PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joels Van Wijnbergen (ranked 766 p4p, 120 weight class) and Costa Ioannou (ranked 2655 p4p, 362 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Van Wijnbergen
vs
Ioannou

185 cm
32
210 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

188 cm
23
210 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Sin City Allstars

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 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joels Van Wijnbergen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Costa Ioannou!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Chad Campbell and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Wijnbergen tests Ioannou's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Van Wijnbergen looks to land a left hand but Ioannou moved out of range nicely.
Ioannou goes for a double leg but Van Wijnbergen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Van Wijnbergen continues to drive forward.
Van Wijnbergen quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Ioannou shoots for a double leg takedown but Van Wijnbergen sprawls well. He's pushed Ioannou's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Van Wijnbergen jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Van Wijnbergen throws a leg kick but Ioannou moved away.
Van Wijnbergen missing with a left hand there. Ioannou was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Van Wijnbergen with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ioannou slips a straight right by Van Wijnbergen.
Ioannou tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Van Wijnbergen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Van Wijnbergen. Ioannou does a little dance to reset his feet.
Van Wijnbergen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Van Wijnbergen wants it to stay on the feet.
Joels Van Wijnbergen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Costa Ioannou.
Van Wijnbergen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Van Wijnbergen tries to move into range but Ioannou moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A slapping leg kick lands for Van Wijnbergen.
A decent looking cross lands there for Van Wijnbergen.
Ioannou shoots in for a takedown but Van Wijnbergen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Wijnbergen lands with a cross.
Van Wijnbergen works Ioannou's body with a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ioannou misses with a takedown attempt - Van Wijnbergen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ioannou shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Van Wijnbergen pinned against the cage. Van Wijnbergen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ioannou shoots in for a takedown but Van Wijnbergen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Van Wijnbergen lands a nice hook to Ioannou's body. Ioannou takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Joels Van Wijnbergen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ioannou shoots in for a takedown but Van Wijnbergen shows good takedown defense.
Van Wijnbergen throws a body kick that misses.
Ioannou moves in looking to clinch but Van Wijnbergen pushes him off.
Van Wijnbergen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ioannou circles away quickly and effectively.
Costa Ioannou seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ioannou fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ioannou.
Van Wijnbergen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Van Wijnbergen is looking to land body kicks.

Ioannou closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ioannou blocks a body shot from Van Wijnbergen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Wijnbergen digs a right hand underneath Ioannou's ribcage. Ioannou let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Van Wijnbergen lands with a light punch inside.
A short left from Van Wijnbergen.
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!
Ioannou is trying to force a seperation but Van Wijnbergen has the dominant position.
Ioannou is looking to break free of the clinch but Van Wijnbergen has double underhooks.
Ioannou wants to get back to striking at distance but Van Wijnbergen won't allow it.
Ioannou misses with a hook to the ribs.
Van Wijnbergen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Van Wijnbergen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Van Wijnbergen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Van Wijnbergen throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Ioannou breaks from the clinch.
Van Wijnbergen throws a leg kick which misses Ioannou's front leg but catches the back leg as Ioannou tries to avoid it.
Ioannou shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Van Wijnbergen to counter with a crisp jab.
Van Wijnbergen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ioannou was well out of range. Poor timing from Van Wijnbergen.
Ioannou has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Wijnbergen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ioannou keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Van Wijnbergen drops Ioannou with a beautiful combination! Ioannou stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Van Wijnbergen is looking for the KO!

Ioannou is rocked!

It looks like Costa Ioannou has been cut.
We've been told by Van Wijnbergen's head coaches at Ryōzanpaku Dojo that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Ioannou switches off momentarily and Van Wijnbergen cracks him with a monster right hand! Ioannou topples backwards and makes a semi conscious attempt to cover up, as Van Wijnbergen dives in to land one more shot, before the referee has time to call the fight. What a finish by Van Wijnbergen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Joels Van Wijnbergen!
Joels Van Wijnbergen seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.