PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Victor Van Adams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Duke Rufus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Duke Rufus will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Van Adams
vs
Rufus

179 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
20
192 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Victor Van Adams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Duke Rufus!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Anthony Taglia and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Van Adams throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rufus was covering up waiting for the punch and Van Adams finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Van Adams looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rufus trying to control the position.
Van Adams postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rufus working a defensive guard here.
Van Adams engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Van Adams connects with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Adams throws a big right hand that misses.
Van Adams might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rufus controls Van Adams momentarily but Van Adams frees himself.
Van Adams seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Duke Rufus.
Rufus dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Victor Van Adams seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rufus lands a jab to the nose.

Van Adams shoots in and bounces Rufus off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rufus preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Van Adams engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Adams scoring with some ground and pound.
Van Adams sitting in guard, not really doing much.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Adams with a flurry of punches that miss.
Van Adams content to stall in guard here.
Rufus really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Van Adams. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Van Adams wants to control from the top but Rufus keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Victor Van Adams wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rufus lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Van Adams backs up against the cage.
Van Adams throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rufus's waist but Rufus gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Van Adams off to one side.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rufus, as that shot connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Adams closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rufus to the mat! Rufus manages to get full guard.
Van Adams content to stall in guard here.
Van Adams's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Van Adams pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rufus is keeping the position for now.
Van Adams postures up.
Van Adams scoring with some ground and pound.
Rufus throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Rufus preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rufus keeping moving, preventing Van Adams from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Adams stands up over Rufus, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Van Adams slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
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!
Rufus controls Van Adams momentarily but Van Adams frees himself.
Van Adams keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rufus's head.
Rufus looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Van Adams throwing strikes from guard but Rufus blocks nicely.
Van Adams pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rufus is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rufus keeping moving, preventing Van Adams from controlling successfully.
Van Adams scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Van Adams takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nice takedown defense from Rufus. No joy for Van Adams on that attempt.

Rufus gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Van Adams is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Van Adams wants to control from the top but Rufus keeps moving.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Van Adams here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Van Adams lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rufus can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Van Adams controls the pace.
Van Adams trying to control the position from guard on top but Rufus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Victor Van Adams.
Van Adams avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Adams is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rufus.
Rufus displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Van Adams.
Van Adams avoids the body shot from Rufus.
Van Adams is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rufus sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Victor Van Adams. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rufus swings for the body but Van Adams moves out of range.
Rufus lands a jab to the head.
Van Adams tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rufus swivels and escapes.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Van Adams is defended easily by Rufus.
Van Adams fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rufus lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Nice defenses there by Rufus.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Adams looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Van Adams misses the jab.
Rufus thuds a left hand into Van Adams's body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Van Adams.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Van Adams is defended easily by Rufus.
Nice sprawl there from Rufus as Van Adams shoots in.
Van Adams shoots in for a takedown but Rufus shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rufus slaps away a takedown attempt from Van Adams, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rufus sizes up Van Adams with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Rufus lands a jab to Van Adams's midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rufus scores with a body shot.
Rufus scores with a jab. Van Adams acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Van Adams tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rufus paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rufus listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Nice defenses there by Rufus.
Rufus stuffs the takedown.
Van Adams misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rufus dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rufus with a nice cross.
Van Adams shoots for a takedown but Rufus saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Van Adams shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Van Adams was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Van Adams looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rufus parries the strikes from Van Adams easily there. Van Adams is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Rufus to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Adams cracks Rufus with a big elbow.

Rufus explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Van Adams throws a looping overhand right but Rufus ducks down to avoid it.

Van Adams drives through with a takedown into Rufus's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Van Adams trying to control but Rufus is working from the bottom.
Van Adams is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rufus is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Van Adams lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Van Adams working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rufus working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Van Adams.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Van Adams dominated that second round.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Rufus as Van Adams shoots in.
Van Adams takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Van Adams shoots in for a takedown but Rufus shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Van Adams takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Good exchange - Rufus coming out on top.
Rufus defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Van Adams.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Victor Van Adams. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Van Adams scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rufus is looking for a sweep. Van Adams is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rufus keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rufus has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Van Adams is working away from the top position though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Adams is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Van Adams working the head and body with strikes.
Victor Van Adams overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Van Adams is trying to control the action in half guard but Rufus is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Van Adams is thwarting Rufus's attempts to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Van Adams dives in for a single leg takedown but Rufus sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Van Adams has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rufus is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Van Adams wants a takedown.
Rufus trying to stall but Van Adams improves his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van Adams has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Rufus regains guard immediately.
Rufus wants to stand up but Van Adams is controlling him.
Van Adams has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Van Adams postures up and lands a big shot to Rufus's brow.
Rufus wants to get back to his feet but Van Adams is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Van Adams landing some decent shots from guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Adams sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Van Adams trying to control the position from guard on top but Rufus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Adams throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Van Adams trying to control the position from guard on top but Rufus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Victor Van Adams.
Rufus lands with a straight right. Van Adams didn't see that one coming.
Rufus is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Rufus cracks Van Adams with a right hand to the side of the head.

Van Adams closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rufus to the mat! Rufus manages to get full guard.
Van Adams with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Van Adams landing with the ground and pound.
Van Adams trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Adams lands a couple of digs.
Van Adams working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rufus's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Van Adams's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rufus tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Van Adams works over Rufus with some ground and pound from guard.
Van Adams lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rufus is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rufus being controlled here, momentarily.
Duke Rufus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Victor Van Adams is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Van Adams stands up and waves to Rufus to follow him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Van Adams showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Van Adams, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victor Van Adams!
Duke Rufus was interviewed post fight and said 'I will come back stronger'.