PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Earl OBrien (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stefan Struve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

OBrien
vs
Struve

205 cm
21
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

211 cm
22
243 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Earl OBrien!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stefan Struve!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Franklyn Lucas and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
OBrien is looking to clinch but Struve is avoiding it.

OBrien shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
OBrien knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Struve on the ground.
Struve is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Struve is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
OBrien controlling the pace for now.
Struve tries to get back to half guard but can't.

OBrien swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Struve is now in OBrien's guard. A big mistake from OBrien there, giving up the dominant position!
Struve wants to control from the top but OBrien keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OBrien pulls Struve in to control the position.
OBrien lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Struve!
Struve is trying to escape the mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Struve is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Struve regains half guard.
OBrien wants to stand up but Struve is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struve is looking to improve his position.
Struve is refusing to be controlled, as OBrien sits in half guard.
Struve is looking to get back to full guard here but OBrien has managed to pass to side control instead.
Struve working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struve tries to lock up and control but OBrien gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Struve is trying desperately to improve position.
OBrien thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Struve keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
OBrien controlling the pace for now.

That's four 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.
OBrien avoids the attempt from Struve to control.
OBrien looking to control but Struve is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Struve working to try and regain half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
OBrien controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Earl OBrien dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Struve has his takedown stuffed

and OBrien counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
OBrien seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Struve regains full guard. Nicely done.

Struve looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
OBrien missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Struve is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
OBrien has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struve wants to sweep but no luck.
Struve is breathing heavily.
Struve can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as OBrien controls the pace.
OBrien trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Struve looking to hit a scissor sweep but OBrien is one step ahead there.
Struve is trying to control the position but OBrien postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

OBrien scores a takedown into full mount!
Struve tries to reverse the position but OBrien maintains control.
Struve is squirming around, avoiding OBrien's attempts to control the action.
OBrien controlling the position easily from mount.
OBrien has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Struve's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OBrien landing strikes, looking to finish!
OBrien controlling from the full mount.
Struve working to try and regain half guard.
Struve wants to control but OBrien is having none of it.
OBrien looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Struve bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
OBrien is looking to stand up but Struve isn't so interested in that idea.
Struve looking to pass the guard.
OBrien trying to keep a closed guard but Struve is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Earl OBrien dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Struve tries for a takedown but OBrien circles away easily

and OBrien counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Struve trying to strike off his back.
OBrien won't allow Struve to get back to his feet.

Struve working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because OBrien has passed into half guard!
Struve keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Well, if OBrien is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

OBrien stands up from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

OBrien manages to break the clinch.
Struve shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and OBrien counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
OBrien won't allow Struve to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
OBrien working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Struve can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as OBrien controls the pace.
Struve wants to hit a switch here but OBrien passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Struve there!
Struve tries to get back to half guard but can't.
OBrien sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struve is looking to get to half guard.
Struve tries to hold on but OBrien pushes him away.
OBrien sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stefan Struve has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Struve is trying desperately to improve position.
OBrien controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Earl OBrien showed his dominance in that final round.
Well OBrien has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Earl OBrien!