PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Van Defoe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Why Try (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van Defoe is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Van Defoe
vs
Try

186 cm
26
233 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

205 cm
19
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Rafael Van Defoe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Why Try!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Paul Tew and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Van Defoe enables Try to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Van Defoe manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Try must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Van Defoe is breathing heavily.
Van Defoe has momentary wrist control but Try slips an elbow through the middle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Try lands a couple of digs.
Try works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Van Defoe could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Try thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Van Defoe avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Try.
Try missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Try is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Try throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Try is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
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. Try connects with a nice short shot to Van Defoe's temple.
Try looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Van Defoe with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Try scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Van Defoe blocking the ground and pound attempt from Try.
Try scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Try slips a nice elbow through Van Defoe's hands, connecting with Van Defoe's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Try throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Try working over Van Defoe with some ground and pound. Van Defoe looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Try lands strikes from half guard.
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. Try connects with a nice short shot to Van Defoe's temple.
Van Defoe wants to improve his position but Try is controlling well.
Try wants to pass to mount but Van Defoe is defending the position.
Van Defoe on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Try thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Try landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Try lands strikes from half guard.
Van Defoe gets back to full guard.
Try distracts Van Defoe with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Try loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Van Defoe controls Try momentarily but Try frees himself.
Try makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Van Defoe trying to control the position.
Try lands a couple of digs.
Try keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Van Defoe's head.
Try landing with the ground and pound.
Van Defoe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Try postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Defoe is trying to control the position but Try postures up.
Try is working Van Defoe over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Van Defoe looking for a guillotine here but Try defends easily.
Van Defoe controls Try momentarily but Try frees himself.
Van Defoe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Try lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Try working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Try throws and elbow that misses. Van Defoe uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Try's guard. Nice move by Van Defoe!
Van Defoe controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Try is trying to control the position but Van Defoe postures up.
Van Defoe wants to control from the top but Try keeps moving.
Van Defoe stopping the sweep attempt from Try.
Van Defoe might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Try throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Van Defoe escapes and throws Try's legs to the side, diving into side control!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Try tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Van Defoe easily slips into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Van Defoe with a poor takedown

and Try counters with a nice double leg into side control. Van Defoe won't be happy with that.
Try scoring with punches from side control.
Try working the head and body with strikes.
Van Defoe gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Try slips a nice elbow through Van Defoe's hands, connecting with Van Defoe's forehead.
Try looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Van Defoe with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Try lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Try really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Van Defoe. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Try is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Try working Van Defoe over with strikes.
Try not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Defoe moves into full guard.
Try postures up.
Try scoring with punches to the head and body.
Try loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Try lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Van Defoe wants to sweep here but Try controlling him for the moment.
Van Defoe is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Van Defoe thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Try keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Van Defoe's head.
Van Defoe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Try is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Try lands a couple of digs.
Try scoring with punches to the head and body.
Try postures up in Van Defoe's guard and throws a big left but Van Defoe blocks it.
Try chips away with some ground and pound.
Try throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Van Defoe works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Van Defoe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Try stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Van Defoe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Try scoring with some ground and pound.
Try loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Try working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Van Defoe pulls Try in close to his closed guard and prevents Try from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Try is in close to Van Defoe's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Try lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Try got a little sloppy there for a moment and Van Defoe has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Try has managed to get both his arms back between Van Defoe's legs - danger averted.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Try accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Try scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Try working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Van Defoe's head.
Try throws and elbow that misses. Van Defoe uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Try's guard. Nice move by Van Defoe!

Try is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Van Defoe defends well.
Van Defoe preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Try is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Try lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Try wants to sweep but no luck.
Try throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Van Defoe trying to control but Try is working from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Van Defoe wants to stand but Try is controlling his posture from full guard.
Van Defoe trying to control the position from guard on top but Try is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Why Try showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Van Defoe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Try closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Van Defoe quickly recovers to half guard.
Try misses with a head shot. Van Defoe uses the momentum to regain guard.
Try is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Try working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Van Defoe's head.
Try throws a big right hand that misses.
Van Defoe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Try with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Van Defoe trying to control the position.
Try scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Defoe is trying to keep Try in close.
Try is in close to Van Defoe's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Van Defoe working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Try.
Try lands a couple of elbows.
Try throws and elbow that misses. Van Defoe uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Try's guard. Nice move by Van Defoe!
Try working a defensive guard here.
Try striking off his back but it's not causing Van Defoe any problems.

Try throws his legs up looking for a submission but Van Defoe uses it to pass to side control.
Try strikes from the bottom but Van Defoe takes advantage and advances to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Try tries to hold on but Van Defoe postures up.
Van Defoe working the ground and pound effectively.
Van Defoe tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Van Defoe wants to control the pace but Try is squirming around nicely.
Van Defoe is really struggling to control Try but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Try throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Defoe blocks Try's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Van Defoe blocks Try's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Try regains half guard.
Van Defoe is trying to control. Try wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Van Defoe wants to stand up but Try is controlling the position.
Van Defoe wants to pass to mount but Try is defending the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Try tries to get to full guard but Van Defoe has control of the leg.
Try gets full guard.
Van Defoe trying to control but Try is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Try trying to control the position.
Van Defoe trying to control the position from guard on top but Try is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Try has his foot on Van Defoe's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Van Defoe works his way back into a safe position though.

Try is working an open guard so Van Defoe takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Try circles away from the clinch attempt.
Van Defoe with a lazy takedown attempt

and Try counters with a nice double leg into side control. Van Defoe won't be happy with that.
Try throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Rafael Van Defoe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Van Defoe is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Try off and has taken his back!

And that's the end of the fight!
Why Try comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Try has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Why Try!