PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Natie Lavelle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Van Durik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Natie Lavelle has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Lavelle
vs
Durik

190 cm
18
204 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

189 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Nutrition 101

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Natie Lavelle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Van Durik!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Bruno Hogan and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lavelle tries to clinch there but Durik circles away.
Durik misses with a straight left.

Lavelle closes the distance and clinches.
Lavelle misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lavelle.

Lavelle breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Durik shoots in and drives through. Lavelle sprawls well.
Durik circles away from the clinch attempt.
Natie Lavelle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lavelle lands a big head kick that sends Durik tumbling to the mat! Lavelle takes a step backwards and waves Durik back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Durik is rocked!

It looks like Van Durik has been cut.
Durik misses with a wild combination.
Durik is still on wobbly legs! Can Lavelle finish him?
Lavelle misses with a series of wild punches.

Lavelle clinches up against the cage.
Durik seems to have recovered his senses.
Lavelle lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Durik looks gassed!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lavelle is working Durik over against the cage.

Lavelle's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A combination from Lavelle does no damage.
Lavelle fails in his attempt to clinch.
Durik closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Lavelle has Durik up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Lavelle.
Lavelle lands a left hand.
Lavelle is working for takedown but Durik is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lavelle lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Lavelle lands with a light punch inside.
Durik gets underhooks to prevent Lavelle's takedown attempt.

Lavelle manages to pull guard.
Durik throws and elbow that misses. Lavelle uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Durik's guard. Nice move by Lavelle!

Lavelle stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Lavelle is looking to clinch.
Lavelle moves in looking to clinch but Durik pushes him off.
Durik throws a series of strikes that have Lavelle backpedaling.
Lavelle tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durik connects with a single shot there.
Lavelle tries to clinch up.
Durik lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Lavelle gets caught flat footed, as Durik shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Durik 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.
Durik missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Durik wants to control from the top but Lavelle keeps moving.
Durik works over Lavelle with some ground and pound from guard.
Lavelle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Durik.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lavelle utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Durik accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lavelle utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Durik swats away the attempt to clinch by Lavelle.
Lavelle stuffs the takedown.
Lavelle is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lavelle stuffs the takedown attempt from Durik. Durik gets slowly back to his feet.
Natie Lavelle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Van Durik.
Durik throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Lavelle clinches up with Durik and pushes him back against the cage.
Lavelle creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Lavelle breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lavelle tries to clinch up.
Durik shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lavelle as he avoids it easily.
Lavelle stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lavelle wants it to stay on the feet.
Lavelle tries to clinch but Durik is having none of it.
Durik misses with a few strikes there.
Lavelle avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lavelle misses the shot to the body.
Lavelle tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Durik misses with a takedown attempt - Lavelle sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lavelle uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Durik.
Lavelle is looking to clinch but Durik is avoiding it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Lavelle gets a clinch.
Durik wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lavelle has him pressed against the cage.
Lavelle fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Durik blocks a body shot from Lavelle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Natie Lavelle dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Van Durik's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lavelle is looking to clinch but Durik is avoiding it.
Durik circles away from the clinch attempt.
Durik checks a low kick from Lavelle.
Good exchange - Durik coming out on top.
Lavelle tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lavelle doesn't manage to clinch there - Durik circles away.
Nice defenses there by Lavelle.
Durik fails to land with a series of punches.
Durik throws a right and a left that Lavelle avoids nicely.
Durik misses with a double jab.
Lavelle fails with an attempt to clinch.
Durik scores with a nice strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An inside leg kick lands from Lavelle.
Lavelle stalks Durik and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Durik's face. Durik staggers backwards, shaken.
Lavelle tries to clinch up but Durik circles away and keeps his distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lavelle moves in looking to clinch but Durik pushes him off.
Lavelle stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lavelle wants to clinch.
Lavelle tries to close the distance and clinch but Durik swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Durik throws a big shot that misses.
Durik cracks Lavelle with an open hand slap.
Lavelle fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lavelle tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lavelle tries to clinch up.
Durik moves into range and connects with a jab.
Durik lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lavelle circles away quickly and effectively.

Lavelle clinches up against the cage.
Lavelle looking for a takedown.
A short body shot lands from Lavelle as the two fighters clinch.
Lavelle has Durik pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Durik manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Lavelle doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Durik wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lavelle lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Durik or not.
Durik wants to break free but Lavelle has control.
Lavelle has had enough of the clinch but Durik keeps him there for the moment.
Lavelle keeps control of Durik as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lavelle keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Durik's efforts to push away.
Durik on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lavelle drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Natie Lavelle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lavelle is trying to break the clinch but Durik has him pressed against the cage.
Lavelle jumps guard but Durik stands there with Lavelle around his waist. Lavelle gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Lavelle tries to score a body lock takedown but Durik shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Durik looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lavelle throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durik wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Durik is trying to break free.
Lavelle misses with a hook from the clinch.
Durik is trying to force a seperation but Lavelle has the dominant position.
Lavelle prevents Durik from breaking the clinch.
Lavelle is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Durik is trying to force a seperation but Lavelle has the dominant position.
Lavelle keeps control of Durik as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Durik is pressed up against the cage. Lavelle has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Durik down to the mat. Durik avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Natie Lavelle is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Durik lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Lavelle is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Durik avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lavelle tries to clinch there but Durik circles away.

Durik closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Lavelle blocking the ground and pound attempt from Durik.
Lavelle is trying to stand up here but Durik is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durik throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Lavelle on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Durik stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Lavelle to get to his feet.
Lavelle tries to clinch but Durik moves out of range.
Durik avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Durik swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Durik checks the leg kick.
Durik throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Durik throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Durik circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lavelle misses with a low kick.
A left lands for Durik.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Van Durik showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Van Durik's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Lavelle moves into the clinch.
Lavelle lands a nice uppercut.
Durik has had enough of the clinch but Lavelle keeps him there for the moment.
Lavelle has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Durik avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lavelle goes for a takedown in the clinch but Durik prevents it.

Durik escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lavelle ducks right into an uppercut from Durik.
Natie Lavelle is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lavelle takes a jab right on the kisser.
Lavelle blocks the body kick.
Durik misses with a kick to the body.
Lavelle looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Lavelle gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Durik sitting in guard here, content to control.
Durik is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durik missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lavelle keeping moving, preventing Durik from controlling successfully.
Durik chips away with some ground and pound.
Durik postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lavelle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lavelle keeping moving, preventing Durik from controlling successfully.
Durik throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Durik lands a couple of elbows.
Durik wants to control from the top but Lavelle keeps moving.

Lavelle uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Lavelle tries to clinch up but Durik circles away and keeps his distance.
Durik tries to bum rush Lavelle with a series of wild strikes but Lavelle uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lavelle tries to close the distance and clinch up but Durik swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Durik misses the jab.

Lavelle moves into the clinch.
A short right from Lavelle on the inside.

Durik's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lavelle stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lavelle wants it to stay on the feet.
Lavelle is looking to clinch but Durik is avoiding it.
Lavelle cracks Durik with a good jab.
Lavelle dodges the punch combination from Durik.
Durik avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lavelle is looking to clinch but Durik is avoiding it.
A punch combination from Durik misses.
Lavelle moves in looking to clinch but Durik pushes him off.
Lavelle tries to clinch but Durik is having none of it.
Durik misses with a double jab.
Lavelle tries to clinch up.
Durik misses with a body kick.
Lavelle wants to clinch.
Durik fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lavelle wants to clinch.
Lavelle pivots, looking for a leg kick but Durik is out of range and Lavelle settles back down.
Lavelle moves in looking to clinch but Durik pushes him off.
Both fighters circling a little - Durik finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Durik throws a right hand that Lavelle ducks under and follows up with a left that Lavelle also avoids with ease.
Lavelle wants to clinch.
Lavelle tries to clinch but Durik moves out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Durik misses with a wild combination.
Lavelle steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Durik.
Lavelle tries to clinch up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Van Durik comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Durik 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Van Durik!