PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Henk De Vries (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sven Verdek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). De Vries kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is EXODUS - Throwing Down. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

De Vries
vs
Verdek

178 cm
24
166 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

167 cm
25
162 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

ENDLESS 152

Nutrition 101
Nutrition 101

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Henk De Vries!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sven Verdek!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Kenichi Hosakawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Verdek wants to clinch.
Henk De Vries seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Verdek ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
De Vries throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
De Vries closes the distance but Verdek moves to the side
and Verdek counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
De Vries misses with a double jab.
De Vries swings and misses with a hook to the body.
De Vries throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
De Vries throws a jab but it's blocked by Verdek.
De Vries throws a left and a right that both miss
and Verdek counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps De Vries thinking.
De Vries walks into a left hand.
De Vries throws a nice inside leg kick.
De Vries throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
De Vries throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Verdek counters with a one-two to the body.
De Vries connects with a right hand. Verdek shakes it off.
De Vries fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Verdek avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Vries throws a leg kick but Verdek checks it.
De Vries ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Verdek moves away.
Verdek fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. De Vries looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Verdek avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Verdek fails to land with a series of punches.
De Vries misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Verdek throws a leg kick but De Vries sees it coming and moves out of range.
De Vries with a lazy takedown attempt

and Verdek counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Verdek.
De Vries is breathing heavily.
Verdek missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Verdek wants to control from the top but De Vries keeps moving.

Verdek drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Verdek jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Verdek looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Vries 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.
Verdek 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.
Verdek trying to control the position from guard on top but De Vries is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Verdek passes into half guard.

Verdek looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
De Vries is staying active underneath Verdek, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Verdek seems to be looking for submissions.
Verdek content to control rather than advance.
De Vries blocking the ground and pound attempt from Verdek.
De Vries won't allow Verdek to pass to mount.
Verdek passes to side control.
Verdek tries to advance to mount but can't.

Verdek wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by De Vries, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
De Vries gets back to half guard.
De Vries is trying to maintain the position but Verdek is very close to passing his half guard.
Verdek is pressing down on De Vries's thigh, looking to free his foot. De Vries is holding on for now.
De Vries is looking to escape.
Verdek lands strikes from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Verdek dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Verdek will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Verdek fakes a jab and throws a low kick but De Vries checks it well.
De Vries tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Verdek counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Verdek wants to control from the top but De Vries keeps moving.
De Vries trying to keep a closed guard but Verdek is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Verdek trying to control but De Vries is working from the bottom.
De Vries keeping full guard, as Verdek tries to pass.
De Vries will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Verdek drops back, looking for a kneebar! De Vries looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. De Vries looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from De Vries!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verdek avoids any damage from the ground and pound of De Vries.
Verdek is letting De Vries control him for a moment.
The strikes coming from De Vries are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

De Vries working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

De Vries tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Verdek sneaks a leg under to get back to half 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.
Verdek is trying to maintain the position but De Vries is very close to passing his half guard.

Verdek looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
De Vries wants to pass to mount but Verdek is defending the position.
Verdek gets back to full guard.
Verdek is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Verdek wants to sweep but no luck.
De Vries throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Verdek works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Verdek tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verdek keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Verdek looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Verdek seems to be looking for submissions.
Verdek wants to take a breather but De Vries is having none of it.

Verdek looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
De Vries is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Verdek throws a strike but De Vries avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verdek's corner is telling him to maintain position.
De Vries trying to keep a closed guard but Verdek is proving a slippery customer.
Verdek pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. De Vries is keeping the position for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
De Vries throws a head kick but Verdek moves out of range.
Verdek is looking to clinch but De Vries is avoiding it.
De Vries connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
De Vries closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Verdek bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
De Vries swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Verdek counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Verdek.
Verdek tries to break free but De Vries pushes him back against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Verdek showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

De Vries tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Verdek counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
De Vries fails with the takedown

and Verdek counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in De Vries's guard now.
De Vries manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Verdek keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Verdek gets back to half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Verdek has hold of a guillotine but he's not going to be able to crank on it really with only half guard, so it's no trouble for De Vries. Oh but Verdek has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! De Vries goes limp - he's gone! Verdek jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Sven Verdek!