PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Thiago Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruud Van Hall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Almeida kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is "Danza Kuduro" by Don Omar. Van Hall has chosen Nico Vega - Beast as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Almeida
vs
Van Hall

196 cm
18
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

189 cm
21
198 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Solid boxing
Granite chin

Excellent boxer
Granite chin

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
[WOT] DTK Designs (Laundry)

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thiago Almeida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ruud Van Hall!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Wagner Zegers and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Hall lands a body shot.
Van Hall throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Van Hall takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Van Hall misses with a jab, cross combination.
Van Hall throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Almeida.
Van Hall swats away the attempt to clinch by Almeida.
Almeida is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Van Hall.

Van Hall tries to keep at a distance but Almeida has taken the fight into the clinch.
Almeida lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Van Hall manages to break the clinch.
Almeida fails to land with a series of punches.
The fighters circling - Almeida throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Van Hall swinging wildly here.
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!
Van Hall throws a right and a left that both miss.
Van Hall dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A swing and a miss from Van Hall.
Van Hall misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Hall swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Van Hall throws a series of punches but Almeida avoids them all with ease.
Van Hall avoids the head kick by Almeida.
Almeida swinging wildly here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Almeida looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Van Hall moves away from the strike by Almeida.
Thiago Almeida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Van Hall uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Almeida.

Almeida gets a clinch.
Van Hall fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Almeida is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Van Hall is trying to break the clinch but Almeida is controlling him.
Almeida keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Van Hall's efforts to push away.
Almeida's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Hall looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Almeida is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Van Hall tries to circle away but Almeida has him pinned against the ropes.
Van Hall wants to break the clinch but can't.
Van Hall is trying to push Almeida away but Almeida has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Van Hall wants to break the clinch but can't.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Van Hall.
Almeida prevents Van Hall from breaking the clinch.
Van Hall working hard to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Van Hall's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Van Hall breaks from the clinch.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Almeida.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Almeida throws a head kick that misses.
A punch combination from Van Hall misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Hall throws a left and a right that both miss
and Almeida counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Ruud Van Hall has been cut.
Almeida rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Van Hall moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Van Hall keeps the fight on the outside.
Almeida misses with a low kick as Van Hall jumps back.
Almeida tries to close the distance and clinch up but Van Hall swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Van Hall walks into a stiff left hand from Almeida.
Almeida on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A telegraphed right hand from Almeida misses the target.
Almeida tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Almeida throws a hook but Van Hall blocks it.
Almeida tries to close the distance and clinch but Van Hall swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Almeida steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Van Hall.
Almeida misses with an uppercut. Van Hall saw that one coming.
A punch lands to the side of Almeida 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Van Hall scores with a punch to the head.
Van Hall throws a series of punches but Almeida avoids them all with ease.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice shot by Van Hall.
Van Hall works over Almeida's head and body with a nice combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida lands with a good body shot.
Ruud Van Hall seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Hall takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Van Hall ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Van Hall connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Van Hall swinging wildly here.
Van Hall moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Almeida avoids the head kick by Van Hall.
Almeida throws a nice looking combination but Van Hall bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Van Hall defending well as Almeida loads up on a big left hand.
Van Hall avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Van Hall blocks the body kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Almeida jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Van Hall looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Almeida misses with a few strikes there.
A punch combination from Van Hall misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ruud Van Hall will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ruud Van Hall's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Almeida connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Van Hall looks to land a combination. Almeida sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Almeida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Almeida looks to score with a jab to the body but Van Hall is just out of range.
Van Hall misses with a double jab.
Van Hall tries to bum rush Almeida with a series of wild strikes but Almeida uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Almeida tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Van Hall paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Almeida moves to clinch but Van Hall breaks away
and Van Hall counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Almeida avoids a punch combination nicely.
Almeida scores with a nice strike.
Van Hall swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from Almeida misses.
Van Hall keeps the fight on the outside.
Almeida wants to clinch but Van Hall slips to the side
and Van Hall counters with a one-two to the body.
Almeida pivots, looking for a leg kick but Van Hall is out of range and Almeida settles back down.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Almeida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Van Hall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Hall tests Almeida's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sloppy strikes from Almeida. Those never looked like landing.
Thiago Almeida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Almeida fails to land with a series of punches.
A cross from Van Hall lands.
Van Hall throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A combination from Van Hall does no damage.
Almeida will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Almeida tries to clinch but Van Hall is having none of it.
Van Hall scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Van Hall throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Almeida moves in looking to clinch but Van Hall pushes him off.
Almeida throws a leg kick but Van Hall checks it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Van Hall displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Almeida throws out the jab.
Almeida closes the distance but Van Hall moves to the side
and Van Hall counters with a one-two to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Hall scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Almeida throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Van Hall looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Van Hall throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Van Hall avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Van Hall drives through and clinches with Almeida against the ropes.

Van Hall manages to break the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Van Hall. Almeida does a little dance to reset his feet.
A nice leg kick lands there from Almeida.
Almeida will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Almeida moves in looking to clinch but Van Hall pushes him off.
Van Hall rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Almeida moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Almeida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Van Hall.
Van Hall misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The fight stays on the outside here - Almeida looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Van Hall has Almeida up against the ropes in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Hall has had enough of the clinch but Almeida keeps him there for the moment.
Van Hall is looking to break free of the clinch but Almeida has double underhooks.
Van Hall is looking to break free of the clinch but Almeida has double underhooks.
Almeida lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Van Hall.
Almeida tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Van Hall is trying to force a seperation but Almeida has the dominant position.
Van Hall looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Van Hall misses with the head strike.
Almeida prevents Van Hall from breaking the clinch.

Van Hall breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A combination from Van Hall does no damage.
Van Hall throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Van Hall takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Van Hall is breathing heavily.
Almeida is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Van Hall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida tries to clinch up.
Almeida tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Van Hall misses with a series of wild punches.
Van Hall throws a series of punches but Almeida avoids them all with ease.
Almeida avoids a punch combination nicely.
Van Hall scores with a jab.
Van Hall ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Almeida moves away.
A combination from Van Hall does no damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Almeida swinging wildly here.
Van Hall throws a right and a left that both miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Almeida misses with a hook.
Almeida fails in his attempt to clinch.
A jab from Van Hall misses.
Van Hall checks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruud Van Hall showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ruud Van Hall's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Van Hall lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Almeida backs up against the ropes.
Van Hall swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Almeida!
Van Hall changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Van Hall. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Van Hall throws a series of punches but Almeida moves out of range.
Almeida uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Van Hall moves away from the strike by Almeida.
Almeida misses with a looping left.
Van Hall throws a big shot that misses.
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!
Almeida keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Van Hall misses with a few strikes there.
No joy there for Van Hall, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Almeida throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Van Hall.
Almeida darts in trying to clinch
and Van Hall counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Van Hall takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The fight stays on the outside here - Almeida looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Hall scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Van Hall throws a body kick that misses.
Almeida throws a nice inside leg kick.
Thiago Almeida is winning the standup battle so far.
Almeida will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Almeida misses with a body kick.
Almeida dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice defenses there by Almeida.
Almeida misses the shot to the body.
A head kick misses from Almeida.
Jab, jab by Almeida - just one landing.
Van Hall drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Almeida stuns Van Hall with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Almeida throws a chopping leg kick but Van Hall manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Van Hall blocks a jab.
Van Hall will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thiago Almeida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Hall avoids the body shot from Almeida.
Almeida throws a head kick that misses.
Almeida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Van Hall.
Almeida uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Van Hall.
Almeida's jab looks to have found its range, popping Van Hall under the eye.
Van Hall swinging wildly here.
Van Hall works over Almeida's head and body with a nice combination.
Almeida connects with an inside leg kick.
Van Hall will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Almeida looks to score with a jab to the body but Van Hall is just out of range.
Almeida changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Van Hall looks to score with a jab to the body but Almeida is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida tries to clinch there but Van Hall circles away.
Van Hall takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That has opened up Ruud Van Hall's cut even more.
Van Hall fails to land with a series of punches.
Almeida misses with a wild body shot.
Van Hall lands an overhand right.
Almeida moves away from the strike by Van Hall.
Van Hall displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Almeida drives through and clinches with Van Hall against the ropes.
A frustrated look appears on Van Hall's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Van Hall is trying to break the clinch but Almeida has him pressed against the ropes.
Van Hall wants to get back to striking at distance but Almeida won't allow it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Van Hall.
Van Hall wants to break free but Almeida has control.
Almeida keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Van Hall's efforts to push away.
Almeida throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida trying to stall but Van Hall improves his position.
Van Hall is trying to break free.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Van Hall tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Van Hall lands with a left to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A frustrated look appears on Van Hall's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ruud Van Hall is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Van Hall is trying to break the clinch but Almeida is controlling him.
Almeida working aggressively here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Van Hall blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Van Hall has had enough of the clinch but Almeida keeps him there for the moment.
Almeida is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Van Hall breaks from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Almeida showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Van Hall 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ruud Van Hall!
Ruud Van Hall gave a mention to FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!) in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).