PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alphonzo Mirage (ranked 494 p4p, 70 weight class) and Joost Van Buren (ranked 988 p4p, 153 weight class). 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?

Mirage
vs
Van Buren

191 cm
22
212 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

188 cm
22
206 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alphonzo Mirage!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joost Van Buren!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Dean Styles and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice leg kick lands there from Van Buren.
Van Buren throws a good cross that connects.
Van Buren with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Van Buren misses the shot to the body.
Van Buren checks the leg kick nicely there.
Van Buren misses with a body kick.
Mirage turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Van Buren misses with a hook. Mirage ducked under it nicely.
Van Buren fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Mirage on the side of the head.
Mirage slips a straight right by Van Buren.
Mirage throws an off balance right hand
and Van Buren counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Van Buren lands a nice shot to the body.
Mirage throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Mirage slips a straight right by Van Buren.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mirage takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Mirage misses with a low kick.
Van Buren lands a leg kick that knocks Mirage off balance momentarily.
Van Buren misses with a body shot
and Mirage counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mirage looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Van Buren moves out of range of the body kick from Mirage.
A clash of legs there as Van Buren blocks the low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mirage takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Mirage throws a leg kick that misses.
Decent striking displayed by Van Buren there.
A nice inside leg kick there by Van Buren. That's going to slow Mirage down.
Mirage staying out of range there.
Van Buren takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Joost Van Buren seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Buren scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Van Buren throws a chopping leg kick but Mirage manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Van Buren looks to throw the jab but Mirage is out of range.
Van Buren has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Mirage misses with a low kick.
Van Buren takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Van Buren misses with a low kick.
Van Buren lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Van Buren throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Mirage takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Mirage jabs at Van Buren's body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mirage has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Van Buren.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mirage.
Van Buren throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Van Buren ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Van Buren connects with an inside leg kick.
Mirage connects with a single shot there.
Mirage swings for the body but Van Buren moves out of range.
Mirage throws a low kick, looking for Van Buren's leg but Van Buren calmly moves out of range.
Van Buren punishes Mirage's body with a nice straight punch.
Mirage misses with a body kick.
Mirage swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Mirage thumps Van Buren with a low kick.

Mirage darts in and clinches Van Buren up against the cage.
Van Buren scores with a nice hook to the head.
Mirage blocks a body shot from Van Buren.
A head punch on the inside from Mirage fails to land.

Van Buren manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Mirage blocks the low kick.
Mirage throws a solid leg kick but Van Buren takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Mirage.
A thudding body kick lands there by Mirage!
Van Buren throws a low kick but Mirage moves out of range easily.
Van Buren scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Mirage doesn't seem bothered though.
Mirage misses with a leg kick.
Van Buren misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mirage.
Van Buren checks a leg kick.
Van Buren looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Mirage throws a body kick that misses.
Mirage slips under a jab.
A swing and a miss from Van Buren.
As Van Buren backs away, Mirage returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Van Buren cracks a nice hook into Mirage's ribs.
Mirage is looking to score with low kicks.
An inside leg kick lands from Van Buren.
Nice uppercut lands for Van Buren. That snapped Mirage's head back.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van Buren breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mirage throws a nice outside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mirage walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Mirage checks a low kick from Van Buren.
Van Buren getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Mirage chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Van Buren ducks under a wild hook from Mirage.
Van Buren dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Mirage. That did some damage!
Mirage is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Mirage blocks a low kick nicely.
A jab from Van Buren finds it's way through Mirage's defenses.
Mirage bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Crunch! Mirage slams his shin into Van Buren's torso.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Van Buren swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mirage pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Van Buren lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mirage's sensitive parts.
Van Buren digs a good body shot into Mirage's ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joost Van Buren dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Van Buren misses with a looping left.
Mirage pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Van Buren fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Mirage is out of range.
Mirage tries to clinch there but Van Buren circles away.
Jab by Van Buren.
Van Buren works the jab nicely.
A solid leg kick lands there for Van Buren.
Mirage with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Van Buren to score with a decent uppercut.
Van Buren is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mirage.
Mirage loads up on a big right hand but Van Buren slips the punch.
A big left from Van Buren misses.
A shot to the body from Van Buren misses
and Mirage counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Buren shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Van Buren tries to work over Mirage's front leg with a kick but Mirage checks it.
Mirage doesn't manage to clinch there - Van Buren circles away.
Mirage throws a body shot but no joy.
Mirage scores with a crisp jab that stopped Van Buren in his tracks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Buren scores with a crisp jab that stopped Mirage in his tracks.
Mirage swings for the body but Van Buren moves out of range.
Mirage ducks right into an uppercut from Van Buren.
Mirage scores with a leg kick.
Van Buren stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Van Buren lands with a shot to the body.
Mirage throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mirage misses with a head kick.
A big right from Van Buren misses.
Van Buren throws a solid leg kick but Mirage takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Van Buren.
Mirage doesn't manage to clinch there - Van Buren circles away.
Van Buren works Mirage's body with a nice hook.
Mirage keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mirage avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mirage sizes up Van Buren with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
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!
A big left from Van Buren misses.
Mirage lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren checks the leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Van Buren misses the target.
Mirage misses with a kick to the body
and Van Buren counters with a body kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Van Buren.
Van Buren checks a leg kick nicely.
Van Buren looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Van Buren misses with a head kick.
Van Buren throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mirage has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Mirage lands with a kick to the temple. Van Buren shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Van Buren on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Van Buren throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mirage throws a big shot that misses.
Van Buren appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Van Buren misses with a wild body shot.
It looked like Mirage wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Mirage keeps Van Buren at a distance using the push kick.
Mirage scoring well with a low kick there.
Van Buren looks for the body kick but Mirage saw that one coming.
Van Buren fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Van Buren.
Good leg kick by Van Buren there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Joost Van Buren seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mirage throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Van Buren throws a body shot but no joy.
Mirage is looking to clinch but Van Buren is avoiding it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Van Buren.
Mirage uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Van Buren.
Mirage is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Van Buren.
Van Buren keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mirage just misses with a punch to the body.
Mirage on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Mirage looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Van Buren throws a chopping leg kick but Mirage manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Mirage swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Mirage lands with a straight right. Van Buren didn't see that one coming.
Mirage is looking to clinch but Van Buren is avoiding it.
Van Buren scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Mirage moves out of range of the leg kick from Van Buren.
Mirage was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mirage misses with an attempted mid kick.
Mirage throws out a leg kick but Van Buren moves out of range and Mirage only half commits.
Mirage connects with a crisp jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Buren feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mirage's calf.
Van Buren misses with a wild body shot.
Van Buren tries to land a front kick but Mirage steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Van Buren fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mirage manages to avoid it.
Mirage throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Mirage waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Van Buren.
Mirage blocks a leg kick.
Van Buren throws out a powerful jab.
Van Buren misses the shot to the body.
Van Buren looks to land a right hand but Mirage moved out of range.
Van Buren misses with a leg kick.
Mirage throws a leg kick but Van Buren sees it coming and moves out of range.
Van Buren is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Mirage with a body shot.
Van Buren thows a left - swing and a miss!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joost Van Buren showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mirage fails with an attempt to clinch.
Van Buren lands a head shot.
Van Buren misses with a two punch combination.
Mirage throws a looping overhand right but Van Buren ducks down to avoid it.
Van Buren scoring well with a low kick there.
A slow jab from Mirage misses its intended target.
Mirage scores with a shot to the body.
Van Buren swings widly with a right hand
and Mirage counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Van Buren shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Van Buren throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mirage throws a leg kick but Van Buren checks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mirage dodges the punch combination from Van Buren.
Mirage is looking to counter with a body kick.
Van Buren shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Van Buren fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mirage throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mirage takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Mirage avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Van Buren chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A low kick from Van Buren is predictable there
and Mirage counters with an inside leg kick.
Van Buren avoids a kick to the body.
Mirage is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Mirage slips under a jab from Van Buren.
Van Buren misses the jab.
Mirage lets loose with a powerful body kick. Van Buren will feel that in the morning.
Van Buren takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mirage.
An inside leg kick from Mirage misses.
Mirage misses with a straight right.
Mirage throws a hook to the side of Van Buren's head but Van Buren sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mirage throws a push kick but Van Buren slaps the foot to one side.
Mirage tries to move into range but Van Buren moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mirage steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Van Buren.
Van Buren misses with a jab, cross combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mirage throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Van Buren misses with a body shot.
Van Buren has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Good leg kick by Van Buren there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Mirage misses with a body kick.
Mirage misses with a low kick.
Van Buren blocks a leg kick.
Mirage tries to work over Van Buren's front leg with a kick but Van Buren checks it.
Van Buren misses with an uppercut. Mirage saw that one coming.
Mirage tried to score with a low kick but Van Buren checks it.
Van Buren lands a lovely overhand right.
Van Buren scores with a kick to the body.
A punch combination from Mirage misses.
Van Buren takes a swing at Mirage's ribcage but misses.
Mirage appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Mirage misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mirage on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Van Buren. Van Buren obviously looking to wear him down.
Van Buren circles away from the clinch attempt.
Van Buren throws a jab when Mirage was well out of range.
Van Buren throws a big shot that misses.
Mirage looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Van Buren lands with a straight right. Mirage didn't see that one coming.
A slow jab from Van Buren misses its intended target.
Mirage appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Van Buren takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Mirage feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Van Buren's calf.
Mirage misses with a leg kick.
Mirage gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Van Buren.
Van Buren is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mirage.
Mirage swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Van Buren.
Van Buren lands a nice shot to the body.
Mirage uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Van Buren.
Mirage looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mirage wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mirage ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Van Buren moves away.
Mirage looks to score with a jab to the body but Van Buren is just out of range.
Van Buren scores with a crisp jab that stopped Mirage in his tracks.
Mirage comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The fighters circling - Mirage throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Van Buren walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Van Buren looks to land a combination but Mirage avoids it well.
Van Buren tries to work over Mirage's front leg with a kick but Mirage checks it.
Mirage misses the jab.
Van Buren lands with an overhand left.
Van Buren fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Mirage misses with an uppercut
and Van Buren counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Van Buren throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Mirage cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Van Buren lands a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Joost Van Buren just about did enough to take it.
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.

Mirage closes the distance and pushes Van Buren back into the cage.
Mirage lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Van Buren manages to break the clinch.
Mirage is looking to land body kicks.
A big right from Van Buren misses.
Mirage lets loose with a powerful body kick. Van Buren will feel that in the morning.
Van Buren misses with a low kick.
Van Buren uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mirage has time to react.
Mirage misses with a low kick.
Van Buren uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mirage.
A head kick misses from Mirage.
Van Buren has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Mirage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mirage blocks the body kick.
Van Buren looks to land a left hand but Mirage moved out of range nicely.
Van Buren throws a big shot that misses.
Mirage drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Van Buren scores with a nice strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mirage shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Some bone on bone action there as Van Buren checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Van Buren misses with a low kick.
Mirage misses with a low kick.
Van Buren misses with a leg kick.
Mirage cracks Van Buren with a good jab.
Mirage throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Mirage throws a leg kick that misses.
Van Buren swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mirage. Van Buren does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mirage cracks the inside of Van Buren's front leg.
Mirage tries to land a leg kick but Van Buren saw it coming and moves away.
Mirage takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Mirage takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Mirage throws a body kick that misses
and Van Buren counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mirage fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Van Buren throws a lazy uppercut
and Mirage counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Mirage displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Van Buren throws out the jab.
Mirage fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Van Buren manages to avoid it.
Van Buren appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Left hook, right uppercut from Van Buren.
Mirage works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
The fighters circling - Mirage throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Van Buren throws a nice outside leg kick.
Mirage on the wrong end of a nice hook.
An inside leg kick lands from Van Buren.
Van Buren rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Mirage counters with a good low kick that Van Buren was not able to check.
Mirage lands a jab.
Van Buren throws a jab but it's blocked by Mirage.
Van Buren defending well as Mirage loads up on a big left hand.
Mirage throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren throws a shot from downtown. Mirage moves away and avoids it.
Mirage takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Van Buren lands with a shot to the body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Van Buren, right into the meat.
Van Buren tries a head kick but it misses.
Van Buren misses the shot to the body.
Mirage throws a quick counter kick to the body but Van Buren avoids it.
Mirage moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Van Buren uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mirage.
Mirage fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Van Buren checks it well.
Van Buren avoids a kick to the body.
Van Buren scores with a jab to the body.
Mirage uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Van Buren.
Mirage throws a lazy uppercut
and Van Buren counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mirage throws the kick towards the body but Van Buren avoids it.
Van Buren finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mirage uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Van Buren.
Mirage with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A slow jab from Van Buren misses its intended target.
Mirage was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mirage lands with a thumping leg kick.
Van Buren pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Van Buren misses with a low kick.
Mirage connects with an inside leg kick.
Mirage scores with a sloppy right hand. Van Buren should have avoided that one.
Van Buren feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mirage's calf.
A left lands for Mirage.
Mirage takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Nice uppercut lands for Mirage. That snapped Van Buren's head back.
Van Buren circles away from the clinch attempt
and Van Buren counters with a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Joost Van Buren will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Mirage misses with a low kick.
Nice shot lands for Van Buren.
Mirage fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Van Buren manages to avoid it.
Mirage misses with a body kick.
Van Buren fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Mirage checks it well.
The fighters circling - Mirage throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Van Buren avoids the body shot from Mirage.
Mirage scores with the left hand. Van Buren knows he should have avoided that one.
Mirage slips a straight right by Van Buren.
Van Buren throws a push kick but Mirage slaps the foot to one side.
Mirage lands a leg kick that knocks Van Buren off balance momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice cross by Mirage.
Van Buren misses with a looping right.
Van Buren ducks right into an uppercut from Mirage.
Van Buren scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Van Buren slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Buren misses the shot to the body.
Mirage fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A jab from Mirage finds it's way through Van Buren's defenses.
Van Buren lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mirage circles away quickly and effectively.
Mirage looks to land a combination but Van Buren avoids it well.
Van Buren misses with a body shot.
Van Buren getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Van Buren blocks a leg kick.
Mirage tries a head kick but it misses.
Mirage throws a low kick, looking for Van Buren's leg but Van Buren calmly moves out of range.
Mirage misses with a body kick.
Mirage is looking to chop away at Van Buren's legs.
Mirage pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Van Buren.
Mirage takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Alphonzo Mirage has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
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!
A slapping leg kick lands for Van Buren.
A punch lands to the side of Mirage 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Good leg kick by Mirage there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Van Buren loads up on a big right hand but Mirage slips the punch.
Van Buren tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mirage was well out of range. Poor timing from Van Buren.
A looping hook to the body misses from Van Buren. Mirage does a little dance to reset his feet.
A quick step to the side and Mirage tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Buren misses with a looping left.
Van Buren takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Van Buren turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Mirage misses with a body shot.
Van Buren swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mirage swings for the body but Van Buren moves out of range.
Van Buren blocks a jab.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Van Buren! But no joy.
Mirage moves away from the strike by Van Buren.
Mirage is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren throws the left hand but Mirage avoids the punch easily.
Mirage throws a hook but Van Buren blocks it.
Van Buren takes a jab right on the kisser.
A bone on bone clash there as Van Buren blocks the leg kick.
Van Buren throws out a loose jab but Mirage uses good head movement to avoid it.
Van Buren with a nice cross.
Mirage fails with an attempt to clinch.
Van Buren uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mirage.
Van Buren unleashes a big counter combination but Mirage bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Van Buren throws a series of punches but Mirage avoids them all with ease.
Mirage walks forward, straight into a front kick from Van Buren.
Van Buren misses with a leg kick.
Mirage will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Mirage lands with a straight right. Van Buren didn't see that one coming.
An inside leg kick from Mirage misses.
Mirage swings for the body but Van Buren moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren scores with a nice strike.
Mirage takes a body punch but keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mirage throws a half hearted mid kick.
Van Buren lands with a slapping head kick.
A big left from Van Buren misses.
Mirage fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Van Buren checks it well.
Van Buren throws a lazy right hand but Mirage sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mirage goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A swing and a miss from Mirage.
Van Buren will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mirage gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Van Buren.
Joost Van Buren is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Van Buren throws a nice outside leg kick.
Mirage missing with a left hand there. Van Buren was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Joost Van Buren.
I've got Van Buren winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 48:47
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 45:50
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Joost Van Buren!
Joost Van Buren is the new light heavyweight champion!