PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rabiz Rabizian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Claud Van Staaden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rabiz Rabizian has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rabizian
vs
Van Staaden

189 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
21
205 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rabiz Rabizian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Claud Van Staaden!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Aafke Stam and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rabizian fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rabizian fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rabizian fails with a takedown attempt.
A bone on bone clash there as Van Staaden blocks the leg kick.

Rabizian changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Van Staaden looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Van Staaden is not content to let Rabizian control the position.

Rabizian tries for a kimura but Van Staaden is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Staaden is looking for a sweep.

Rabizian tries for a kimura but Van Staaden is defending well.

Rabizian thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rabizian tries to stand but Van Staaden is controlling his head.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Rabizian tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Van Staaden stops Rabizian from passing to mount.
Rabizian throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Staaden sneaks out the side door and pushes Rabizian away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Rabizian shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Van Staaden but Van Staaden pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rabiz Rabizian. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rabizian fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Van Staaden misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Van Staaden throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rabiz Rabizian seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Van Staaden misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Rabizian closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Van Staaden to the mat! Van Staaden manages to get full guard.
Rabizian looking to pass the guard.

Rabizian drops back, looking for a kneebar! Van Staaden looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Van Staaden looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Van Staaden!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Van Staaden is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Rabizian will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rabiz Rabizian dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Van Staaden throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rabizian.
Rabizian defending well as Van Staaden loads up on a big left hand.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Rabizian shoots in looking for a takedown. Van Staaden tries to sprawl out of it but Rabizian keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Van Staaden manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Van Staaden will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rabizian is trying hard to land a takedown here. Van Staaden sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Van Staaden throws a jab when Rabizian was well out of range.
Rabiz Rabizian is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rabizian misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rabizian fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rabiz Rabizian. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Staaden swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rabizian counters with a nice double leg into side control. Van Staaden won't be happy with that.
Rabizian is looking to take a break and control but Van Staaden is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Van Staaden really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rabizian. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rabizian advances to full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rabizian swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Van Staaden is now in Rabizian's guard. A big mistake from Rabizian there, giving up the dominant position!

Rabizian looking for a guillotine here but Van Staaden defends easily.
Rabizian looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Van Staaden puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabizian moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Rabizian looking for a guillotine here but Van Staaden defends easily.

Rabizian looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Van Staaden passes into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rabizian is looking to reverse the position.
Rabizian manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Rabizian is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Rabizian looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rabizian looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rabiz Rabizian dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

The fighters circling - Van Staaden throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rabizian looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Van Staaden is fending him off so far but Rabizian persists. Nope, Van Staaden circles away and we're back to standing.
Rabizian tries for a takedown but Van Staaden sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rabizian tries to clinch but Van Staaden is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Staaden defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rabizian.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rabiz Rabizian. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Staaden misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Claud Van Staaden is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabizian looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Van Staaden is fending him off so far but Rabizian persists. Nope, Van Staaden circles away and we're back to standing.
Rabizian rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Van Staaden moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rabizian misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Van Staaden misses with a double jab

and Rabizian counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Rabizian 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.
Rabizian pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Van Staaden is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rabizian drops back looking for a leg! Van Staaden is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Van Staaden manages to kick Rabizian off! Rabizian jumps back into Van Staaden's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rabizian looking to pass the guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Van Staaden can do anything to dispel that myth.
Van Staaden is controlling Rabizian's posture.
Claud Van Staaden has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabizian advances position into side control!
Van Staaden pushes Rabizian away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rabizian gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Rabizian avoids the strikes from the bottom by Van Staaden.

Rabizian working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Rabizian has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Staaden scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Rabiz Rabizian has been cut.
Horrible takedown by Rabizian or perhaps it was just good defense by Van Staaden which made him look bad.
Van Staaden throws a nice looking combination but Rabizian bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

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 Rabiz Rabizian.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rabizian, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rabiz Rabizian!