PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Leo Vuce (ranked 5071 p4p, 3190 weight class) and Dirk Van Beest (ranked 443 p4p, 323 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Vuce might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to MC Yankoo. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Vuce
vs
Van Beest

180 cm
33
145
17 - 18 - 0

186 cm
29
152
4 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leo Vuce!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dirk Van Beest!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Van Beest fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vuce, pushing him back against the cage.
Vuce is trying to pull guard but Van Beest turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
I was talking to Vuce's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Vuce tries to pull guard but Van Beest forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Vuce tries to pull guard but Van Beest won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leo Vuce. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Vuce decides to pull guard.
Van Beest is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Vuce really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Van Beest pushes down on Vuce's leg and manages to get into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Beest controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Beest is continuing to stall.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Van Beest working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Vuce is staying active underneath Van Beest, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Van Beest perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Vuce pushes Van Beest off and gets back to his feet.
Vuce sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Beest looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vuce walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Van Beest missing with a left hand there. Vuce was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Vuce swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Beest.
No joy there for Van Beest, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Vuce shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Vuce was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Van Beest explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Van Beest fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vuce manages to avoid it.
Van Beest throws a head kick that Vuce semi-blocks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Beest misses with a hook
and Vuce counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Van Beest lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Van Beest throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
As Van Beest looks to move away, Vuce throws a big counter combo but Van Beest just gets out of the way.
Vuce shoots for a takedown but Van Beest saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Vuce blocks a head kick by Van Beest.
Vuce went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
An inside leg kick from Van Beest misses.
Vuce seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Van Beest misses with a hook
letting Vuce counter with a right hand.
Van Beest lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Vuce takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Vuce tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Van Beest manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Van Beest looks to land a left hand but Vuce moved out of range nicely.

Van Beest takes the fight into the clinch.
Van Beest misses with a hook to the ribs.
Van Beest pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Beest doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Van Beest lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Vuce or not.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Beest lands with a left to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Van Beest fails to land.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Vuce is trying to pull guard but Van Beest turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Van Beest fails to land.
Van Beest swings wildly with an uppercut but Vuce uses good head movement to avoid it.
A right hand to the body from Van Beest.
Vuce is trying to pull guard but Van Beest turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Van Beest lands with a short shot to the head.
A short uppercut from Van Beest.
Vuce jumps guard but Van Beest turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Vuce successfully pulls guard.
Van Beest is stalling in the full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dirk Van Beest dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

No luck for Vuce with that takedown attempt.

Vuce drives through with a takedown into guard.
Vuce working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vuce throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Van Beest works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Van Beest is adopting a defensive guard.
Vuce preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vuce lands a couple of digs.
Vuce postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vuce loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Beest is trying to keep Vuce in close.
Van Beest has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vuce loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Van Beest is adopting a defensive guard.

Van Beest pushes Vuce off and scrambles back to his feet.
Van Beest lands a jab to Vuce's midsection.
Van Beest lands with a shot to the body.
Van Beest punishes Vuce's body with a nice straight punch.

Vuce dives in and scores a takedown into Van Beest's guard.
Vuce loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vuce throwing strikes but missing.
Vuce throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Van Beest works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vuce postures up in Van Beest's guard and throws a big left but Van Beest blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Beest working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vuce.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Van Beest holds on and takes a little breather.
Vuce stopping the sweep attempt from Van Beest.
Vuce wants to stand but Van Beest has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Van Beest avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Van Beest not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Van Beest is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Vuce is controlling him.
Van Beest is trying to control the position but Vuce postures up.
Vuce throws an elbow that misses. Van Beest uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Vuce's guard. Nice move by Van Beest!

Van Beest trying to control but Vuce is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vuce thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Vuce throwing short punches from the bottom.
Van Beest looking to sit in guard and control but Vuce gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Vuce is in close to Van Beest's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Van Beest working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vuce.
Van Beest tries to land a sweep but no joy.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vuce accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vuce landing some decent shots from guard.
Van Beest preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vuce with a flurry of punches that miss.
Leo Vuce overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vuce keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Van Beest's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vuce postures up in Van Beest's guard and throws a big left but Van Beest blocks it.
Van Beest trying to control the position here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Vuce's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Vuce throws a strike but Van Beest rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Van Beest trying to control the position from guard on top but Vuce is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Van Beest slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Vuce lands some strikes from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Leo Vuce will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Van Beest throws a head kick but Vuce moves out of range.
Vuce went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Vuce misses with a takedown attempt - Van Beest sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A left lands for Van Beest.
Van Beest throws a low kick but Vuce moves out of range easily.
Vuce tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Van Beest manages to circle out of the way.
Van Beest looks to score with a jab to the body but Vuce is just out of range.
Vuce avoids the head kick by Van Beest.
Vuce will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Leo Vuce is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vuce avoids a punch combination nicely.
Van Beest turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Van Beest moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vuce shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Van Beest pinned against the cage. Van Beest gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leo Vuce. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vuce has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Van Beest.
Van Beest swings widly with a right hand
and Vuce counters with a left to the body.
Nice defenses there by Vuce.
A little feinted left hand from Vuce on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Van Beest lands a right hook to the body.
Van Beest tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Vuce counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Van Beest scores with a sloppy right hand. Vuce should have avoided that one.

Van Beest has Vuce up against the cage in a clinch.
Van Beest lands an elbow inside that Vuce shrugs off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vuce fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Van Beest lands a left hand that snaps the head of Vuce backwards.
Vuce tries to pull guard but Van Beest holds him up against the cage and eventually Vuce drops back down to his feet.
Vuce fails to pull the fight into his guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vuce blocks an elbow strike.
Vuce tries to pull guard but Van Beest forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Van Beest struggles to land a body shot inside as Vuce controls his hands.
Vuce is trying to pull guard but Van Beest turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Vuce fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Van Beest lands an elbow inside.
Van Beest lands with a light punch inside.
Vuce is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Van Beest to keep the fight standing.
Vuce tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Vuce on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Vuce tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Van Beest lands a damaging elbow.
Vuce tries to pull guard but Van Beest forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Vuce jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Van Beest walks away with a smile on his face. Vuce gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Van Beest. That's going to slow Vuce down.
Dirk Van Beest seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Van Beest misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dirk Van Beest seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Beest connects with a solid leg kick.
Vuce takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Van Beest closes the distance but Vuce moves to the side
and Vuce counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Van Beest looks to score with a jab to the body but Vuce is just out of range.
Vuce blocks a head kick by Van Beest.
Vuce wants to clinch up but Van Beest keeps it at a distance.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Van Beest! But no joy.
Van Beest swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Van Beest has managed to clinch.
Vuce is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Van Beest to keep the fight standing.
Van Beest misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vuce fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Van Beest lands with a right to the head.
Vuce fails to pull guard.
Vuce fails to pull guard.
Vuce blocks an uppercut.
Vuce letting Van Beest take a breather here.
Van Beest cracks Vuce with a nice body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Beest misses with a punch on the inside.
Vuce is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Van Beest to keep the fight standing.
Vuce is trying to pull guard but Van Beest has him pressed against the cage.
Van Beest misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Vuce takes an elbow to the forehead.
Van Beest lands an elbow inside that Vuce shrugs off.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Vuce as Van Beest tries to tie him up.
Vuce tries to pull guard but Van Beest forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Dirk Van Beest seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Vuce tries to pull guard but Van Beest holds him up against the cage and eventually Vuce drops back down to his feet.
Van Beest scores with a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dirk Van Beest comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Van Beest has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dirk Van Beest!
A very excited looking Dirk Van Beest made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.