PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dick van Greeven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Powers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think van Greeven might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Tom Waits - Telephone call from Istanbul. Matt Powers will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

van Greeven
vs
Powers

205 cm
24
284 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

190 cm
25
247 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dick van Greeven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Powers!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Cecil Peabody and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
van Greeven blocks a head kick by Powers.
van Greeven shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Powers as he avoids it easily.
Powers connects with a right hand. van Greeven shakes it off.

van Greeven scores with a takedown into Powers's guard.
Powers keeping full guard, as van Greeven tries to pass.
van Greeven pushing down on Powers's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Powers trying to hold on to van Greeven's head to control him but van Greeven postures up.
van Greeven sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Powers defending well though.
van Greeven tries to pass to full mount but Powers defends it.
van Greeven throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
van Greeven throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
van Greeven thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Powers's head.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Powers missing with a left hand there. van Greeven was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Powers tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but van Greeven was well out of range. Poor timing from Powers.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powers misses with a head kick.
Powers is looking to land body kicks.
Powers pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Powers scores with a nice strike.
Powers looks to land a right hand but van Greeven moved out of range.
Powers throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matt Powers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
van Greeven closes the distance and clinches up with Powers, looking for a takedown. van Greeven pushes Powers against the cage but Powers circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
van Greeven sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
van Greeven is breathing heavily.
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!
Powers scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Powers instigates a clinch.
Powers putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has van Greeven in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Powers throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but van Greeven blocks it with crossed arms.

Powers manages to break the clinch.
van Greeven tries to move into range but Powers moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Powers feints and then cracks van Greeven's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow van Greeven down.
Powers connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between van Greeven's hands.
Powers moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers misses with a takedown attempt

and van Greeven counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Powers is trying to stand back up but van Greeven is controlling him
Powers avoiding damage under a succession of punches from van Greeven.
Powers avoiding damage under a succession of punches from van Greeven.
Powers blocking the ground and pound attempt from van Greeven.
van Greeven sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Powers defending well though.
van Greeven missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
van Greeven thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Powers wants to get back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Powers lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but van Greeven circles away quickly and effectively.
Powers goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Powers keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dick van Greeven. That's going to take a lot out of him.
An inside leg kick lands from Powers.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
van Greeven avoids a punch combination nicely.
A head kick misses from Powers.

van Greeven shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Powers manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Powers is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst van Greeven is controlling him.
van Greeven stands up over Powers, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
van Greeven postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
van Greeven prevents Powers from getting back to his feet.
van Greeven stands and throws Powers's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Powers really doesn't want to stay on the ground with van Greeven. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
van Greeven scores with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
van Greeven wants to lay and pray for a moment but Powers keeps working.
Powers is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but van Greeven has just dragged him back down to the mat.
van Greeven lands a few punches from side control.
van Greeven landing strikes.
van Greeven is putting a hurting on Powers here, landing some big shots from side control.
van Greeven prevents Powers from escaping the position.
van Greeven working the ground and pound from side control.
van Greeven landing a few strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
van Greeven landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Powers is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, van Greeven asserts his dominance and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Powers dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

van Greeven shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Powers napping and manages to drive through into side control!
van Greeven scores with a couple of short elbows.
Powers pushes van Greeven away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, van Greeven gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
van Greeven is putting a hurting on Powers here, landing some big shots from side control.
Powers avoids any damage from the ground and pound of van Greeven.
Powers struggling a bit here.
van Greeven lands a decent elbow from side control.
Powers on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

van Greeven tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Powers taking a bit of punishment here - van Greeven scoring with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
van Greeven sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Powers is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
van Greeven working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
van Greeven taking a break here but Powers is having none of it and regains half guard.
Powers is trying to stand.
Powers is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
van Greeven thows a huge punch but Powers dodges it nicely.
Powers is staying active underneath van Greeven, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from van Greeven is defended easily by Powers.
Powers scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
van Greeven tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
van Greeven dodges the punch combination from Powers.
Powers is looking to clinch.
Powers shoots for a double leg takedown but van Greeven sprawls well. He's pushed Powers's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Powers is looking to clinch.
Powers misses with a head kick.
van Greeven shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dick van Greeven is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Powers throws a series of punches but van Greeven avoids them all with ease.
van Greeven tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Powers swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dick van Greeven. That's going to take a lot out of him.
van Greeven tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Powers swivels and escapes.
van Greeven shoots in and drives through. Powers sprawls well.
Powers just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
van Greeven changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Powers tries to avoid it but van Greeven manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Powers to the ground. Powers escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Powers fails to land with a series of punches.
Powers shoots for a takedown but van Greeven saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
No luck for van Greeven with that takedown attempt.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Powers. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Powers misses with a series of wild punches.
Powers swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Powers ducks down and throws a hook to the body but van Greeven moves away.
van Greeven swats away the attempt to clinch by Powers.

van Greeven closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - van Greeven lands in his opponent's guard.
van Greeven will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
van Greeven advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
van Greeven lands a few punches from side control.
van Greeven works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
van Greeven looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Powers is avoiding damage well.
van Greeven throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
An elbow from van Greeven crashes against the mat.
Powers is trying to get back to his feet.
van Greeven working the ground and pound.
van Greeven prevents Powers from escaping the position.
van Greeven working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

van Greeven tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no van Greeven has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Powers on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick van Greeven dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

van Greeven closes this distance looking for a takedown but Powers circles away.
Horrible takedown by van Greeven or perhaps it was just good defense by Powers which made him look bad.
Powers misses with a head kick.
Powers catches van Greeven with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Matt Powers seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Powers tries a head kick but it misses.
Powers throws the left hand but van Greeven avoids the punch easily.
van Greeven showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Powers.
van Greeven throws a hook to the side of Powers's head but Powers sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
van Greeven misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dick van Greeven. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Powers will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Both fighters circling a little - Powers finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Powers tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
van Greeven shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Powers but Powers pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Powers tries to close the distance and clinch but van Greeven swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Both fighters circling a little - Powers finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
van Greeven avoids the body shot from Powers.
van Greeven misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
van Greeven on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
van Greeven stuffs the takedown.
Powers throws an uppercut from half a mile away. van Greeven sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Powers gets caught flat footed, as van Greeven shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
van Greeven stops Powers from standing up.
van Greeven pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Powers is keeping the position for now.
van Greeven throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Powers works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
van Greeven pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Powers is keeping the position for now.
van Greeven throws a big right hand that misses.
Dick van Greeven overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Powers wants to stand but van Greeven is controlling the position.
van Greeven landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
van Greeven is in close to Powers's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
van Greeven looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
van Greeven fails with the takedown.
Powers tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
van Greeven moves away from the strike by Powers.
Powers fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Powers takes a swing at van Greeven's ribcage but misses.

Powers gets caught flat footed, as van Greeven shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
van Greeven chips away with some ground and pound.
van Greeven works over Powers with some ground and pound from guard.
van Greeven trying to control the position from guard on top but Powers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Powers can't keep his opponent in guard - van Greeven advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. van Greeven connects with a nice short shot to Powers's temple.
van Greeven working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powers wants to get back to his feet.
van Greeven lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
van Greeven not landing any meaningful shots this time.
van Greeven looks to land a strike but Powers avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
van Greeven loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
van Greeven wants to pass the guard but Powers is keeping the position.
van Greeven landing with the ground and pound.
van Greeven stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Powers swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Dick van Greeven.
I think van Greeven has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!