PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ledil Kuch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Van Rijn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van Rijn comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Francesco Zappalà - No Way Out kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Mike Van Rijn has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kuch
vs
Van Rijn

188 cm
23
210 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

196 cm
23
210 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Australian Xtreme - Elite Supplements.

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ledil Kuch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mike Van Rijn!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paulsen Ambrosius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Rijn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuch swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Rijn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Van Rijn tries to clinch there but Kuch circles away.
Van Rijn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuch swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kuch thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kuch misses the shot to the body.
Good shot there by Kuch.
Van Rijn takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kuch fails to land with a series of punches.
Kuch thows a body shot but no joy.
A swing and a miss from Kuch.
Kuch connects with a looping right hand.
Van Rijn moves forwards but Kuch connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A jab lands there for Kuch.
Van Rijn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuch swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Van Rijn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kuch paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Van Rijn fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kuch just misses with a punch to the body.
Van Rijn avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuch connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Van Rijn walks into a stiff left hand from Kuch.
Kuch looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kuch circles away from the clinch attempt.
Van Rijn is looking to clinch.
Kuch swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Rijn.
Kuch swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Rijn.
Kuch misses with a body shot.
Kuch with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kuch swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Rijn.
Kuch lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

It looks like Mike Van Rijn has been cut.
A left and a right from Kuch both land. Nice combination.
Kuch throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Rijn tries to clinch up.
Kuch takes a swing at Van Rijn's ribcage but misses.
Van Rijn tries to clinch but Kuch moves out of range.
Kuch missing with a left hand there. Van Rijn was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Van Rijn slips under a jab.
Kuch throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Van Rijn stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kuch just misses with a punch to the body.
Kuch swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Rijn.
Kuch throws a shot from downtown. Van Rijn moves away and avoids it.
Kuch rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Van Rijn moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Van Rijn tries to clinch there but Kuch circles away.
Van Rijn moves in looking to clinch but Kuch pushes him off.
Kuch lands a body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Rijn avoids a punch combination nicely.
Good standup being displayed there by Kuch as he connects with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuch throws a jab but it's blocked by Van Rijn.
Kuch throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Kuch closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Kuch swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Van Rijn takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kuch lands a nice shot to the body.
Kuch throws a combination. Van Rijn tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A cross from Kuch lands.
Kuch ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Van Rijn moves away.
Ledil Kuch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuch scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That has opened up Mike Van Rijn's cut even more.
Kuch swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Van Rijn fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kuch avoids the body shot from Van Rijn.
Van Rijn moves in looking to clinch but Kuch pushes him off.
Kuch throws a looping overhand right but Van Rijn ducks down to avoid it.
Kuch displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Van Rijn throws out the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuch tries to bum rush Van Rijn with a series of wild strikes but Van Rijn uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Van Rijn is looking to clinch but Kuch is avoiding it.

Van Rijn moves into the clinch successfully.
Kuch wants to get back to striking at distance but Van Rijn won't allow it.
Kuch working hard to break the clinch.
Van Rijn looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kuch tries to break free but Van Rijn pushes him back against the cage.
Kuch blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Van Rijn lands an elbow just above Kuch 's eye.
Nice elbow from Van Rijn.
Van Rijn lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Van Rijn misses with an elbow over the top.
Van Rijn is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kuch is defending well for now.
Kuch has had enough of the clinch but Van Rijn keeps him there for the moment.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Van Rijn obliges.
Van Rijn lands a knee to the body.

Van Rijn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kuch connects with a right hand. Van Rijn shakes it off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuch misses with a few strikes there.
Van Rijn tries to close the distance and clinch but Kuch swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kuch listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kuch moves into range and connects with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ledil Kuch dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mike Van Rijn's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kuch circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kuch misses the shot to the body.
Kuch misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Van Rijn.
Kuch throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kuch misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Van Rijn counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Van Rijn.
Van Rijn gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Kuch blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Kuch breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Rijn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kuch circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kuch with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuch's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Kuch duly obliges.
Jab, jab by Kuch - just one landing.
Van Rijn takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Van Rijn wants to clinch up but Kuch keeps it at a distance.
Van Rijn tries to clinch up.
Kuch lands with a nice body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuch looks to throw the jab but Van Rijn is out of range.
Kuch misses with a looping left.
Kuch scores with a punch to the head.
Kuch takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Van Rijn has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Van Rijn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuch swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kuch throws a hook but Van Rijn avoids it easily.
Kuch slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kuch throws a right hand that Van Rijn ducks under and follows up with a left that Van Rijn also avoids with ease.
Van Rijn uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kuch.
Kuch jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Van Rijn doesn't manage to clinch there - Kuch circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Rijn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kuch moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

The cut above Mike Van Rijn's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Kuch throws an overhand right that lands on Van Rijn's shoulder, as Van Rijn tries to avoid the shot.
Mike Van Rijn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Rijn fails in his attempt to clinch.
Van Rijn dodges the punch combination from Kuch.
Van Rijn wants to clinch up but Kuch keeps it at a distance.
Van Rijn keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ledil Kuch is winning the standup battle so far.
Kuch misses with a straight right.
Kuch swings away with a body shot that misses

and Van Rijn moves into the clinch.
Van Rijn landing knees to the head.

It looks like Ledil Kuch has been cut.
Kuch wants to get back to striking at distance but Van Rijn won't allow it.
A shot in the inside from Kuch.
Kuch managing to block the knees to the body from Van Rijn.
Kuch managing to block the knees to the body from Van Rijn.
Knees to the body from Van Rijn.
Kuch takes an elbow to the temple.

Van Rijn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kuch misses with a combination

and Van Rijn moves into the clinch.
Van Rijn is looking to control Kuch's arms but Kuch gets an underhook and turns him. Now Van Rijn has his back to the cage.
Van Rijn lands a left hand.
Kuch lands an uppercut.
Van Rijn trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Rijn lands an elbow inside.
Van Rijn landing knees to the body.

Kuch breaks from the clinch.
Van Rijn slips under a jab.
Van Rijn takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kuch lands a jab-cross combination.
Van Rijn takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kuch looks to land a right hand but Van Rijn moved out of range.
Kuch stalks Van Rijn and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Van Rijn's face. Van Rijn staggers backwards, shaken.
Kuch swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Rijn.
Van Rijn wants to clinch up but Kuch keeps it at a distance.
Kuch looks to land a left hand but Van Rijn moved out of range nicely.
Kuch misses with a combination
and Van Rijn counters with an outside leg kick.
Kuch loads up on a big right hand but Van Rijn slips the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuch swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Van Rijn counters by clinching up.
Kuch is looking to break free of the clinch but Van Rijn has double underhooks.
Kuch is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Kuch tries to circle away but Van Rijn has him pinned against the cage.
Kuch on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kuch wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kuch looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kuch is trying to break the clinch but Van Rijn is controlling him.
Van Rijn keeps control of Kuch as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Van Rijn breaks from the clinch.
Kuch lands a two punch combo.

Mike Van Rijn's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Van Rijn keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kuch.
Van Rijn moves away from the strike by Kuch.
Van Rijn doesn't manage to clinch there - Kuch circles away.
Kuch is working the combinations to good effect here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuch throws a body punch but Van Rijn moves out of range.
Van Rijn moves forwards but Kuch connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kuch works Van Rijn's body with a nice hook.
Van Rijn tries to clinch but Kuch is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ledil Kuch dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kuch takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A big right from Kuch misses.
Kuch looks to land a left hand but Van Rijn moved out of range nicely.
Kuch lands a right hook to the body.
Kuch throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice defenses there by Van Rijn.
Kuch throws a looping overhand right but Van Rijn ducks down to avoid it.

Van Rijn moves into the clinch successfully.
Van Rijn prevents Kuch from breaking the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Kuch.
Kuch blocks an elbow strike.
Kuch is trying to force a seperation but Van Rijn has the dominant position.
Van Rijn keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kuch's efforts to push away.
Van Rijn trying to land knees to the body.
Van Rijn throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kuch blocks it with crossed arms.
Kuch takes a knee to the side of the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A frustrated look appears on Kuch's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kuch is trying to force a seperation but Van Rijn has the dominant position.
Van Rijn misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kuch.
Van Rijn missing with knees to the body.
Van Rijn creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Rijn is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kuch is defending well for now.
Kuch has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Van Rijn is leaning against Kuch and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Van Rijn lands an elbow that stopped Kuch in his tracks for a moment.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Van Rijn.
Kuch scores with a shoulder strike.
Kuch wants to break free but Van Rijn has control.
Van Rijn putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kuch in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Van Rijn lands an elbow that stopped Kuch in his tracks for a moment.
Van Rijn using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kuch has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kuch wants to get back to striking at distance but Van Rijn won't allow it.
Van Rijn crunches a lovely knee into Kuch's ribcage.
Kuch looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kuch takes a knee to the side of the body.
Van Rijn tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kuch wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Van Rijn lands an elbow inside.
Kuch has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Van Rijn misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kuch.
Kuch wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Van Rijn is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kuch is defending well for now.
Van Rijn lands an elbow inside that Kuch shrugs off.
Van Rijn trying to land knees to the body.
Van Rijn wants to stall.
Kuch takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Rijn throws an elbow that misses.
Van Rijn landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Van Rijn with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kuch lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Van Rijn backwards.
Kuch is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Van Rijn putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kuch in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Van Rijn has Kuch pushed against the cage.
Kuch wants to get back to striking at distance but Van Rijn won't allow it.
Kuch wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Van Rijn utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kuch wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Van Rijn has him pressed against the cage.
Van Rijn is working Kuch over against the cage.
Kuch working hard to break the clinch.
Van Rijn lands a nice elbow.
Kuch tries to break the clinch but Van Rijn is controlling the position.
Kuch working hard to break the clinch.
Van Rijn throws a knee to the head but misses.
Van Rijn keeps control of Kuch as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kuch tries to break free but Van Rijn pushes him back against the cage.
Van Rijn has Kuch pressed against the cage, preventing Kuch from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kuch looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Van Rijn unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kuch lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kuch working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Rijn effectively controlling the action here.
Knees to the body from Van Rijn.
Van Rijn lands an elbow just above Kuch 's eye.
Van Rijn throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kuch is trying to break free.
Van Rijn unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kuch lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Van Rijn lands a nice elbow.
Van Rijn lands an elbow inside that Kuch shrugs off.
Van Rijn lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Van Rijn utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kuch lands a nice uppercut.
Kuch tries to break the clinch but Van Rijn is controlling the position.
A frustrated look appears on Kuch's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Van Rijn putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kuch in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kuch on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Van Rijn lands a nice elbow.
A head punch on the inside from Kuch fails to land.
Van Rijn lands a nice elbow.
A head punch on the inside from Kuch fails to land.
Van Rijn creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kuch's defenses.
Kuch wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nice elbow from Van Rijn.
Van Rijn using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Mike Van Rijn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Rijn with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Van Rijn works on Kuch's body with a couple of short punches.
Van Rijn lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Van Rijn keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kuch's efforts to push away.
Van Rijn unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kuch lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A frustrated look appears on Kuch's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Van Rijn misses with a knee to the head.
Ledil Kuch is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Van Rijn misses with a knee to the head.
Kuch avoiding damage as Van Rijn throws knees to the body.
Van Rijn keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kuch's efforts to push away.
Van Rijn tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mike Van Rijn seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Van Rijn trying to land knees to the body.
Kuch is trying to force a seperation but Van Rijn has the dominant position.
A right hook to the body lands for Kuch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kuch as Van Rijn tries to tie him up.
Kuch wants to break the clinch but can't.
Van Rijn working hard to break the clinch.
Van Rijn is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kuch is defending well for now.
Kuch has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kuch.
Kuch wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Van Rijn has him pressed against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Van Rijn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kuch has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ledil Kuch!