PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hano Bilkerken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ashraf West (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hano Bilkerken has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bilkerken
vs
West

225 cm
25
130 lbs
1 - 9 - 0

178 cm
21
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hano Bilkerken!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ashraf West!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Saam Ante and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bilkerken darts in and clinches West up against the cage.
Bilkerken misses with a knee to the head.
West lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
West tries a body shot but Bilkerken blocks it.
Bilkerken with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bilkerken tries a knee to the head but West blocks it.
West misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bilkerken.
Bilkerken tries a knee to the head but West blocks it.
Bilkerken lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
West changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bilkerken fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Bilkerken drives through and clinches with West against the cage.
Bilkerken really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bilkerken comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Bilkerken lands a knee to the head.
West is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bilkerken is keeping busy.
Bilkerken blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bilkerken with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
West changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bilkerken fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bilkerken clinches.
West working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Bilkerken throws a knee to the head but misses.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
West misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bilkerken landing knees to the head.
Bilkerken is breathing heavily.
West doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bilkerken misses with a knee to the head.
Bilkerken looking to throw knees to the head but West is blocking nicely.
Bilkerken with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bilkerken tries to land a knee to the head but West blocks with his arms.
Bilkerken tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
West tries to break the clinch but Bilkerken is controlling the position.

West has hold of one of Bilkerken's legs. Bilkerken is fighting the takedown attempt but West gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
West in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bilkerken keeping moving, preventing West from controlling successfully.
West throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bilkerken utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
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!
West postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
West wants to pass the guard but Bilkerken is keeping the position.
West postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
West passes Bilkerken's left leg - he's now in half guard.
West looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
West moves into full mount! Bilkerken won't be happy about that!
Bilkerken is looking to get to half guard.
West fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
West landing shots from mount.
West throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
West is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Bilkerken can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
West landing strikes from the mount and Bilkerken is in trouble!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
West punching from mount but Bilkerken doing a good job of avoiding damage.
West looking to ground and pound but Bilkerken is blocking nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
West breaks from Bilkerken's wrist control and lands an elbow.
West scoring with strikes but Bilkerken is staying in there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ashraf West dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

West pushes Bilkerken up against the cage in a clinch.
Bilkerken throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but West blocks it with crossed arms.
West is working for takedown but Bilkerken is calmly controlling the position for now.
West is looking to control Bilkerken's arms but Bilkerken gets an underhook and turns him. Now West has his back to the cage.
Bilkerken misses with a knee to the head.
Bilkerken tries a knee to the head but West blocks it.
Bilkerken prevents the takedown attempt.
Bilkerken tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

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

Bilkerken has West up against the cage in a clinch.
Bilkerken throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but West blocks it with crossed arms.
West looking to stall.
West pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Still in the clinch, West scores with a nice short uppercut.

West breaks the clinch.

Bilkerken has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
West misses with a punch on the inside.
West is looking to break free of the clinch but Bilkerken has double underhooks.
West wants a takedown.
Hano Bilkerken has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ashraf West.
Bilkerken throws a knee to the head but misses.
Bilkerken gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from West.
Bilkerken connects with a nasty looking knee right to West's face.
West has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bilkerken is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Bilkerken lands a knee to the head.
Bilkerken tries a knee to the head but West blocks it.
West is working for takedown but Bilkerken is calmly controlling the position for now.
A short left from West.
West misses with a punch on the inside.
West lands a hook to the side of the head.
West throws a knee to the head but misses.
West misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bilkerken with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
West has Bilkerken pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bilkerken manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Bilkerken tries a knee to the head but West blocks it.
West misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bilkerken using the Thai plumb to throw knees but West has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Bilkerken lands a knee to the head.
West misses with a punch on the inside.
West throws an elbow that misses.
West wants to break the clinch but can't.
West is trying to maintain a safe position but Bilkerken gets an underhook and turns West into the cage.
A knee to the head by Bilkerken.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
West tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bilkerken just stands there and leans against the cage.
A shot in the inside from West.
Bilkerken tries to land a knee to the head but West blocks with his arms.
Bilkerken tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bilkerken gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from West.
West goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bilkerken prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bilkerken landing knees to the head.

West tightens his grip and picks Bilkerken up, before dumping him to the ground. Bilkerken manages to land in guard.
West postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Bilkerken wriggles free and stands up.
West fails with the takedown.

Bilkerken rushes West and presses him up against the cage.
West is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bilkerken with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hano Bilkerken has scored more points in the clinch so far.
West takes an elbow to the temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

West manages to break the clinch.

Bilkerken rushes West and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
West has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bilkerken is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
West can't get the takedown.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bilkerken lands a knee to the head.
Bilkerken lands a knee to the head.
West is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bilkerken to keep the fight standing.
A knee to the head by Bilkerken.
A nice glancing elbow lands by West.
Bilkerken unloads a knee to the mid-section. West lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
West is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Bilkerken putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has West in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
West's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
West working aggressively here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ashraf West will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Bilkerken has managed to clinch.
Bilkerken tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
West misses with some punches.
Bilkerken avoiding damage as West throws knees to the body.
Bilkerken tries a knee to the head but West blocks it.
West lands with a right to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, West just misses with a elbow thrown towards Bilkerken's brow.
Bilkerken prevents a body shot from West.
Bilkerken with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bilkerken with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bilkerken throws a knee to the head but misses.
West tries to pull guard but Bilkerken forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
West tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
West lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
West lands a right hand that snaps the head of Bilkerken backwards.
West swings away with an uppercut that misses.
West drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
West avoids a wild elbow strike from Bilkerken.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bilkerken throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but West blocks it with crossed arms.
West is trying to break the clinch but Bilkerken is controlling him.
Bilkerken tries a knee to the head but West blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bilkerken.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
West just leaning against Bilkerken, taking a breather.
Bilkerken is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Hano Bilkerken has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ashraf West.
Bilkerken misses with a knee strike.
West is trying to pull guard but Bilkerken turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
West misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bilkerken tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bilkerken looking to throw knees to the head but West is blocking nicely.
Bilkerken scores with a knee to the head.
Bilkerken misses with a knee to the head.
Bilkerken avoids a wild elbow strike from West.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
West working hard to break the clinch.
Bilkerken throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but West blocks it with crossed arms.
West lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hano Bilkerken has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bilkerken misses with a knee to the head.
Bilkerken tries a knee to the head but West blocks it.
Bilkerken using the Thai plumb to throw knees but West has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by West.
West takes a knee right on the jaw!
West has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
West missing with knees to the body.
Bilkerken tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

West gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bilkerken is not content to let West control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West throws a strike but Bilkerken avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
West throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
West postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
West throws a strike but Bilkerken rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ashraf West is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
West is looking to stand up but Bilkerken isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ashraf West hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A punch combination from Bilkerken misses.
A solid leg kick lands there for West.

Bilkerken has managed to clinch.
Bilkerken misses with a knee to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bilkerken misses with a knee strike.
Bilkerken looking to throw knees to the head but West is blocking nicely.

Bilkerken is fighting off a takedown attempt but West is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Bilkerken to the mat. Bilkerken regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ashraf West comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got West winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ashraf West!