PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hendrik Vermeulen (ranked 1420 p4p, 2095 weight class) and Stoner Steve (ranked 207 p4p, 299 weight class). Vermeulen comes to the cage accompanied by Dance Macabre (Carpenter Brut remix) - Ghost. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Vermeulen
vs
Steve

187 cm
45
201
36 - 19 - 1

194 cm
26
215
8 - 9 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Hoarse Pills
Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 36 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Hendrik Vermeulen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stoner Steve!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vermeulen misses with a straight left.
The fighters circling - Steve throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Vermeulen definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Vermeulen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Steve to the mat! Steve manages to get full guard.
Vermeulen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Vermeulen throws an elbow that misses. Steve uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Vermeulen's guard. Nice move by Steve!

Steve controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vermeulen is controlling Steve's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vermeulen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vermeulen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
My spies in ubergym inform me that Steve has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Steve postures up.
Vermeulen pulls Steve in to control the position.
Vermeulen has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Steve has passed into side control.
Steve content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Vermeulen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Steve controlling the position from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vermeulen is trying to control Steve's posture but Steve avoids it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Vermeulen regains half guard.
Steve takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Steve's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Steve connects with a looping right hand.
Vermeulen on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Vermeulen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steve looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Vermeulen tries for a takedown but Steve sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A little jabbing left from Steve on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Steve lands a nice shot that snaps Vermeulen's head back.
A telegraphed right hand from Steve misses the target.
Steve looks to score with a jab to the body but Vermeulen is just out of range.
Steve ducks under a wild hook from Vermeulen.
Steve slips under a jab.
Steve jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Steve misses with a body shot

and Vermeulen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steve has hold of Vermeulen's hands but Vermeulen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Steve keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Vermeulen wants to pass the guard but Steve is defending well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Stoner Steve will probably get the nod.
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.

Steve loads up on a big right hand but Vermeulen slips the punch.
Vermeulen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Vermeulen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hendrik Vermeulen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vermeulen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Steve throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Vermeulen throws a right hand that misses
and Steve counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Vermeulen lands a slapping body shot.
Steve shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Steve takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Steve is looking to clinch.
Vermeulen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Steve.
A jab from Vermeulen does it's job there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vermeulen takes a swing at Steve's ribcage but misses.
Steve throws out a counter right but Vermeulen avoids it with no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vermeulen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Steve moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Nice defenses there by Vermeulen.
Vermeulen attempts a counter takedown but Steve avoids it well and moves away.
Steve swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vermeulen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Steve momentarily.
Stoner Steve is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vermeulen cracks a nice hook into Steve's ribs.
Steve walks into a left hand.
Steve throws out a loose jab but Vermeulen uses good head movement to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Steve. Vermeulen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Steve misses with a lunging right hand

and Vermeulen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Steve won't be happy with that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steve dodges the ground and pound from Vermeulen.
Steve takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vermeulen postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Steve parries the strikes from Vermeulen easily there. Vermeulen is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Steve to escape.
Steve regains half guard, as Vermeulen was trying to land strikes.
Vermeulen with the ground and pound but Steve uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Hendrik Vermeulen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vermeulen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Vermeulen throws a big elbow that misses.
Vermeulen trying to control the position from guard on top but Steve is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steve avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vermeulen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vermeulen throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vermeulen throwing strikes but missing.
Vermeulen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Vermeulen stopping the sweep attempt from Steve.
Steve preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Vermeulen works over Steve with some ground and pound from guard.
Steve is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four 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.
Vermeulen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Steve preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Steve doesn't manage to clinch there - Vermeulen circles away.
Steve throws a shot from downtown. Vermeulen moves away and avoids it.
Vermeulen slips under a jab from Steve.

Vermeulen closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Steve's guard.
Vermeulen stopping the sweep attempt from Steve.
Vermeulen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Vermeulen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Vermeulen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Steve can do to turn this around?
Vermeulen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Steve swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hendrik Vermeulen dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Steve slips a straight right by Vermeulen.
Vermeulen misses with a hook to the body
and Vermeulen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A big right from Vermeulen misses.
A jab lands there for Steve.
Steve misses with a looping left.
Vermeulen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Vermeulen throws a hook but Steve avoids it easily.
Steve throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vermeulen tries to counter with a takedown but Steve is quick to defend against it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vermeulen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Vermeulen throws a jab when Steve was well out of range.
Vermeulen throws a poor cross that misses
and Steve cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Vermeulen jabs at Steve's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vermeulen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Steve slips a jab from Vermeulen.
Vermeulen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Vermeulen misses with an uppercut.
Hendrik Vermeulen is winning the standup battle so far.
Steve walks into a stiff left hand from Vermeulen.
Vermeulen moves away from the strike by Steve.
Vermeulen throws a big shot that misses.
Steve throws a jab but it's blocked by Vermeulen.
Vermeulen misses the shot to the body.
Vermeulen takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Steve tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vermeulen was well out of range. Poor timing from Steve.
Vermeulen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Steve.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vermeulen throws a lazy uppercut
letting Steve counter with a right hand.
Vermeulen lands with a nice body punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vermeulen thuds a left hand into Steve's body.
Vermeulen misses with a takedown attempt
and Steve counters with a right hand to the body.
Vermeulen throws an off balance right hand
enabling Steve to counter with a crisp jab.
Steve walks into a straight right hand from Vermeulen.
Vermeulen scores with a nice head shot.
Vermeulen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Steve.
Vermeulen connects with a body shot that sends Steve's belly button to the back.
Steve thuds a left hand into Vermeulen's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vermeulen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Steve was well out of range. Poor timing from Vermeulen.
Vermeulen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A slow jab from Vermeulen misses its intended target.
Vermeulen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Steve misses with a straight right.
Vermeulen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Steve manages to avoid it.
Vermeulen shoots for a takedown but Steve saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Vermeulen swings away with a body shot that misses
and Steve counters with a stiff right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vermeulen misses with a body shot.
Steve blocks a jab.
Vermeulen misses with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steve defending well as Vermeulen loads up on a big left hand.
Steve ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vermeulen moves away.

Vermeulen throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Steve tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Vermeulen is in Steve's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vermeulen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Vermeulen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Steve avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Steve is trying to hold Vermeulen in close to prevent damage but Vermeulen has managed to pass into half guard.
Vermeulen wants to free his trapped foot but Steve is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Vermeulen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Steve does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hendrik Vermeulen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Vermeulen 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hendrik Vermeulen!
After winning the bout, Hendrik Vermeulen thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.