PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bertus Eppinga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Shuler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Will Shuler told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Eppinga
vs
Shuler

187 cm
21
198 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

200 cm
21
205 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Formula 51

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bertus Eppinga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Will Shuler!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Albert Achterberg and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Eppinga. Shuler shrugs it off though.

Eppinga lands a big head kick that sends Shuler tumbling to the mat! Eppinga takes a step backwards and waves Shuler back to his feet - he wants the finish!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters circle momentarily. Eppinga darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Shuler closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Eppinga wants to control but Shuler postures up.
Eppinga defending against the ground and pound.
Shuler throwing strikes but Eppinga manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Eppinga decides to stand back up. Eppinga steps back and let's Shuler get back to his feet.
Eppinga scores with a kick to the midsection.
Eppinga dodges the punch combination from Shuler.
Eppinga doesn't manage to clinch there - Shuler circles away.

Shuler forces Eppinga back against the cage and clinches.
Eppinga tries to break free but Shuler pushes him back against the cage.
Shuler lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eppinga fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Shuler.
Eppinga misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Eppinga misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shuler misses with a jab, cross combination.
Shuler takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
No luck for Shuler with that takedown attempt.
Shuler looks gassed!

Shuler tries to keep at a distance but Eppinga has taken the fight into the clinch.

Eppinga breaks the clinch.
Eppinga is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Eppinga thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eppinga misses with a few strikes there.

Eppinga tries to keep at a distance but Shuler has taken the fight into the clinch.
Shuler scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Eppinga tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shuler just stands there and leans against the cage.
Shuler lands an elbow that stopped Eppinga in his tracks for a moment.
Shuler keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Eppinga's efforts to push away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Eppinga takes an elbow to the forehead.
Shuler scores with a shoulder strike.
Shuler lands a shoulder strike.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Eppinga has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eppinga wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Shuler has him pressed against the cage.
Eppinga wants to get back to striking at distance but Shuler won't allow it.
Shuler landing knees to the body.
Eppinga can't get the takedown.
Eppinga is trying to break free.
Eppinga tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bertus Eppinga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Eppinga can't break the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Shuler.
Eppinga looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Shuler throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Eppingas head.
Eppinga throws a punch but it's blocked by Shuler.
Eppinga tries a knee to the head but Shuler blocks it.

Shuler's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Shuler pushes Eppinga up against the cage in a clinch.
Shuler drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Eppinga gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Eppinga tries to pull guard but Shuler holds him up against the cage and eventually Eppinga drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eppinga tries to break the clinch but Shuler is controlling the position.
A body shot lands from Shuler.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shuler lands a nice shot to the body.
Shuler lands a knee to the head.
Eppinga is trying to break the clinch but Shuler has him pressed against the cage.
Shuler putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Eppinga in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Shuler's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Eppinga avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shuler jabs Eppinga to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Eppinga is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Shuler.

Shuler clinches with his opponent.

Shuler pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bertus Eppinga will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Shuler doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Eppinga counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Shuler thinking.
Shuler fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bertus Eppinga is winning the standup battle so far.
Shuler moves out of range as Eppinga throws a body kick.
Shuler fails to land the takedown.

Shuler gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Eppinga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Shuler closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Shuler swings around for an armbar but Eppinga sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Shuler's guard.

Shuler pushes Eppinga off and gets back to his feet.
Shuler is breathing heavily.
Eppinga fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eppinga tries to close the distance and clinch but Shuler swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shuler misses with a combination
and Eppinga counters with a nice kick to the body.
Eppinga lands with a nice body punch.
Shuler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Eppinga tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shuler tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sloppy strikes from Eppinga. Those never looked like landing.
Shuler lands a head kick!
Eppinga tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shuler moves in looking to clinch but Eppinga pushes him off.
A bone on bone clash there as Eppinga blocks the leg kick.

Eppinga forces Shuler back against the cage and clinches.

Eppinga breaks the clinch.

Shuler rushes Eppinga and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Eppinga blocks an elbow strike.

Eppinga pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shuler blocks the body kick.

Shuler rushes Eppinga and presses him up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shuler prevents Eppinga from breaking the clinch.

Eppinga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Eppinga drives through and clinches with Shuler against the cage.
Shuler keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Eppinga's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shuler keeps control of Eppinga as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Shuler pulls guard.

Eppinga decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Shuler shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Shuler avoids the attempt from Eppinga to control.
Shuler connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Eppinga tries to lock up and control but Shuler gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Shuler trying to control but Eppinga is having none of it.
Eppinga is looking to improve his position but Shuler isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eppinga is working hard here to advance position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Eppinga wants to hold on but Shuler pushes him away.
Shuler scoring with strikes but Eppinga is staying in there.
Will Shuler has got the better of the ground game so far.
Shuler content just to control the position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shuler with shots to the head and body - Eppinga looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Shuler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Shuler tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Eppinga counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Eppinga leaves Shuler with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Eppinga circles away from the clinch attempt.

Shuler gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Eppinga is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Shuler trying to control the position but instead, Eppinga has worked for underhooks and has pushed Shuler into the cage.

Shuler breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shuler plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Eppinga lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A head kick from Eppinga lands but Shuler takes it in his stride.
Shuler takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shuler shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Eppinga sprawls well. Eppinga wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shuler gets slowly back to his feet.
Shuler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Eppinga looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Danga de danga de dang - Eppinga scores with a four punch combination!
Eppinga tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shuler's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Eppinga connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Shuler scrambles back to his feet.
Eppinga bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Eppinga shoots in for a double leg but Shuler sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Eppinga is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Shuler's half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Shuler moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eppinga trying to control the position from guard on top but Shuler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Eppinga accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Eppinga trying to control but Shuler is working from the bottom.
Shuler has a closed guard, preventing Eppinga from standing up.

Eppinga gets to his feet - Shuler follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eppinga shoots in looking for a takedown but Shuler manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Eppinga's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nice sprawl there from Eppinga as Shuler shoots in.
Bertus Eppinga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Shuler.

Shuler takes the fight into the clinch.

Shuler breaks from the clinch.
Eppinga moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Eppinga goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Shuler darts in and clinches Eppinga up against the cage.
Eppinga takes an elbow to the temple.
Shuler has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Eppinga.
Eppinga is trying to push Shuler away but Shuler has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Shuler lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short body shot lands from Shuler as the two fighters clinch.
Shuler lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shuler utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Shuler creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Eppinga's defenses.
Eppinga can't break the clinch.

Shuler successfully pulls guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Eppinga stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shuler swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Eppinga looking to sit in guard and control but Shuler gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Bertus Eppinga showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Eppinga 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bertus Eppinga!
Bertus Eppinga made sure to mention his sponsor, Formula 51 in his post fight interview.