PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jayson Tatum (ranked 3489 p4p, 2529 weight class) and Joels Van Wijnbergen (ranked 427 p4p, 322 weight class). Jayson Tatum has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Tatum
vs
Van Wijnbergen

203 cm
25
210
7 - 3 - 0

185 cm
39
210
24 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jayson Tatum!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joels Van Wijnbergen!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Wagner Zegers and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tatum avoids the body shot from Van Wijnbergen.
Joels Van Wijnbergen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Wijnbergen takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Van Wijnbergen throws a right hand that misses
and Tatum counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
An inside leg kick lands from Van Wijnbergen.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a wild body shot.
Van Wijnbergen attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Tatum drops down looking for a counter takedown but Van Wijnbergen sprawls and moves away.
Tatum looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Tatum tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Crunch! Van Wijnbergen slams his shin into Tatum's torso.
Van Wijnbergen thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Tatum if he has to take too many more of those.
Van Wijnbergen throws a body shot but no joy.
Tatum misses with a body kick.
A swing and a miss from Van Wijnbergen.
Van Wijnbergen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tatum.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Tatum.
Tatum lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatum goes for a double leg but Van Wijnbergen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Van Wijnbergen continues to drive forward.
Tatum throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tatum tries to land a front kick but Van Wijnbergen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Van Wijnbergen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Tatum looks to land a body kick but Van Wijnbergen moved away.
Nice jab there from Tatum.
Van Wijnbergen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Joels Van Wijnbergen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tatum slips under a jab.
Tatum appears to be looking for a big counter.
Van Wijnbergen takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Van Wijnbergen is looking to chop away at Tatum's legs.
Left hook, right uppercut from Van Wijnbergen.

It looks like Jayson Tatum has been cut.
Van Wijnbergen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Van Wijnbergen circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Wijnbergen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tatum tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Van Wijnbergen manages to circle out of the way.
Van Wijnbergen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Van Wijnbergen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A looping hook to the body misses from Van Wijnbergen. Tatum does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tatum wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Van Wijnbergen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Tatum rather than just go for the knockout.
Tatum throws a low kick but Van Wijnbergen avoids it.
Tatum scores with a jab to the head.
Van Wijnbergen throws a sloppy head kick and Tatum moves out of range easily.
Van Wijnbergen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Van Wijnbergen scores with a body shot.
Van Wijnbergen scores with a jab to the body.
Van Wijnbergen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Tatum doesn't manage to clinch there - Van Wijnbergen circles away.
Van Wijnbergen throws a predictable looking body shot
and Tatum counters with an outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tatum tries to clinch but Van Wijnbergen is having none of it.
Van Wijnbergen blocks the body kick.
Tatum checks the leg kick nicely there.
Van Wijnbergen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Tatum on the side of the head.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a hook. Tatum ducked under it nicely.
As Van Wijnbergen looks to move away, Tatum throws a big counter combo but Van Wijnbergen just gets out of the way.
Van Wijnbergen throws a head kick that misses
and Tatum counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Van Wijnbergen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Van Wijnbergen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tatum scores with a crisp jab that stopped Van Wijnbergen in his tracks.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a body kick.
Van Wijnbergen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tatum was well out of range. Poor timing from Van Wijnbergen.
Van Wijnbergen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tatum.
Tatum keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Van Wijnbergen.
As Van Wijnbergen backs away, Tatum returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Van Wijnbergen throws a leg kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Wijnbergen keeps Tatum at a distance using the push kick.
A punch lands to the side of Van Wijnbergen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Wijnbergen throws the left hand but Tatum avoids the punch easily.
Van Wijnbergen is looking to chop away at Tatum's legs.
An attempted straight right counter from Tatum misses the target.
Van Wijnbergen ducks under a wild hook from Tatum.
Van Wijnbergen scores with a hook to the body. Tatum takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Van Wijnbergen moves out of range of the leg kick from Tatum.
Van Wijnbergen throws a body kick that misses.
Tatum swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A shot to the body from Van Wijnbergen misses
and Tatum counters with a body kick that stops Van Wijnbergen in his tracks momentarily.
Van Wijnbergen throws out a powerful jab.
Van Wijnbergen throws the kick towards the body but Tatum avoids it.
Tatum misses with a body kick.
Van Wijnbergen moves out of range as Tatum throws a body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joels Van Wijnbergen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jayson Tatum's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Van Wijnbergen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tatum moves away.
Tatum wants to land a leg kick but Van Wijnbergen is out of range.
Van Wijnbergen tries a quick counter leg kick but Tatum is wise to it.
Tatum throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tatum misses with an uppercut
and Van Wijnbergen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Tatum thinking.
Van Wijnbergen scores with a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Tatum.
A leg kick checked by Tatum.
Tatum thinks about countering with a head kick.
Van Wijnbergen connects with a body shot that sends Tatum's belly button to the back.
Tatum lands a nice looking body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Wijnbergen moves out of range of the strikes.
Tatum fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Van Wijnbergen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Tatum might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Tatum throws a low kick but Van Wijnbergen avoids it.
Tatum blocks the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Wijnbergen misses the shot to the body.
Van Wijnbergen tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nice shot by Tatum.
Van Wijnbergen lunges at Tatum with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Tatum's hand.
Nice jab there from Tatum.
Van Wijnbergen takes a swing at Tatum's ribcage but misses.
Van Wijnbergen swings widly with a right hand
and Tatum counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That kick from Tatum tenderised Van Wijnbergen's leg. Van Wijnbergen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Tatum is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Tatum thuds his right hand into Van Wijnbergen's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A lazy body kick from Van Wijnbergen
and Tatum counters with a nice body kick.
Tatum is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Tatum looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Van Wijnbergen connects with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A swing and a miss from Van Wijnbergen.

Tatum clinches with his opponent.
Tatum blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tatum lands with a left to the head.
A short right from Tatum.
Tatum swings wildly with an uppercut but Van Wijnbergen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Van Wijnbergen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Van Wijnbergen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Van Wijnbergen has a couple of punches blocked by Tatum.
Tatum controlling the action here for a moment.
Van Wijnbergen misses with the head strike.
Van Wijnbergen is leaning against Tatum and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tatum blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Van Wijnbergen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Van Wijnbergen blocks an uppercut.
Tatum lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Tatum lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Tatum leaning against his opponent.
Van Wijnbergen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tatum.
Tatum lands a body shot in the clinch.
Van Wijnbergen working aggressively here.
Van Wijnbergen lands a nice uppercut.
Van Wijnbergen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tatum misses with a punch on the inside.
Tatum misses with a short punch on the inside.
Van Wijnbergen wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Wijnbergen working hard to break the clinch.
Van Wijnbergen can't find room to land a body shot as Tatum controls the action.
Jayson Tatum has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Van Wijnbergen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tatum misses with the head strike.
Tatum content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Tatum throws a head punch that misses.
Van Wijnbergen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Tatum.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Wijnbergen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Van Wijnbergen fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tatum.
Tatum misses with some punches.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a punch to the body.
Tatum blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jayson Tatum dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jayson Tatum's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Van Wijnbergen throws a leg kick
and Van Wijnbergen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Joels Van Wijnbergen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tatum moves out of range as Van Wijnbergen throws a body kick.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a kick to the body.
Van Wijnbergen throws a leg kick but Tatum checks it.
A jab lands there for Van Wijnbergen.
Tatum connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Van Wijnbergen throws a half hearted mid kick.
A clash of legs there as Tatum blocks the low kick.
Tatum scoring well with a low kick there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tatum smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nice jab there from Tatum.
Van Wijnbergen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tatum. That did some damage!
Van Wijnbergen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Van Wijnbergen throws a looping overhand right but Tatum ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatum moves out of range of the strikes.
Van Wijnbergen checks the leg kick.
Tatum scores with a nice body kick.
Van Wijnbergen scores with a nice right hand.
Van Wijnbergen throws a wild body kick that Tatum sees coming a mile off.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a combination
and Tatum counters with a body kick that stops Van Wijnbergen in his tracks momentarily.
Van Wijnbergen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Tatum can pounce on him.
Tatum buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Van Wijnbergen lands a slapping body shot.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a wild body shot.
Tatum connects with a single shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tatum throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Van Wijnbergen has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Tatum.
Tatum throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
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!
Van Wijnbergen slips a straight right by Tatum.
Van Wijnbergen misses with an uppercut
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Tatum delivers a nice body kick.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a body shot.
A low kick lands for Tatum.
Van Wijnbergen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Van Wijnbergen sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
An inside leg kick lands from Tatum.
Tatum takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Tatum displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Van Wijnbergen throws out the jab.
Tatum lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A left and a right from Van Wijnbergen both land. Nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tatum connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Van Wijnbergen misses with the body kick
and Tatum counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Van Wijnbergen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Van Wijnbergen checks a leg kick.
Van Wijnbergen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Van Wijnbergen scores with a shot to the body.
Van Wijnbergen takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Van Wijnbergen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Van Wijnbergen takes a swing at Tatum's ribcage but misses.
Tatum is looking to counter punch.
Tatum scores with a spinning back kick!
Van Wijnbergen thumps Tatum with a low kick.
Van Wijnbergen keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Van Wijnbergen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tatum sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tatum connects with a single shot there.

Tatum scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Van Wijnbergen takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Van Wijnbergen dodges the ground and pound from Tatum.
The referee asks Tatum politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Tatum prefers to stall for the moment though.
Tatum works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Tatum trying to control the action but Van Wijnbergen is working from the bottom.

Tatum looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jayson Tatum showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tatum 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jayson Tatum!
An out of breath Jayson Tatum thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.