PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hendrik Vermeulen (ranked 1572 p4p, 1445 weight class) and Ronaldo Gomes (ranked 232 p4p, 205 weight class). Vermeulen's entrance music is Dance Macabre (Carpenter Brut remix) - Ghost. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Gomes's choice of entrance music: Cheo Gallego - El Anciano y El Niño. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Vermeulen
vs
Gomes

187 cm
44
203
35 - 18 - 1

190 cm
31
211
12 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Hoarse Pills

Brooklyn Apothecary

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 35 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Hendrik Vermeulen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ronaldo Gomes!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vermeulen throws a body punch but Gomes moves out of range.
Vermeulen definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Nice sprawl there from Vermeulen as Gomes shoots in.
Gomes throws a body shot but no joy.
Vermeulen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gomes doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gomes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Gomes shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Vermeulen has his hands clasped together around Gomes's back. He's all about the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gomes wants to control but Vermeulen is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vermeulen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vermeulen preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Vermeulen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vermeulen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gomes is working away from the top position though.
Gomes performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Vermeulen keeping control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gomes prevents Vermeulen from improving his position.
Vermeulen is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Vermeulen is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vermeulen is trying to maintain the position but Gomes is very close to passing his half guard.
Vermeulen is trying to get back to full guard.
Vermeulen is refusing to be controlled, as Gomes sits in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Vermeulen ducks right into an uppercut from Gomes.
Ronaldo Gomes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vermeulen throws a hook but Gomes blocks it.
Gomes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Gomes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hendrik Vermeulen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronaldo Gomes.
No luck for Gomes with that takedown attempt.
Gomes ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Vermeulen misses with a body shot.

Gomes closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Vermeulen controlling the position for now.

Gomes is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vermeulen keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Gomes is keen to just control but Vermeulen is a slippery customer.
Vermeulen is trying to get back to full guard.

Gomes looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vermeulen is looking to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ronaldo Gomes will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gomes shoots in for a takedown but Vermeulen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gomes fails with a takedown attempt.
Vermeulen misses with a wild body shot.
Gomes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vermeulen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gomes somewhat.
Hendrik Vermeulen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronaldo Gomes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gomes shoots in but Vermeulen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Vermeulen misses the target.
Gomes lands a glancing blow to the side of Vermeulen's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vermeulen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vermeulen misses the shot to the body.
Vermeulen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gomes.
A big left from Gomes misses.
Vermeulen throwing a counter right hand but Gomes manages to avoid it.
Vermeulen misses with an uppercut. Gomes saw that one coming.
Gomes shoots in for a takedown but Vermeulen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gomes lands with a hook. Vermeulen tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Nice sprawl there from Vermeulen as Gomes shoots in.
A quick step to the side and Vermeulen tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vermeulen lands a body shot.
Vermeulen slaps away a takedown attempt from Gomes, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Vermeulen pinned against the cage. Vermeulen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Vermeulen loads up on a big right hand but Gomes slips the punch.
Gomes is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Hendrik Vermeulen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gomes shoots in but Vermeulen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gomes with a lazy takedown attempt
and Vermeulen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gomes thinking.
Gomes scores with a punch to the head.
Gomes lands a glancing blow to the side of Vermeulen's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomes fails with the takedown.
Gomes misses with a right hand
and Gomes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Gomes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Vermeulen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Vermeulen lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Gomes.
Gomes tries to pull guard but Vermeulen holds him up against the cage and eventually Gomes drops back down to his feet.
Vermeulen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Vermeulen fails to land.
Gomes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Vermeulen walks away with a smile on his face. Gomes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Vermeulen looks to throw the jab but Gomes is out of range.
Vermeulen looks to land a combination but Gomes avoids it well.
Hendrik Vermeulen is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomes scores with a crisp jab that stopped Vermeulen in his tracks.
Gomes digs a good hook to Vermeulen's body.
Vermeulen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Vermeulen wants it to stay on the feet.
A little feinted left hand from Vermeulen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Vermeulen misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Gomes counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gomes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vermeulen is keeping the position for now.
Vermeulen seems keen to control Gomes's posture.
Gomes looking to pass the guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hendrik Vermeulen dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gomes slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Gomes shoots for a takedown but Vermeulen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Vermeulen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Vermeulen there as he acknowledges the shot.
Gomes has his takedown stuffed
and Vermeulen counters with a straight right hand.
Vermeulen takes a swing at Gomes's ribcage but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Vermeulen misses.
Gomes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hendrik Vermeulen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronaldo Gomes.
Vermeulen walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vermeulen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Vermeulen looks to land a left hand but Gomes moved out of range nicely.
Gomes doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Vermeulen counters with a straight right hand.
Vermeulen ducks right into an uppercut from Gomes.
Gomes shoots and misses
and Vermeulen counters with a straight right hand.

Gomes shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Vermeulen wants to stand and escape but Gomes is having none of it.
Gomes advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomes is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vermeulen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Vermeulen pulls Gomes in to control the position.
Vermeulen controls Gomes momentarily but Gomes frees himself.
Gomes is fighting to break Vermeulen's control of his arms but Vermeulen is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Vermeulen continues to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vermeulen keeping moving, preventing Gomes from controlling successfully.
Vermeulen working a defensive guard here.
Vermeulen is pulling down on Gomes's head. It's preventing any offense from Gomes, at least for the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gomes fails with the takedown.
A quick step to the side and Vermeulen tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vermeulen throws a jab when Gomes was well out of range.
Gomes feints the counter takedown.
Vermeulen scores with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gomes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Vermeulen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gomes is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Vermeulen takes one to the side of the head.
Gomes fails to land the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Vermeulen as Gomes shoots in.
Vermeulen throwing a counter right hand but Gomes manages to avoid it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice body punch from Gomes.
Vermeulen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gomes.
Gomes walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hendrik Vermeulen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vermeulen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hendrik Vermeulen!
Hendrik Vermeulen decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.