PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bartholomew Bainbridge (ranked 699 p4p, 644 weight class) and Ludko Struja Jr (ranked 107 p4p, 97 weight class). Struja Jr has chosen Wu-Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M. as his entrance music. Ludko Struja Jr struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 206.2lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bainbridge
vs
Struja Jr

185 cm
29
206
14 - 10 - 1

192 cm
28
225
12 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

NARCOS
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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 14 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bartholomew Bainbridge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ludko Struja Jr!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Bruno Hogan and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Struja Jr shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Struja Jr working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Bainbridge trying to control here.
Struja Jr sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bainbridge defending well though.
Struja Jr has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bainbridge tries to get to full guard but Struja Jr has control of the leg.
Struja Jr missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bainbridge is trying to control but can't.
Struja Jr missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Struja Jr throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Struja Jr throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bainbridge has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bainbridge keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Struja Jr is working for a submission of some sort.
Bainbridge wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struja Jr content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Bainbridge trying to control from the bottom.
Struja Jr stalling away here and it's allowed Bainbridge to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Struja Jr is working Bainbridge over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bainbridge 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.
Bainbridge is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Bainbridge has momentary wrist control but Struja Jr slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struja Jr with a nice head shot there.
Bainbridge is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Struja Jr trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bainbridge wants to get back to his feet but Struja Jr is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Struja Jr landing with the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Struja Jr accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bainbridge is on top in guard.

Bainbridge has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Struja Jr avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Struja Jr is looking to cinch up a triangle. Bainbridge throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Struja Jr's body to avoid the submission. Struja Jr has instead reached around Bainbridge's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Struja Jr arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Ludko Struja Jr!
Ludko Struja Jr decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.