PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Island Steve (ranked 25311 p4p, 4531 weight class) and Luke Duke (ranked 655 p4p, 508 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Steve
vs
Duke

190 cm
26
270
0 - 3 - 0

190 cm
22
270
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Island Steve!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Luke Duke!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Winston Alpacca and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steve uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Duke throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Steve counters with a one-two to the body.
Duke walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Steve tries to bum rush Duke with a series of wild strikes but Duke uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Duke shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Steve but Steve pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Steve moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Duke dives in for a single leg takedown but Steve sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Steve could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Steve throws a body shot but no joy.
Duke misses with a low kick as Steve jumps back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steve swats away the attempt to clinch by Duke.
Duke moves in looking to clinch but Steve pushes him off.

Duke closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Steve wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Steve lands a hook to the side of the head.
Duke tries to work over Steve's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Duke's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Duke clinches up with Steve and pushes him back against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Steve is looking to break free of the clinch but Duke has double underhooks.
Steve wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Duke has him pressed against the cage.
Steve is trying to break free.
Duke goes for a takedown attempt but Steve pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Island Steve has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke Duke.
Steve stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Duke moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Duke drops his hands momentarily and Steve takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Steve misses with a hook
and Duke counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Island Steve has been cut.
Island Steve is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Steve scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Duke looks for a takedown but Steve sprawls well.
Duke tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duke moves to clinch but Steve breaks away
and Steve counters with a straight right hand.
Steve throws a series of punches but Duke moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steve fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Steve throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Duke on the side of the head.
Duke slips a straight right by Steve.

Duke closes the distance and clinches.
Duke jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Steve walks away with a smile on his face. Duke gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A jab from Duke finds it's way through Steve's defenses.
Duke misses with a jab, cross combination.
Steve throws a nice looking combination but Duke bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Steve goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Nice straight punches there by Steve. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Steve.
Nice shot by Steve.
Steve leaves Duke with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Duke looks winded!
Steve fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duke gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Steve.
Steve lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Steve throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Steve circles away from the clinch attempt.
Duke has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Duke there as he acknowledges the shot.
Steve misses the jab.
Steve throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Duke sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Steve feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Dukes jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Steve is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Steve throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Duke tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Steve throwing a counter right hand but Duke manages to avoid it.
Duke swings widly with a right hand
and Steve cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Duke is defended easily by Steve.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steve lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Duke circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steve works the jab nicely.
Duke swinging wildly here.
Duke shoots in for a double leg but Steve sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Steve looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Duke takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A decent looking cross lands there for Steve.
No joy there for Steve, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Duke throws a leg kick but Steve sees it coming and moves out of range.
Steve throws a lazy right hand but Duke sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Steve swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Steve slips a jab and a cross from Duke.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steve misses with a few strikes there.
Steve is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Steve works the jab nicely.
Steve looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Duke on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Island Steve dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Island Steve's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Steve throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Duke.

Duke fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Steve, pushing him back against the cage.
Steve tries to circle away but Duke has him pinned against the cage.
Steve lands a right hand that snaps the head of Duke backwards.
Steve is trying to push Duke away but Duke has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Duke stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Duke breaks from the clinch.
Steve scores with a hook.
Duke has a takedown stuffed.
Luke Duke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duke closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Duke closes the distance and clinches.
Steve is trying to break the clinch but Duke has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Steve fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve wants to break the clinch but can't.
Steve pushes Duke back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Duke drops down looking for an ankle pick but Steve pulls his leg out and moves away.
Duke takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Duke tries for a takedown but Steve sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Island Steve has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke Duke.
Duke is breathing heavily.
Duke takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Steve tries to keep at a distance but Duke has taken the fight into the clinch.
Duke keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Steve's efforts to push away.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Duke.
A frustrated look appears on Duke's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Steve wants to get back to striking at distance but Duke won't allow it.
Steve looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Duke.

Duke pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Duke shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Steve throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Duke on the side of the head.
Steve throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
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!

Duke moves into range and clinches up with Steve.
Steve is trying to break free.
Steve tries to break the clinch but Duke is controlling the position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Steve as Duke tries to tie him up.
Duke fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Steve wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Steve looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Steve lands a body shot.
Steve is looking to break free of the clinch but Duke has double underhooks.
Steve looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duke tries to circle away but Steve has him pinned against the cage.
Steve is trying to break the clinch but Duke is controlling him.
Steve has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A frustrated look appears on Steve's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Steve blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A short right from Steve.
Steve tries to circle away but Duke has him pinned against the cage.
Duke tries for a takedown. No joy.
Duke tries to break free but Steve pushes him back against the cage.
Duke jumps guard but Steve turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Steve lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Duke backwards.
Steve misses with some punches.
Duke tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Steve smiles and moves away.

Duke closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steve is trying to break free.
Steve wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Duke is looking to control Steve's arms but Steve gets an underhook and turns him. Now Duke has his back to the cage.
Steve is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Steve misses with a hook from the clinch.
Steve misses with the head strike.
Steve is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Steve swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Steve is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Steve wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steve wants to break the clinch but can't.

Steve breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Duke walks into a stiff left hand from Steve.
Duke fails to land with a series of punches.
Steve is looking to counter punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Island Steve dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Island Steve's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Steve just misses with a punch to the body.

Steve gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Steve pushes Duke off and scrambles back to his feet.

Duke moves into the clinch.
Duke tries to pull guard but Steve forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Steve has had enough of the clinch but Duke keeps him there for the moment.
Steve is looking to break free of the clinch but Duke has double underhooks.
Duke keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Steve's efforts to push away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steve tries to break the clinch but Duke is controlling the position.
Steve is trying to break the clinch but Duke is controlling him.
Steve is trying to break the clinch but Duke has him pressed against the cage.
Steve lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve is trying to push Duke away but Duke has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Steve has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Steve's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Duke fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Island Steve is winning the standup battle so far.
A jab lands there for Steve.
Duke tries to clinch up but Steve circles away and keeps his distance.
Duke fails to land the takedown.
Steve swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Island Steve has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke Duke.
Duke takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Duke steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Steve.
Duke takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Duke looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Duke takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Steve smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Steve connects with a good right hand that stumbles Duke. Duke circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve lands with an uppercut that bounces Duke off the cage and back into range.
Nice jab there from Steve.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Duke walks into a straight right hand from Steve.
Duke shoots in but no luck this time.
Steve lands with a hook. Duke tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Steve throws out a loose jab but Duke uses good head movement to avoid it.
Steve takes a swing at Duke's ribcage but misses.
Duke fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Steve thuds his right hand into Duke's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Nice straight punches there by Steve. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Steve.
Steve lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Duke ducks under a wild hook from Steve.
Steve scores with a shot to the body.
Duke showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Steve.
Duke tries to clinch but Steve is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve cracks Duke with a right hand to the side of the head.
Steve getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Duke has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Steve throws a series of punches but Duke avoids them all with ease.
Steve throws a body punch but Duke moves out of range.
Steve feints a jab promting Duke to slip. Steve then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Duke slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Duke throws a lazy head kick
and Steve connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Steve keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Steve avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
It looked like Steve wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Steve scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Steve looks to land a combination. Duke sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big left from Steve misses.
Steve sets himself, and Duke steps forward looking for the clinch! Steve avoids it this time.
Steve showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Duke.
Steve scores with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steve connects with a looping right hand.
Duke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Steve.
Steve dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Duke slips a jab and a cross from Steve.
Duke closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Duke avoids a punch combination nicely.
Duke gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Steve counters with a left to the body.
Steve lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Steve connects with a right hand. Duke shakes it off.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steve jabs Duke right on the nose. Duke blinks but takes it well.
Duke misses with a looping right.
Luke Duke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Duke takes one to the chin there.
Island Steve is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Steve throws a series of punches but Duke avoids them all with ease.

And that's the end of the fight!
Island Steve showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Steve, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Island Steve!