Strife is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Strife cracks Damhuis with a right hand to the side of the head.
Strife scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Strife takes a swing at Damhuis's ribcage but misses.
Cid Strife is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Damhuis moves out of range as Strife strikes.
Jab from Strife.
Strife waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Damhuis.
A jab lands there for Damhuis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strife on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Damhuis. Damhuis obviously looking to wear him down.
Strife scores with a crisp jab that stopped Damhuis in his tracks.
Nice defenses there by Damhuis.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Strife scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Damhuis drops his hands momentarily and Strife takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Damhuis misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Strife dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Damhuis. That did some damage!
Strife scores with a leg kick.
Damhuis fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Strife checks it well.
Damhuis is looking to land body kicks.
Strife moves into range and connects with a jab.
Strife looks to land a left hand but Damhuis moved out of range nicely.
Damhuis throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strife tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A bone on bone clash there as Damhuis blocks the leg kick.
Damhuis feints the counter takedown.
Strife lands a glancing blow to the side of Damhuis's head.
Damhuis wants to land a leg kick but Strife is out of range.
A jab lands there for Strife.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Damhuis.
Manolito Damhuis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Strife throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A chopping leg kick lands by Damhuis.
Strife pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Damhuis drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Strife defends it well.
Strife tries to clinch but Damhuis moves out of range.
Strife lands with a nice body punch.
Damhuis tries to land a front kick but Strife steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strife lands a jab.
A jab from Strife misses.
Damhuis's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Strife connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Damhuis scrambles back to his feet.
Damhuis doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Strife lands a right hook to the body.
Strife looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Strife throws a half hearted mid kick.
Damhuis doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Damhuis 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.
Strife scoring well with a low kick there.
Strife shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Damhuis eats them both and turns towards Strife to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Damhuis throws a leg kick
letting Strife counter with a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cid Strife showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Strife 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 49:46
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 49:46
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cid Strife!
Cid Strife retains his middleweight title!
Our winner, Cid Strife, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.