PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Hide (ranked 1633 p4p, 202 weight class) and Candy Van (ranked 6489 p4p, 512 weight class). Hide comes into the arena with Nightwish blaring out of the sound system. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Candy Van was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Hide
vs
Van

178 cm
25
186 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

188 cm
23
180 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raphael Hide!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Candy Van!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Richard Clark and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hide rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Van makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Van shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hide but Hide pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hide tries to counter by clinching up but Van breaks away and moves out of range.
Van misses with a takedown attempt
and Hide counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Van shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hide moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hide is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Hide is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Van reverses the position - he's now on top in Hide's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Van gets to his feet. Hide looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hide stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hide wants it to stay on the feet.
Hide wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Raphael Hide has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Candy Van.
Van will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Van gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hide counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hide.

Van has Hide pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Van pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Hide tumbling to the mat - Van dives into Hide's guard.

Hide uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Hide looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Van avoids the body shot from Hide.
Hide throws a right and a left that both miss.
Van with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hide counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hide.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hide fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Van is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hide gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hide looking to throw knees to the head but Van is blocking nicely.
Hide lands a good knee to the midsection. Van won't want to take too many of those.
Hide gets underhooks to prevent Van's takedown attempt.
Van fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hide tries to work over Van's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hide lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Candy Van has been cut.
Hide lands a hook that snaps the head of Van backwards.
Van is looking to take this one to the mat.
Hide stops a takedown attempt from Van.
Hide is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Van looks winded!
Van tries for a takedown but Hide manages to get underhooks.
A knee to the head by Hide.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hide creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Van is looking for a takedown.

Van ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Van no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Hide seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hide has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hide tries to free his leg and advance position but Van is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hide engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hide trying to control but Van is working from the bottom.
Hide trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Van looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hide slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Van trying to keep a closed guard but Hide is proving a slippery customer.
Van being controlled here, momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Van doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hide counters with a straight right hand.
Van shoots in looking for a takedown but Hide manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Van's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Van shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hide sprawls well. Hide wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Van gets slowly back to his feet.
Van shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hide as he avoids it easily.
Van shoots in for a takedown but Hide shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Hide dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Candy Van's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hide stuffs the takedown.
Hide catches Van with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Van takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Van gets a clinch.
Hide scores with a shot to the side of Van's head.
Van tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hide smiles and moves away.
Van tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hide sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Van somewhat.
Raphael Hide has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Candy Van.
Van shoots in but no luck this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van has his takedown stuffed
and Hide connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Raphael Hide is winning the standup battle so far.
Van fails with the takedown.
It looked like Hide was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Candy Van is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hide seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Van misses with a takedown attempt
and Hide counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Van is breathing heavily.
Hide loads up on a big right hand but Van slips the punch.
Hide throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hide stuffs the takedown.
Van avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Van tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hide swivels and escapes.
Van fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Van shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hide but Hide pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hide as he jumps to the side.
Hide is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Van.
Raphael Hide is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Van shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hide as he jumps to the side.

Van closes the distance and clinches.
Hide lands an uppercut.
Hide softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hide with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hide looking to throw knees to the head but Van is blocking nicely.
Van being controlled against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hide misses with a short punch on the inside.
Van wants to take the fight to the mat but Hide manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hide with a knee to the head.
Hide with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hide is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Van can do to turn this around?
Van blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A bit of stalling here from Hide.
Hide tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Van avoids it.
Van can't break the clinch.
Van blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Van tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hide just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hide throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Vans head.
Hide tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hide prevents the takedown attempt.
Hide throws a punch but it's blocked by Van.
Van tries to pull guard but Hide won't allow it.
Van is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hide to keep the fight standing.
Van has Hide pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hide manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hide is trying to maintain a safe position but Van gets an underhook and turns Hide into the cage.
Van drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Van tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hide pushes Van back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Raphael Hide has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hide's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Hide struggles to land a body shot inside as Van controls his hands.
Hide stalling the fight.
Van is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hide gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hide lands a nice knee to the body.
Hide lands an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hide scores with a shoulder strike.
A body shot lands from Hide.
Hide misses with a punch to the body.
A short left from Hide.
Hide is pushing Van up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Hide gets through Van's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Van is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Hide dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Candy Van's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice body punch from Hide.
Van gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hide counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Van looks for a takedown but Hide sprawls well.
Van misses with a takedown attempt
and Hide counters with a three punch combo that has Van backing up. Van nods at Hide to acknowledge the strikes.
Van is still on wobbly legs! Can Hide finish him?
Raphael Hide has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Candy Van.
Hide works Van's body with a nice hook.
Hide takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Today's fight clock is brought to you by... OOOH that's a huge shot by Hide! Van is in big trouble here - the ref steps in to save him and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Raphael Hide!
Raphael Hide decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
Candy Van spoke after the fight, saying 'Back to the gym!'.