PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sivile Gonya (ranked 1275 p4p, 179 weight class) and Virgil Van Dijk (ranked 2173 p4p, 274 weight class). Virgil Van Dijk has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Gonya
vs
Van Dijk

182 cm
20
182 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

184 cm
28
184 lbs
10 - 12 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Conviction
Freebok (85% Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sivile Gonya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Virgil Van Dijk!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Dijk avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Van Dijk misses with a wild body shot.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Gonya.
Gonya looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gonya is defended easily by Van Dijk.

Van Dijk clinches with his opponent.
Van Dijk avoiding damage as Gonya throws knees to the body.
A short body shot lands from Gonya as the two fighters clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Gonya fails to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Dijk softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Van Dijk.
Gonya tries to land knees in the clinch but Van Dijk avoids the damage to the body.
Gonya misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Van Dijk wants to break free but Gonya has control.
Gonya goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've been hearing reports that Gonya has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonya lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Van Dijk backwards.
Gonya throws a knee to the head but misses.

Gonya manages to break the clinch.

Gonya gets a double leg takedown into Van Dijk's guard.
Van Dijk is looking to stand back up but Gonya counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Van Dijk.

Van Dijk pushes Gonya off looking to stand but Gonya dives back in and keeps control.
Van Dijk wants to control but Gonya is keeping busy.
Van Dijk wants to improve his position but Gonya is controlling well.
Van Dijk is trying to maintain the position but Gonya is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gonya is working for an americana but Van Dijk has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Gonya was thinking about the submission.
Gonya stays in close to Van Dijk's body and controls the position.
Van Dijk trying to control the position.
Van Dijk has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at CrossFit Sydney. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Gonya trying to control but Van Dijk is working from the bottom.

Van Dijk looking for a guillotine here but Gonya defends easily.
Van Dijk pulls Gonya in close to his closed guard and prevents Gonya from doing any damage or advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sivile Gonya will probably get the nod.
That's time! Gonya's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gonya misses with a right hand
enabling Van Dijk to counter with a crisp jab.

Gonya feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Van Dijk trying to control the position.
Van Dijk can't keep his opponent in guard - Gonya advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Gonya trying to pass the guard but Van Dijk defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Dijk has his hands clasped together around Gonya's back. He's all about the action.
Van Dijk trying to hold on to Gonya's head to control him but Gonya postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gonya moves nicely into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Dijk is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Van Dijk is trying to get back to full guard.
Gonya is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Van Dijk reverses the position - he's now on top in Gonya's guard.
Gonya is pulling down on Van Dijk's head. It's preventing any offense from Van Dijk, at least for the moment.
Van Dijk pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gonya is keeping the position for now.
Gonya working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Van Dijk.
Van Dijk really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gonya. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van Dijk got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gonya has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Van Dijk has managed to get both his arms back between Gonya's legs - danger averted.

Gonya looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Gonya has his foot on Van Dijk's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Van Dijk works his way back into a safe position though.

Gonya has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Van Dijk doesn't defend quickly enough and Gonya has managed to lock this one up! Can Van Dijk escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Gonya on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Sivile Gonya!
A less than humble Sivile Gonya misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.