PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nicholas Van Der Sluijs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giorgio Tsoukalos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Van Der Sluijs might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Redundant by Green Day. Nicholas Van Der Sluijs has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Van Der Sluijs
vs
Tsoukalos

182 cm
22
182 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

169 cm
22
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Divinity 160Q for $150

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nicholas Van Der Sluijs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Giorgio Tsoukalos!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tsoukalos misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tsoukalos missing with a left hand there. Van Der Sluijs was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Van Der Sluijs throws a hook but Tsoukalos avoids it easily.
Van Der Sluijs looks to land a right hand but Tsoukalos moved out of range.
Tsoukalos darts in looking for a takedown but Van Der Sluijs gets double underhooks and turns Tsoukalos into the cage.
Van Der Sluijs tries to work over Tsoukalos's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tsoukalos lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Still in the clinch, Tsoukalos scores with a nice short uppercut.
Van Der Sluijs misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Van Der Sluijs.
Tsoukalos has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Van Der Sluijs after a bit of a struggle.
Van Der Sluijs gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tsoukalos.
Nicholas Van Der Sluijs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Giorgio Tsoukalos.

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

Tsoukalos closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Van Der Sluijs's guard.
Van Der Sluijs avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tsoukalos is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Van Der Sluijs utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsoukalos throwing strikes but missing.
Tsoukalos connects with a couple of short punches.
Tsoukalos throws a big right hand that misses.
Van Der Sluijs utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Van Der Sluijs will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tsoukalos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tsoukalos postures up in Van Der Sluijs's guard and throws a big left but Van Der Sluijs blocks it.
Tsoukalos loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Van Der Sluijs is looking to stand up but Tsoukalos isn't so interested in that idea.
Tsoukalos scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Sluijs utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tsoukalos has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tsoukalos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tsoukalos throwing strikes from guard but Van Der Sluijs blocks nicely.
Tsoukalos trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Van Der Sluijs on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Van Der Sluijs tries to get out of the position.
Tsoukalos wants to control from the top but Van Der Sluijs keeps moving.
Tsoukalos postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tsoukalos postures up in Van Der Sluijs's guard and throws a big left but Van Der Sluijs blocks it.
Tsoukalos throwing strikes but missing.
Tsoukalos postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsoukalos postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Van Der Sluijs preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tsoukalos accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tsoukalos throws a big right hand that misses.
Tsoukalos postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Van Der Sluijs preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tsoukalos controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tsoukalos loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tsoukalos with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsoukalos tries to free his leg and advance position but Van Der Sluijs is retaining full guard.
Tsoukalos pushes down on Van Der Sluijs's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Tsoukalos not doing much here.
Van Der Sluijs keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Tsoukalos decides to return to a standing position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Der Sluijs wants to slow Tsoukalos down by chopping away at his legs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tsoukalos shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Van Der Sluijs as he avoids it easily.
Van Der Sluijs walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Tsoukalos feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Van Der Sluijss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tsoukalos changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Van Der Sluijs steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tsoukalos.
A leg kick checked by Tsoukalos.
A big left from Tsoukalos misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Van Der Sluijs.
Tsoukalos throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
No joy there for Tsoukalos, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Van Der Sluijs scores with a leg kick.
Tsoukalos scores with a punch to the head.
Van Der Sluijs showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tsoukalos.
A punch combination from Tsoukalos misses.

Tsoukalos looking to score a takedown here. Van Der Sluijs is defending well but Tsoukalos drives through and ends up in Van Der Sluijs's guard.

Tsoukalos drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tsoukalos jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tsoukalos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Der Sluijs avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tsoukalos postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tsoukalos won't allow Van Der Sluijs to get back to his feet.
Tsoukalos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tsoukalos slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Tsoukalos passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Tsoukalos tries for a kimura but Van Der Sluijs is defending well.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Tsoukalos crashes against the mat.
Tsoukalos working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
The strikes coming from Tsoukalos are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Tsoukalos lands an elbow.
Tsoukalos taking a breather here.
The ground and pound from Tsoukalos seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Tsoukalos lands a nice forearm strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsoukalos in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Tsoukalos misses with the ground and pound.
The strikes coming from Tsoukalos are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Tsoukalos grinds an elbow into Van Der Sluijs's temple.

Tsoukalos looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Tsoukalos tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Tsoukalos throws an elbow but Van Der Sluijs slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tsoukalos tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Tsoukalos tries to advance to mount but Van Der Sluijs denies him.
Tsoukalos lands some shots froms side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Der Sluijs wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Van Der Sluijs regains half guard, as Tsoukalos was trying to land strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giorgio Tsoukalos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Tsoukalos connects with a crisp jab.
Tsoukalos moves out of range of the body kick.
Tsoukalos misses with a straight right.
Van Der Sluijs scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Tsoukalos misses with a hook.
Tsoukalos checks the leg kick.
Tsoukalos fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Tsoukalos misses with a double jab.

Tsoukalos is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Van Der Sluijs's half guard.
Tsoukalos prevents Van Der Sluijs from standing back up.
Still in half guard, Tsoukalos seems content to control.
Tsoukalos wants to pass to mount but Van Der Sluijs is defending the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsoukalos not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Van Der Sluijs is looking to escape.
Tsoukalos throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Tsoukalos throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tsoukalos throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Van Der Sluijs blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tsoukalos.
Tsoukalos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Van Der Sluijs keeps working.
Tsoukalos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tsoukalos scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsoukalos not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tsoukalos is looking to take a break and control but Van Der Sluijs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Tsoukalos connects with a nice short shot to Van Der Sluijs's temple.
Tsoukalos takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Tsoukalos thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Van Der Sluijs's head.
Tsoukalos slows the pace down in half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholas Van Der Sluijs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tsoukalos lands strikes from half guard.

Tsoukalos is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Van Der Sluijs is just riding it out for now. Tsoukalos eventually gives up the hold.
Van Der Sluijs is staying active underneath Tsoukalos, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsoukalos throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Well, if Tsoukalos is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Van Der Sluijs avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tsoukalos.

Tsoukalos is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Van Der Sluijs is just riding it out for now. Tsoukalos eventually gives up the hold.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Well, if Tsoukalos is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

And that's the end of the fight!
Giorgio Tsoukalos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tsoukalos has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Giorgio Tsoukalos!
An out of breath Giorgio Tsoukalos thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.