PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rutger Petrov (ranked 2380 p4p, 1705 weight class) and Lee Van Cleefe (ranked 263 p4p, 204 weight class). Van Cleefe is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Classics - The Master (1984) TV series. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Petrov
vs
Van Cleefe

180 cm
38
245
11 - 2 - 0

185 cm
35
255
24 - 29 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Good elbows
Fast

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

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 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rutger Petrov !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 29 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lee Van Cleefe!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, John Kavanagh and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Petrov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Van Cleefe's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Petrov connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Van Cleefe scrambles back to his feet.

It looks like Lee Van Cleefe has been cut.
Van Cleefe ducks right into an uppercut from Petrov .

Petrov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Van Cleefe to the mat! Van Cleefe manages to get full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van Cleefe keeping full guard, as Petrov tries to pass.

Petrov postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Van Cleefe is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Petrov , into his guard.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Van Cleefe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Van Cleefe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Van Cleefe content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Van Cleefe trying to control the position from guard on top but Petrov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Cleefe stands and throws Petrov 's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Petrov tries to buck Van Cleefe off but Van Cleefe is having none of it.
Petrov defending against the ground and pound.

Van Cleefe is trying to get an arm triangle but Petrov is defending well.
Petrov regains half guard.

Petrov looking for submissions off his back.
Van Cleefe wants to lay and pray for a moment but Petrov keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van Cleefe is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Petrov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Van Cleefe trying to control the action but Petrov is working from the bottom.

Van Cleefe is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Petrov looking for submissions off his back.

Petrov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Van Cleefe wants to pass to mount but Petrov is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Cleefe is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Van Cleefe is taking a breather. Petrov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Petrov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Petrov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Van Cleefe can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Van Cleefe is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Van Cleefe passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Petrov gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van Cleefe is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Petrov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Van Cleefe pushing down on Petrov 's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Van Cleefe trying to pass the guard but Petrov defending well.

Petrov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Petrov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Van Cleefe is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rutger Petrov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lee Van Cleefe's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Horrible takedown attempt by Van Cleefe or perhaps it was just good defense by Petrov , which made it look bad.
Van Cleefe misses with a series of wild punches.
Van Cleefe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Petrov was well out of range. Poor timing from Van Cleefe.
Petrov throws a combination. Van Cleefe tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Petrov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Van Cleefe is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Petrov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Van Cleefe.
Petrov half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Cleefe takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
The fighters circling - Petrov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice uppercut lands for Petrov . That snapped Van Cleefe's head back.
Petrov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Van Cleefe can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Van Cleefe.
Van Cleefe throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Petrov 's waist but Petrov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Van Cleefe off to one side.
No luck for Van Cleefe with that takedown attempt.
Rutger Petrov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Van Cleefe.
Petrov cracks a nice hook into Van Cleefe's ribs.

Van Cleefe drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Petrov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Van Cleefe looking to pass the guard.
Petrov looking for a sweep. Not yet Petrov , not yet.
Van Cleefe forces his way into half guard.
Van Cleefe frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrov is working to get back to half guard.
Van Cleefe looking to control but Petrov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Petrov manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Cleefe wants to pass the guard but Petrov is defending well.

Petrov actively working from the bottom here.
Van Cleefe is keen to just control but Petrov is a slippery customer.

Petrov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Petrov looking for submissions off his back.

Petrov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Van Cleefe is working for a submission of some sort.

Petrov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Van Cleefe pulls his head out easily.
Petrov wants to get back to full guard.

Van Cleefe is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Petrov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Van Cleefe.

Petrov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Van Cleefe pulls his head out easily.

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.
Van Cleefe wants to control but Petrov is keeping him busy.
Van Cleefe tries to pass the half guard into mount. Petrov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Van Cleefe trying to control from half guard but Petrov is working away.

Petrov looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Van Cleefe pushes past his half guard into mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Van Cleefe with the ground and pound from mount.
Van Cleefe is looking to work his way around to Petrov 's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Van Cleefe tries to control but Petrov wriggling away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rutger Petrov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lee Van Cleefe's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nice defenses there by Van Cleefe.
Van Cleefe keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Petrov looks to land a combination. Van Cleefe sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
It looks like Petrov has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Van Cleefe changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Petrov tries to avoid it but Van Cleefe manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Petrov to the ground. Petrov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Petrov scores with a decent looking hook.
Petrov throws a lazy right hand but Van Cleefe sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Van Cleefe is looking to clinch.
Van Cleefe displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Petrov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Petrov misses the target.
Van Cleefe throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Petrov 's waist but Petrov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Van Cleefe off to one side.
Van Cleefe doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Van Cleefe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Petrov lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Petrov scores with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov throws out a loose jab but Van Cleefe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Van Cleefe moves in looking to clinch but Petrov pushes him off.
Van Cleefe throws a jab when Petrov was well out of range.
Petrov looks to land a combination but Van Cleefe avoids it well.
Nice sprawl there from Petrov as Van Cleefe shoots in.
Rutger Petrov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Van Cleefe.
Van Cleefe tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Petrov swivels and escapes.
Van Cleefe throws a right hand that Petrov ducks under and follows up with a left that Petrov also avoids with ease.
Petrov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Van Cleefe fails with a takedown attempt.
Petrov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Petrov finds it's way through Van Cleefe's defenses.

That has opened up Lee Van Cleefe's cut even more.
Rutger Petrov is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice sprawl there from Petrov as Van Cleefe shoots in.
Van Cleefe shoots in looking for a takedown. Petrov tries to sprawl out of it but Van Cleefe keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Petrov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Van Cleefe gets caught napping as Petrov dives in and scores a takedown. Van Cleefe manages to retain guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Petrov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Van Cleefe throws his legs up looking for a submission but Petrov uses it to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Petrov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Van Cleefe has escaped the position, nice work there.

Petrov is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Van Cleefe looks calm but he's in trouble here. Petrov gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Van Cleefe is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Petrov lets go of the hold and Van Cleefe can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rutger Petrov !
Lee Van Cleefe was interviewed post fight and said 'Old ninjas don't retire they just disappear in a cloud of smoke. '.