PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Barry Hall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henk Hoekstra (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.

Hall
vs
Hoekstra

196 cm
25
285 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

208 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Barry Hall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Henk Hoekstra!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Radbod Blank and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hoekstra has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hall keeps control of Hoekstra as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hall keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hoekstra's efforts to push away.
Hoekstra avoiding damage as Hall throws knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Hoekstra breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hoekstra throws a right and a left that Hall avoids nicely.
Hall throws a body kick that misses.
Hoekstra tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hall swivels and escapes.
Hall throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hoekstra misses with a body shot.
Hoekstra rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hall moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hoekstra looks winded!
Hall throws a series of punches but Hoekstra avoids them all with ease.
Hall tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hoekstra sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hall somewhat.
A combination from Hoekstra does no damage.
Hoekstra throws a combination that misses
and Hall counters with a three punch combo that has Hoekstra backing up. Hoekstra nods at Hall to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hall takes the fight into the clinch.
Hoekstra wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hall lands a hook that snaps the head of Hoekstra backwards.
Hall trying to control the position but instead, Hoekstra has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hall into the cage.
Hall wants a takedown.
Hall looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hoekstra wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hoekstra misses with some punches.
Hall tries to score a body lock takedown but Hoekstra shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Barry Hall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hall drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hoekstra pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hoekstra takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

It looks like Henk Hoekstra has been cut.
Henk Hoekstra seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoekstra thows a body shot but no joy.
A jab from Hoekstra finds it's way through Hall's defenses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hoekstra scores with a jab to the head.
Hoekstra circles away from the clinch attempt.

Hall clinches up against the cage.
Hoekstra fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hoekstra is trying to force a seperation but Hall has the dominant position.
Hall pressing his opponent against the cage.
Hall tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hoekstra just stands there and leans against the cage.

Hall manages to break the clinch.
Hoekstra fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hall manages to avoid it.
Hall connects with an inside leg kick.
Hall shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hoekstra sprawls well. Hoekstra wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hall gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hall misses with a head kick.
Hoekstra keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hoekstra misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hoekstra leaves Hall with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hoekstra misses with a double jab.
Hoekstra lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Hall misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hoekstra misses with a double jab
and Hall counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A jab from Hall does it's job there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hall has closed the distance and engaged Hoekstra in a clinch.
Hoekstra wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hoekstra tries to break the clinch but Hall is controlling the position.
Hall lands a good knee to the midsection. Hoekstra won't want to take too many of those.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hall manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Hoekstra trying to control but Hall is working from the bottom.
Hall preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hall trying to keep a closed guard but Hoekstra is proving a slippery customer.
Hall might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Hall scrambles and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hoekstra throws a nice looking combination but Hall bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barry Hall dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Henk Hoekstra's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hall darts in and clinches Hoekstra up against the cage.
Hall is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Hoekstra breaks the clinch.
Hall is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hoekstra sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Hoekstra tries to sprawl but Hall drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Hoekstra missing with punches from the bottom.
Hall wants to pass the guard but Hoekstra is defending well.

Hall is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hoekstra strikes from the bottom but Hall passes into mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hall is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Hoekstra can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hall can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hoekstra is looking to escape.
Hoekstra is bucking up trying to escape but Hall cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Hall avoids the attempt from Hoekstra to control.
Hoekstra is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Hall trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hall working the ground and pound effectively.
Hoekstra is trying to escape the mount.
Hoekstra throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Hall wants to control the pace but Hoekstra is squirming around nicely.
Hoekstra is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Hoekstra throwing hammer fists to the chest of Hall. What's that going to do exactly?
Hoekstra is bucking up trying to escape but Hall cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hall prevents Hoekstra from getting the reversal.
Hall with the ground and pound from mount.

Hall swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Hoekstra is now in Hall's guard. A big mistake from Hall there, giving up the dominant position!
Hoekstra trying to control the position from guard on top but Hall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hoekstra got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hall has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hoekstra has managed to get both his arms back between Hall's legs - danger averted.
Hoekstra is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hoekstra throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Hall is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hoekstra defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoekstra in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barry Hall overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hall wants to get back to his feet but Hoekstra is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hoekstra passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Check out the look on Hoekstra's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hoekstra misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hoekstra in side control, throwing shots but Hall defends.
Hoekstra working away.
Hoekstra gets to mount! Hall was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Barry Hall will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Henk Hoekstra's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Hoekstra throws a series of punches but Hall avoids them all with ease.
Left hook, right uppercut from Hoekstra.
Hall shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hoekstra defends it nicely.
Hall tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hoekstra sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hall somewhat.
Barry Hall is winning the standup battle so far.
Hall shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Barry Hall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hoekstra fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hall avoids it really well and circles away.
Hoekstra looks to score with a jab to the body but Hall is just out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hoekstra throws a series of punches but Hall avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hall fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hall slips a jab and a cross from Hoekstra.
Hall showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hoekstra.
Hall fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hall scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Hoekstra tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hall paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Hall drives through with a takedown into Hoekstra's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Hall showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hall wants to control from the top but Hoekstra keeps moving.
Hoekstra is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hall controlling from the top position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

We're going to have a standup here because Barry Hall wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Hall misses with a takedown attempt - Hoekstra sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Hoekstra closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hall prevents Hoekstra from breaking the clinch.
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!
Hoekstra is trying to break the clinch but Hall is controlling him.
Hall keeps control of Hoekstra as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Hall breaks from the clinch.
Hoekstra swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoekstra stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hoekstra wants it to stay on the feet.
Hoekstra defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hall.
Hall avoids the head kick by Hoekstra.
Hall tries to clinch but Hoekstra is having none of it.
Hoekstra lands a two punch combo.
Hall shoots in looking for a takedown. Hoekstra tries to sprawl out of it but Hall keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hoekstra manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hoekstra connects with a body shot.
Hall swats away the attempt to clinch by Hoekstra.
Barry Hall is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hall looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hoekstra is fending him off so far but Hall persists. Nope, Hoekstra circles away and we're back to standing.
Hoekstra fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoekstra throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hall lands with an overhand left.
Hoekstra misses with a left hand
enabling Hall to counter with a crisp jab.
Hall shoots in and drives through. Hoekstra sprawls well.
Hall shoots in but no luck this time.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hoekstra.
Hall swinging wildly here.
Hoekstra tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hall swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sloppy strikes from Hoekstra. Those never looked like landing.
Henk Hoekstra has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice takedown defense from Hoekstra. No joy for Hall on that attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hoekstra falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hoekstra takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henk Hoekstra comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hall has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Barry Hall!