PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marko Ceraj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Haminall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Haminall's choice of entrance music: The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkle. Matt Haminall has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Marko Ceraj's chin.

Ceraj
vs
Haminall

186 cm
22
205 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

185 cm
23
211 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marko Ceraj!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Matt Haminall!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Aafke Stam and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haminall fails with the takedown
and Ceraj cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ceraj defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Haminall.

Haminall looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Ceraj!
Haminall tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ceraj is in all sorts of trouble here.
Haminall controlling his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Matt Haminall.
Haminall circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Haminall closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ceraj to the mat! Ceraj manages to get full guard.
Haminall content to stall in guard here.
Haminall tries to free his leg and advance position but Ceraj is retaining full guard.
Haminall is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Matt Haminall hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Haminall shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ceraj sprawls well. Ceraj wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Haminall gets slowly back to his feet.
Marko Ceraj has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Haminall.
Haminall keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haminall shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ceraj counters with a thumping low kick.
Haminall shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ceraj holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Haminall looks gassed!
Ceraj fails to pull guard.
Haminall swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Haminall lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ceraj blocking some punches.
Ceraj using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Haminall has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Haminall throws a head punch that misses.
Haminall lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Haminall misses with some punches.
Haminall tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Haminall has a couple of punches blocked by Ceraj.
Haminall misses with a short punch on the inside.
Haminall misses with a punch on the inside.
Ceraj blocks an uppercut.
Haminall misses with the head strike.
Haminall lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ceraj backwards.
Haminall working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Haminall misses with the head strike.
Ceraj tries to score a body lock takedown but Haminall shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ceraj is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ceraj looking to throw knees to the head but Haminall is blocking nicely.
Haminall tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ceraj throws a knee to the head but misses.
Haminall softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Haminall working aggressively here.
Ceraj using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Haminall has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Haminall misses with the head strike.
Ceraj is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Haminall misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ceraj.
Haminall takes a knee right on the jaw!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ceraj.
Haminall throws a head punch that misses.
Haminall lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Haminall doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Haminall swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Haminall misses with a punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Haminall scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ceraj blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Haminall fails to land.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's four 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.
Ceraj can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Haminall misses with the head strike.
Ceraj tries a knee to the head but Haminall blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ceraj.
Ceraj controlling the action here for a moment.
Haminall throws a punch but it's blocked by Ceraj.
Ceraj is trying to break free.
Haminall doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Haminall lands a left hand.
A nice right hand lands inside from Haminall.
Haminall misses with some punches.
Ceraj with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Haminall throws a head punch that misses.
A short left from Haminall.
A nice right hand lands inside from Haminall.
Ceraj is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Haminall gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ceraj.
Ceraj blocking some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Haminall dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ceraj lets loose with a powerful body kick. Haminall will feel that in the morning.
Haminall has a takedown stuffed.

Haminall looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Well, if Haminall is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Haminall's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Matt Haminall.
Haminall doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ceraj counters with a nice low kick that buckles Haminall's knee momentarily.
Haminall is breathing heavily.
Haminall misses with a takedown
and Ceraj counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Marko Ceraj has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Haminall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ceraj tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Haminall manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ceraj tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Haminall paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Haminall has his takedown stuffed
enabling Ceraj to counter with a crisp jab.
Ceraj wants to clinch.
Haminall gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ceraj counters with a body kick.
Ceraj tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ceraj fails with an attempt to clinch.
Haminall takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Matt Haminall has been cut.

Ceraj pushes Haminall up against the cage in a clinch.
Ceraj with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A shot in the inside from Haminall.
Ceraj is stalling here.
Haminall misses with a punch on the inside.
Ceraj with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ceraj tries to pull guard but Haminall holds him up against the cage and eventually Ceraj drops back down to his feet.
Ceraj blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ceraj blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Haminall has a couple of punches blocked by Ceraj.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ceraj.
Haminall doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Haminall takes a knee right on the jaw!
Haminall misses with a hook from the clinch.
Haminall has a couple of punches blocked by Ceraj.
Ceraj stalling in the clinch but Haminall improves position.
Haminall misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ceraj tries to pull guard but Haminall won't allow it.
Haminall misses with some punches.
Ceraj is working for takedown but Haminall is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ceraj blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ceraj wants to stall.
Ceraj tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Haminall avoids it.
Ceraj connects with a nasty looking knee right to Haminall's face.
Haminall swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Haminall fails to land.
Haminall lands with a light punch inside.
Ceraj tries to pull guard but Haminall won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ceraj.
Ceraj wants to stall.
Ceraj blocking some punches.
Haminall swings wildly with an uppercut but Ceraj uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ceraj blocks an uppercut.
Haminall working some nice short punches in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Haminall.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ceraj.
Haminall lands with a left to the head.
Ceraj has Haminall pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Haminall manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A head punch on the inside from Haminall fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Haminall.
Ceraj looking to slow down the pace here.
A short right from Haminall on the inside.
Haminall scores with a shot to the side of Ceraj's head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ceraj.
Haminall fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

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.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Haminall.
Ceraj is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Haminall misses with a punch on the inside.
Haminall misses with a hook from the clinch.
Haminall managing to block the knees to the body from Ceraj.
A short right from Haminall.
Haminall lands with a light punch inside.
Haminall lands with a left to the head.
Haminall tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Haminall blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ceraj blocking some punches.
Ceraj blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ceraj misses with a knee to the head.
Haminall lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ceraj throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ceraj blocks an uppercut.
Haminall lands an uppercut.
Haminall misses with a hook from the clinch.
Haminall lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ceraj backwards.
Ceraj blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Haminall working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
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 Marko Ceraj will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Matt Haminall's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Haminall shoots in and bounces Ceraj off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Haminall's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ceraj looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Haminall slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Matt Haminall.
Haminall shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Haminall misses with a takedown attempt

and Ceraj holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ceraj with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ceraj with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Haminall lands a left hand.
Ceraj throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haminall swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Haminall misses with some punches.
Ceraj drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Haminall gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Haminall lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Haminall swings wildly with an uppercut but Ceraj uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ceraj stalling in the clinch but Haminall improves position.
A head punch on the inside from Haminall fails to land.
Ceraj blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short uppercut from Haminall.
Haminall doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ceraj stalling in the clinch but Haminall improves position.
Haminall misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Haminall.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Haminall.
Ceraj tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ceraj missing with knees to the body.
Haminall working aggressively here.
Haminall doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

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.
Ceraj blocking some punches.
Ceraj missing with knees to the body.
Haminall misses with the head strike.
Haminall gets through Ceraj's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Haminall.
Haminall lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ceraj blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Haminall throws a punch but it's blocked by Ceraj.
Ceraj tries to land a knee to the head but Haminall blocks with his arms.
Haminall gets through Ceraj's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ceraj fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marko Ceraj. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Haminall fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ceraj's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ceraj tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Haminall avoids it.
A head punch on the inside from Haminall fails to land.
Ceraj throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Haminall blocks it with crossed arms.
Ceraj blocking some punches.
Haminall working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Ceraj blocks an uppercut.
Haminall lands a shoulder strike.
Haminall lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haminall lands with a light punch inside.
A head punch on the inside from Haminall fails to land.
Haminall doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Haminall misses with the head strike.
Ceraj blocking some punches.
Haminall misses with the head strike.
Ceraj connects with a nasty looking knee right to Haminall's face.
Ceraj blocks an uppercut.
Haminall has a couple of punches blocked by Ceraj.
Haminall misses with a short punch on the inside.
Haminall misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ceraj is trying to maintain a safe position but Haminall gets an underhook and turns Ceraj into the cage.
Haminall managing to block the knees to the body from Ceraj.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Haminall.
Haminall misses with the head strike.
Haminall misses with some punches.

Ceraj jumps guard and drags Haminall to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ceraj trying to control the position.
Haminall looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four 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.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Matt Haminall wasn't active enough on the ground.

Haminall closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ceraj quickly recovers to half guard.
Haminall is figuring out what he wants to do next.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Haminall comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Haminall 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Haminall!