PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pirate Everett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Van Defoe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Everett
vs
Van Defoe

177 cm
25
244 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
233 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Pirate Everett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rafael Van Defoe!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Daniel Bishop and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Everett misses with a kick to the body.
Everett moves in looking to clinch but Van Defoe pushes him off.

Van Defoe scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Van Defoe decides to stand back up. Van Defoe steps back and let's Everett get back to his feet.
Everett misses with a few strikes there.
Everett with a lazy takedown attempt
and Van Defoe counters with a nice leg kick.
Everett has a takedown stuffed.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Van Defoe is leaning against Everett and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Everett goes for a takedown attempt but Van Defoe pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pirate Everett. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Van Defoe feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Everett is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Van Defoe is aware though and is defending well.
Van Defoe trying to control the position from guard on top but Everett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Everett has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Everett is breathing heavily.

Everett throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Van Defoe with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Van Defoe looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Van Defoe trying to control the position from guard on top but Everett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Everett knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Van Defoe on the ground.

That's two 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.
Everett has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Van Defoe gets to his feet - Everett follows without any prompting.

Van Defoe closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Van Defoe stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Van Defoe scores a takedown into full mount!
Everett can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Defoe content just to control the position here.
Van Defoe dominating with strikes here.
Van Defoe looking to control but Everett is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Van Defoe looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Defoe scoring with strikes but Everett is staying in there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Everett is bucking up trying to escape but Van Defoe cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Van Defoe stands up from mount. Strange move.
Van Defoe with a poor takedown

and Everett counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Everett gets underhooks to prevent Van Defoe's takedown attempt.

Everett has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Van Defoe uses from the top position.
Van Defoe tries to stand but Everett is controlling from the bottom.
Everett keeping moving, preventing Van Defoe from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Van Defoe would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Van Defoe 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.

Everett shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Van Defoe is trying to defend but Everett finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Van Defoe is pressing down on Everett's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rafael Van Defoe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Van Defoe tries to strike from the bottom.

Van Defoe is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Everett tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Everett jumps guard and drags Van Defoe to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Van Defoe looking to sit in guard and control but Everett gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Everett landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Everett trying to control but Van Defoe is working from the bottom.
Everett won't allow Van Defoe to sweep him here.
Van Defoe is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Everett trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Defoe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Van Defoe is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two 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.
Everett is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Everett seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Van Defoe for as long as he can get away with.
Van Defoe wants to sweep here but Everett controlling him for the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Everett swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Van Defoe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Defoe gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Everett counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Everett.
Van Defoe fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Van Defoe taking a breather.

Everett breaks the clinch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Everett darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Everett has Van Defoe up against the cage in a clinch.

Van Defoe pulls guard effortlessly.
Everett really is a fat lump.
Everett trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Van Defoe pushes Everett off and scrambles back to his feet.
Everett closes the distance but Van Defoe moves to the side

so Van Defoe counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Defoe trying to move into half guard but instead Everett has managed to sweep!
Everett forces his way into half guard.
Everett lands with a punch from half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Defoe is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Everett's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Everett's back!
Van Defoe throwing sloppy strikes.
Everett tries to break free.
Will Van Defoe go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Van Defoe is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Pirate Everett will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Van Defoe misses with a wild body shot.
Everett shoots for a takedown but Van Defoe saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Everett shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Everett was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Poor strikes thrown by Everett there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Van Defoe is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Van Defoe slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Van Defoe moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Van Defoe is on top in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Defoe trying to control the position from guard on top but Everett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Van Defoe passes Everett's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Van Defoe is trying to control the action in half guard but Everett is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Everett trying to hold on to Van Defoe's head to control him but Van Defoe postures up.
Van Defoe is looking to take a break and control but Everett is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Everett keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Everett is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Everett is trying to stand up here but Van Defoe is controlling him well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Van Defoe gets the takedown into side control.
Van Defoe taking a breather here.
Van Defoe trying to control the position but Everett is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Defoe lands a nice forearm strike.
Everett is not content to let Van Defoe control the position.
Everett is looking to reverse the position.
Everett is not content to let Van Defoe control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Everett is looking to regain half guard here but Van Defoe keeps moving and retains side control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Van Defoe wants to clinch but Everett slips to the side

and Everett counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Van Defoe trying to control but Everett postures up.
Everett not doing much here.
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. Everett connects with a nice short shot to Van Defoe's temple.

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 Pirate Everett.
I think Everett 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight for Rafael Van Defoe!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Rafael Van Defoe!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for Rafael Van Defoe!

Rafael Van Defoe wins by unanimous decision!