PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Luuk Hovloud (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Ladd (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.

Hovloud
vs
Ladd

179 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Luuk Hovloud!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Andrew Ladd!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Aafke Stam and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ladd tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick by Hovloud misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Hovloud tries for a takedown but Ladd circles away easily
and Ladd finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ladd is defended easily by Hovloud.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ladd.
Ladd fails to land the takedown.
Luuk Hovloud has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrew Ladd.
Ladd tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hovloud paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hovloud will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ladd displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hovloud.
Hovloud is breathing heavily.
Hovloud throws a head kick that misses
and Ladd counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hovloud thinking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ladd fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ladd closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hovloud circles away.
Ladd misses with a takedown
and Hovloud counters with a one-two to the body.
Ladd listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Ladd keeps Hovloud at a distance using the push kick.
Ladd bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Ladd fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hovloud defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ladd.
Ladd leaves Hovloud with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ladd breaks from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A slow jab from Hovloud misses its intended target.
Ladd shoots in but no luck this time.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hovloud is defended easily by Ladd.

Ladd instigates a clinch.
Ladd tries to score a body lock takedown but Hovloud shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hovloud wants a takedown.

Ladd pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ladd is looking to clinch but Hovloud is avoiding it.
Ladd shoots in but Hovloud avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hovloud throws a right and a left that Ladd avoids nicely.
Ladd tries for a takedown but Hovloud sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hovloud keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Hovloud feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Hovloud is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hovloud pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ladd is keeping the position for now.
Hovloud throwing strikes from guard but Ladd blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ladd trying to keep a closed guard but Hovloud is proving a slippery customer.

Ladd had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hovloud defends it easily.
Hovloud showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hovloud wants to control from the top but Ladd keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Ladd dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hovloud has a takedown stuffed.
Hovloud misses with a body punch
and Ladd counters with a one-two to the body.
Ladd changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hovloud tries to avoid it but Ladd manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hovloud to the ground. Hovloud escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ladd defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hovloud.

Ladd gets a clinch.
Ladd leaning against his opponent.
Hovloud tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ladd smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luuk Hovloud. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ladd shoots in looking for a takedown. Hovloud tries to sprawl out of it but Ladd keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hovloud manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ladd misses with a takedown attempt - Hovloud sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Andrew Ladd seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ladd gets caught flat footed, as Hovloud shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hovloud postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hovloud working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ladd 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.
Ladd not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hovloud is stalling in the full guard.
Ladd is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hovloud landing with the ground and pound.
Hovloud has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Ladd looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Ladd. No joy for Hovloud on that attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Ladd as Hovloud shoots in.
Ladd moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Ladd closes the distance and clinches.

Ladd pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ladd fails to land the takedown.
Hovloud looks to clinch
and Ladd counters with a nice low kick that buckles Hovloud's knee momentarily.
Hovloud changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ladd tries to avoid it but Hovloud manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ladd to the ground. Ladd escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ladd lands a nice looking kick to the body. Hovloud takes a step back to recover.
Ladd ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Ladd throws a series of punches but Hovloud avoids them all with ease.
Hovloud shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ladd sprawls well. Ladd wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hovloud gets slowly back to his feet.
Ladd swats away the attempt to clinch by Hovloud.
Luuk Hovloud is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ladd closes the distance and clinches up with Hovloud, looking for a takedown. Ladd pushes Hovloud against the cage but Hovloud circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

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.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hovloud.
A head kick from Ladd lands but Hovloud takes it in his stride.
Ladd tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hovloud sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ladd somewhat.
Hovloud throws a looping overhand right but Ladd ducks down to avoid it.
Hovloud misses with a body shot

and Ladd counters with a takedown into side control.
Hovloud is not content to let Ladd control the position.
Hovloud sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Ladd showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Ladd lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Hovloud misses with the body kick

and Ladd counters by moving into the clinch.
Hovloud slowing the pace effectively.
Ladd tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hovloud smiles and moves away.
Hovloud leaves Ladd with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ladd defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hovloud.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ladd has his takedown stuffed

and Hovloud counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Luuk Hovloud has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrew Ladd.
Hovloud lands a couple of digs.
Hovloud advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hovloud landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hovloud prevents Ladd from improving his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hovloud is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Hovloud decides to stand and escape the position.
A head kick from Ladd lands but Hovloud takes it in his stride.

Hovloud closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hovloud lands in his opponent's guard.
Hovloud working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ladd's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hovloud wants to control from the top but Ladd keeps moving.
Ladd looking for a sweep. Not yet Ladd, not yet.
Hovloud makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ladd wants to sweep but no luck.
Hovloud trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hovloud trying to control but Ladd is working from the bottom.
Hovloud distracts Ladd with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ladd is looking to clinch.
Hovloud shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ladd pinned against the cage. Ladd gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ladd closes the distance and clinches up with Hovloud, looking for a takedown. Ladd pushes Hovloud against the cage but Hovloud circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ladd will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ladd dodges the punch combination from Hovloud.
Ladd lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Luuk Hovloud has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ladd lands a right hook to the body.

Hovloud clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ladd breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hovloud shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ladd defends it nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Ladd as Hovloud shoots in.

Ladd darts in and clinches Hovloud up against the cage.
Ladd prevents the takedown attempt.
Ladd tries to score a body lock takedown but Hovloud shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Ladd manages to break the clinch.
Ladd wants to clinch.
Hovloud looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ladd is fending him off so far but Hovloud persists. Nope, Ladd circles away and we're back to standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luuk Hovloud showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ladd has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrew Ladd!