PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom Briscoe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maarten van Ham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Briscoe
vs
van Ham

175 cm
20
205 lbs
3 - 9 - 0

195 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 3 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Briscoe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Maarten van Ham!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Ackerman and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Briscoe is looking to clinch.

van Ham shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Briscoe is trying to defend but van Ham finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
van Ham wants to pass the guard but Briscoe is defending well.

van Ham wants to work for an arm triangle but Briscoe is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
van Ham looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Briscoe is looking to escape.

van Ham is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

van Ham is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Briscoe doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time van Ham.

That's one minute gone in the round.

van Ham wants to work for an arm triangle but Briscoe is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
van Ham looks gassed!

van Ham is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

van Ham is working for a kimura but Briscoe is defending it quite comfortably.
Briscoe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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.
van Ham stops Briscoe from getting back to his feet.

van Ham is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Briscoe has managed to free his arm - good work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Briscoe tries to close the distance and clinch but van Ham swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Briscoe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but van Ham paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Briscoe moves in looking to clinch but van Ham pushes him off.
Maarten van Ham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Briscoe tries to clinch but van Ham is having none of it.
Briscoe tries to clinch there but van Ham circles away.
Briscoe fails with a takedown attempt.
Briscoe fails with an attempt to clinch.
Briscoe fails with an attempt to clinch.
Briscoe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Briscoe wants to clinch up but van Ham keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
van Ham doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Briscoe counters with a nice double leg into side control. van Ham won't be happy with that.
Briscoe working the ground and pound.

Briscoe is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. van Ham knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Briscoe landing strikes.
van Ham is trying to control Briscoe's posture but Briscoe avoids it.

Briscoe swings around for an armbar but van Ham sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Briscoe's guard.
Briscoe is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Briscoe dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Briscoe tries to clinch but van Ham moves out of range.
van Ham doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Briscoe counters by moving into the clinch.
Briscoe lands a left hand.
Briscoe scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short left from Briscoe.
Briscoe scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Briscoe.
The referee is keeping an eye on Briscoe - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Briscoe working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A bit of stalling here from Briscoe.
van Ham is breathing heavily.
Briscoe lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Briscoe lands a nice uppercut.
van Ham fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Briscoe is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
van Ham tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Briscoe smiles and moves away.
Tom Briscoe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maarten van Ham.

That's one minute gone in the round.
van Ham has his takedown stuffed

and Briscoe counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in van Ham's guard now.
van Ham utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Briscoe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Briscoe postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Briscoe throwing strikes from guard but van Ham blocks nicely.
Briscoe is looking to work some ground and pound but van Ham has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Briscoe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Briscoe with a flurry of punches that miss.
van Ham trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Briscoe throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
van Ham tries for a takedown but Briscoe circles away easily
and Briscoe counters with a one-two to the body.
Briscoe shoots in but no luck this time.
van Ham with a lazy takedown attempt

and Briscoe counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Briscoe working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Briscoe is putting a hurting on van Ham here, landing some big shots from side control.
van Ham manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
van Ham avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Briscoe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Briscoe takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Briscoe has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, van Ham works to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now van Ham is on top in guard.
van Ham pushes down on Briscoe's leg and manages to get into half guard.

van Ham is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Briscoe as he works his way to full guard.
van Ham passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

van Ham swings around for an armbar but Briscoe sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into van Ham's guard.
Briscoe trying to control the position from guard on top but van Ham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Briscoe is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
van Ham preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
van Ham avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
van Ham working a defensive guard here.

Briscoe thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Briscoe dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

van Ham has his takedown stuffed

and Briscoe counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Briscoe working the head and body with strikes.
Briscoe tries to stand but can't do so whilst van Ham controls his leg.
van Ham keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
van Ham trying to control but Briscoe postures up.
van Ham moves into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Briscoe gets to his feet. van Ham looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Tom Briscoe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Briscoe wants to clinch up but van Ham keeps it at a distance.
van Ham fails with the takedown

and Briscoe counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Briscoe scores with a nice hook to the head.
Briscoe comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Briscoe pushes van Ham back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Briscoe gets through van Ham's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Briscoe lands with a short punch from the clinch.

van Ham ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. van Ham no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Briscoe is looking to work some ground and pound but van Ham has wrist control.
van Ham seems keen to control Briscoe's posture.
Briscoe is working van Ham over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
van Ham manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Briscoe manages to get himself to full guard.
van Ham pushes down on Briscoe's leg and manages to get into half guard.

van Ham seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Briscoe is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Maarten van Ham!