PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lex Luther (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rico Verhoeven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luther is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Rico Verhoeven enters the cage!

Luther
vs
Verhoeven

198 cm
30
270 lbs
21 - 17 - 0

196 cm
26
242 lbs
1 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lex Luther!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rico Verhoeven!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luther swats away the attempt to clinch by Verhoeven.
Rico Verhoeven seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Luther is breathing heavily.
Verhoeven tries to clinch but Luther is having none of it.
Verhoeven tries to clinch there but Luther circles away.
Verhoeven pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Luther misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Luther circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Verhoeven looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Verhoeven's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Verhoeven duly obliges.
Verhoeven misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Luther takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Verhoeven fails in his attempt to clinch.
Verhoeven tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Verhoeven misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Verhoeven throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Verhoeven tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Luther manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Verhoeven connects with the punch.
Verhoeven doesn't manage to clinch there - Luther circles away.
Verhoeven throws a head kick that half lands.
Luther chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Verhoeven can pounce on him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luther slips a jab and a cross from Verhoeven.
Verhoeven tries to clinch up but Luther circles away and keeps his distance.
Verhoeven fails to land with a series of punches.
No joy there for Verhoeven, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Luther throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Verhoeven looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Verhoeven tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Luther avoids the head kick by Verhoeven.
Verhoeven doesn't manage to clinch there - Luther circles away.
Verhoeven tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Luther manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Verhoeven wants to clinch.
Verhoeven tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Luther manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Verhoeven is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Verhoeven fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verhoeven throws a right and a left that Luther avoids nicely.
Verhoeven tries to clinch but Luther moves out of range.
Luther ducks right into an uppercut from Verhoeven.
Verhoeven misses with an attempted mid kick.
Verhoeven is looking to clinch.
Verhoeven fails to land with a series of punches.
Verhoeven misses with a head kick.
Verhoeven fails in his attempt to clinch.
Verhoeven tries to clinch up but Luther circles away and keeps his distance.
Verhoeven closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A punch combination from Verhoeven misses.
Verhoeven fails in his attempt to clinch.
Verhoeven tries to clinch but Luther moves out of range.
Left hook, right uppercut from Verhoeven.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Verhoeven tries to clinch up.
Luther tries a head kick but it misses.
Verhoeven fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luther circles away from the clinch attempt.
Luther tries to clinch but Verhoeven moves out of range.
Verhoeven tries to clinch but Luther moves out of range.
Verhoeven tries to clinch but Luther is having none of it.
Verhoeven throws a head kick that Luther semi-blocks.
Verhoeven swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Verhoeven throws a head kick that half lands.
Verhoeven tries to clinch up.
Verhoeven tries to clinch up but Luther circles away and keeps his distance.
Verhoeven misses with a two punch combination.
Luther circles away from the clinch attempt.
Verhoeven tries to close the distance and clinch up but Luther swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Verhoeven wants to clinch up but Luther keeps it at a distance.
Verhoeven tries to clinch up but Luther circles away and keeps his distance.
Verhoeven misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Verhoeven is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verhoeven fails with an attempt to clinch.
Verhoeven swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Verhoeven misses with the combination.
Verhoeven pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Verhoeven rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Luther moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Verhoeven tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Luther paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Verhoeven tries to clinch but Luther is having none of it.
Verhoeven tries to close the distance and clinch but Luther swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Verhoeven tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Luther paws at him with a jab and circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Verhoeven throws a sloppy head kick and Luther moves out of range easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Luther looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Verhoeven throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Verhoeven dominated that round.
That's time! Luther's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Verhoeven misses with a wild combination.
Verhoeven connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Verhoeven tries to close the distance and clinch up but Luther swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Luther circles away from the clinch attempt.
Verhoeven throws a right and a left that Luther avoids nicely.
Luther keeps the fight on the outside.
Verhoeven tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Verhoeven throws a sloppy head kick and Luther moves out of range easily.
Rico Verhoeven is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Luther swats away the attempt to clinch by Verhoeven.
Verhoeven looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Verhoeven pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Verhoeven tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Luther manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Verhoeven tries to close the distance and clinch up but Luther swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Verhoeven tries a head kick but it misses.
Verhoeven misses with a few strikes there.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Verhoeven. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Verhoeven looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Verhoeven throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Verhoeven swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Verhoeven tries to clinch but Luther moves out of range.
Verhoeven fails with an attempt to clinch.
Verhoeven lands with a kick to the temple. Luther shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
No joy there for Verhoeven, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Verhoeven is looking to clinch but Luther is avoiding it.
Verhoeven doesn't manage to clinch there - Luther circles away.
Verhoeven tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Verhoeven swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Verhoeven tries to clinch but Luther is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Verhoeven looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Verhoeven tries to close the distance and clinch but Luther swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luther avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Luther dodges the punch combination from Verhoeven.
Verhoeven throws a series of punches but Luther moves out of range.
Verhoeven tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Luther paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Verhoeven fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Luther, pushing him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Verhoeven's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Verhoeven using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Luther has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Verhoeven throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Luther blocks it with crossed arms.
Verhoeven blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Verhoeven avoiding damage as Luther throws knees to the body.
Verhoeven dodges an elbow strike from Luther.
Verhoeven misses with a knee strike.
Luther looks to throw an elbow but misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Verhoeven is trying to maintain a safe position but Luther gets an underhook and turns Verhoeven into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verhoeven is trying to push Luther away but Luther has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Verhoeven wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Verhoeven tries to land a knee to the head but Luther blocks with his arms.
Verhoeven wants to break free but Luther has control.
Luther using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Verhoeven has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Luther with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Verhoeven looking to throw knees to the head but Luther is blocking nicely.
Verhoeven has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Verhoeven misses with an elbow over the top.
Nice elbow from Luther.
Verhoeven has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Verhoeven is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Luther is keeping busy.
Luther lands an elbow inside.
Verhoeven using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Luther has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Luther throws a knee to the head but misses.
Luther is looking to control Verhoeven's arms but Verhoeven gets an underhook and turns him. Now Luther has his back to the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verhoeven misses with a knee strike.
Luther is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Verhoeven is defending well for now.
Verhoeven tries to land a knee to the head but Luther blocks with his arms.
Verhoeven is trying to break the clinch but Luther is controlling him.
Verhoeven blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Verhoeven tries to circle away but Luther has him pinned against the cage.
Luther is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Verhoeven is defending well for now.
Verhoeven has had enough of the clinch but Luther keeps him there for the moment.
Verhoeven with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Luther misses with a knee strike.
Verhoeven throws a knee to the head but misses.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Luther takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Verhoeven throws a knee to the head but misses.
Luther throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Verhoeven blocks it with crossed arms.
Verhoeven can't break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Verhoeven showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Verhoeven tries to clinch up.
Verhoeven tries to close the distance and clinch up but Luther swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Verhoeven tries to close the distance and clinch but Luther swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Luther circles away from the clinch attempt.
Verhoeven misses with a head kick.
Verhoeven tries to clinch but Luther moves away

and Luther counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Luther.
Verhoeven wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Verhoeven tries to break the clinch but Luther is controlling the position.
Luther trying to stall but Verhoeven improves his position.
Verhoeven wants to break free but Luther has control.
Verhoeven tries to circle away but Luther has him pinned against the cage.
Verhoeven throws a knee to the head but misses.
Luther throws an elbow but it misses.
A frustrated look appears on Verhoeven's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Verhoeven looking to slow down the pace here.
Verhoeven tries to circle away but Luther has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luther prevents Verhoeven from breaking the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Verhoeven's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Verhoeven blocks an elbow strike from Luther.
Luther keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Verhoeven's efforts to push away.
Verhoeven is trying to break free.
Verhoeven wants to break the clinch but can't.
Verhoeven wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Luther has him pressed against the cage.
Verhoeven throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Luther blocks it with crossed arms.
Luther keeps control of Verhoeven as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Verhoeven looking to throw knees to the head but Luther is blocking nicely.
Verhoeven is trying to stall.
Luther tries to land knees in the clinch but Verhoeven avoids the damage to the body.
Verhoeven has had enough of the clinch but Luther keeps him there for the moment.
Luther tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lex Luther has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luther throws an elbow but it misses.
Verhoeven misses with a knee to the head.
Verhoeven managing to block the knees to the body from Luther.
Verhoeven looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Verhoeven is trying to break the clinch but Luther has him pressed against the cage.
Verhoeven tries to land a knee to the head but Luther blocks with his arms.
Luther lands an elbow just above Verhoeven 's eye.
Verhoeven takes an elbow to the forehead.
Verhoeven avoiding damage as Luther throws knees to the body.
Verhoeven looking to stall.
Verhoeven avoiding damage as Luther throws knees to the body.
Luther missing with knees to the body.
Verhoeven looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Luther prevents Verhoeven from breaking the clinch.
Verhoeven is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verhoeven is looking to break free of the clinch but Luther has double underhooks.
Verhoeven has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Verhoeven on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Verhoeven wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Verhoeven is trying to push Luther away but Luther has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Verhoeven looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Luther has Verhoeven pressed against the cage, preventing Verhoeven from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Verhoeven trying to stall but Luther improves his position.
Luther missing with knees to the body.
Luther throws an elbow but it misses.
Verhoeven is trying to break free.
Verhoeven tries a knee to the head but Luther blocks it.
Verhoeven is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nice elbow from Luther.
Verhoeven takes an elbow to the temple.
Luther misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Verhoeven.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verhoeven tries to break the clinch but Luther is controlling the position.
Verhoeven avoiding damage as Luther throws knees to the body.
Verhoeven looking to throw knees to the head but Luther is blocking nicely.
Luther misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Verhoeven.
Verhoeven wants to get back to striking at distance but Luther won't allow it.
Verhoeven wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Luther tries to land a knee to the head but Verhoeven blocks with his arms.
Luther has Verhoeven pressed against the cage, preventing Verhoeven from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Verhoeven looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Verhoeven looking to stall.
Luther keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Verhoeven's efforts to push away.
Rico Verhoeven seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Luther is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Verhoeven is defending well for now.
Verhoeven with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Verhoeven with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rico Verhoeven comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Verhoeven 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rico Verhoeven!