PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stoner Steve (ranked 3565 p4p, 3673 weight class) and Ludko Struja Jr (ranked 463 p4p, 477 weight class). Struja Jr has chosen Wu-Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M. as his entrance music. Stoner Steve could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ludko Struja Jr's chin.

Steve
vs
Struja Jr

194 cm
25
215
6 - 7 - 1

192 cm
22
212
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 6 - 7 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stoner Steve!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ludko Struja Jr!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Steve Montenegro and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Struja Jr gets the takedown into side control.
Steve takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Struja Jr is looking to take a break and control but Steve is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Steve is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steve prevents Struja Jr from moving into mount.
Struja Jr trying to control the action but Steve is working from the bottom.
Struja Jr misses with the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steve sneaks back into half guard.
Steve is staying active underneath Struja Jr, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struja Jr missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Steve's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Steve blocking the ground and pound attempt from Struja Jr.
Steve is staying active underneath Struja Jr, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Steve keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Struja Jr throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Struja Jr looks to land a strike but Steve avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Struja Jr throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Steve working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Struja Jr.
Steve keeping moving, preventing Struja Jr from controlling successfully.
Struja Jr content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Struja Jr won't allow Steve to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struja Jr trying to control but Steve is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Struja Jr lands a couple of digs.
Struja Jr throws a big right hand that misses.
Struja Jr working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Struja Jr keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Steve's head.
Struja Jr throws a big right hand that misses.
Struja Jr looking to sit in guard and control but Steve gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Struja Jr looking for a guillotine here but Steve defends easily.
Steve preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struja Jr being controlled here, momentarily.
Struja Jr is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Steve content to stall in guard here.

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.
Struja Jr is looking to stand back up but Steve counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Struja Jr.
Struja Jr wants to get back to full guard.
Struja Jr has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Steve is controlling the pace.
Struja Jr wants to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Struja Jr is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Steve pulls his head out easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ludko Struja Jr dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Struja Jr changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Steve tries to avoid it but Struja Jr manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Steve to the ground. Steve escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Steve misses with a lunging right hand
and Struja Jr counters with a nice uppercut.
Struja Jr ducks under a wild hook from Steve.
Good standup being displayed there by Struja Jr as he connects with a hook.
Steve stuffs the takedown.

Struja Jr looking to score a takedown here. Steve is defending well but Struja Jr drives through and ends up in Steve's guard.
Struja Jr throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Steve works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Steve working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Struja Jr.
Ludko Struja Jr has got the better of the ground game so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Struja Jr accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Struja Jr postures up in Steve's guard and throws a big left but Steve blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steve preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Struja Jr throws an elbow that misses. Steve uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Struja Jr's guard. Nice move by Steve!

A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Struja Jr holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve trying to control but Struja Jr is working from the bottom.
Steve preventing the sweep.
Steve slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Struja Jr is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Steve sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Struja Jr 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.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Steve misses with a looping right.
Steve uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Struja Jr.
Struja Jr has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Steve is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Struja Jr throws a body shot but no joy.
Steve looks to land a right hand but Struja Jr moved out of range.
Steve keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Steve lands a head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Struja Jr.
Steve misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Struja Jr.
Steve throws a lazy right hand but Struja Jr sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A lazy left from Steve finds it's target.
Steve throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Steve ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Struja Jr moves away.
A right-left combo lands from Struja Jr.
Some wild striking there from Struja Jr.
Struja Jr wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Struja Jr scores with a hook to the body. Steve takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Struja Jr connects with a single shot there.
Struja Jr lands a nice hook to Steve's body. Steve takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ludko Struja Jr seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steve misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Struja Jr counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Struja Jr uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Steve.
A swing and a miss from Steve.
Steve throws a jab when Struja Jr was well out of range.
Struja Jr scores with a punch to the head.
Some wild striking there from Steve.
Struja Jr throws a sloppy body shot
and Steve counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Steve. Struja Jr does a little dance to reset his feet.
A left and a right from Struja Jr both land. Nice combination.
Steve punishes Struja Jr's body with a nice straight punch.
Steve fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Struja Jr manages to avoid it.
Steve misses with a wild body shot.
Struja Jr moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Steve on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ludko Struja Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Steve closes the distance and clinches.
Steve prevents a takedown attempt there.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steve.
Steve misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short left from Steve.

Steve's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Struja Jr takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Struja Jr scores with a punch to the head.
Struja Jr lands an overhand right.
Struja Jr has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Struja Jr bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Steve scores with a jab.
Steve scores with a punch to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Struja Jr misses with a hook.
Steve misses with a body shot.
Struja Jr takes a swing at Steve's ribcage but misses.
Steve was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve throws an overhand right that lands on Struja Jr's shoulder, as Struja Jr tries to avoid the shot.
Steve misses with a hook. Struja Jr ducked under it nicely.
Struja Jr digs a good body shot into Steve's ribs.
Steve connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Steve throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Steve defending well as Struja Jr loads up on a big left hand.
Steve swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Struja Jr throws a looping overhand right but Steve ducks down to avoid it.
Steve appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
A jab from Struja Jr misses.
Struja Jr ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Steve lands the left hand.
Struja Jr fails with a takedown attempt.
Steve lands an overhand right.
Stoner Steve has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struja Jr throws a combination. Steve tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Struja Jr shoots in and bounces Steve off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Steve avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Struja Jr wants to pass the guard but Steve is keeping the position.
Struja Jr postures up in Steve's guard and throws a big left but Steve blocks it.
Struja Jr trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Struja Jr postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struja Jr looking to sit in guard and control but Steve gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Steve preventing the sweep.
Steve is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Struja Jr is trying to keep Steve in close.
Steve has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Steve controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Struja Jr trying to keep a closed guard but Steve is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Steve is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Struja Jr looking to control.
Ludko Struja Jr is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Steve trying to control but Struja Jr is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Steve throws a nice looking combination but Struja Jr bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Steve tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Struja Jr was well out of range. Poor timing from Steve.
Steve throws a big shot that misses.
Struja Jr is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Steve takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Struja Jr takes a jab right on the kisser.

It looks like Ludko Struja Jr has been cut.

Struja Jr fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Steve to the ground. Struja Jr is now in Steve's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Stoner Steve.
I think Struja Jr has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ludko Struja Jr!
An out of breath Ludko Struja Jr thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.