PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Haminall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and DeQuinten van Nistelrooy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Haminall comes to the cage accompanied by The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkle. DeQuinten van Nistelrooy will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Haminall
vs
van Nistelrooy

185 cm
24
211 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

200 cm
25
204 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Matt Haminall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, DeQuinten van Nistelrooy!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paul Aken and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haminall shoots in for a takedown but van Nistelrooy shows good takedown defense.
A head kick misses from van Nistelrooy.
van Nistelrooy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
van Nistelrooy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Haminall.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Haminall is defended easily by van Nistelrooy.

Haminall darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Haminall is taking a breather. van Nistelrooy says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haminall has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

We're going to have a standup here because Matt Haminall wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Haminall looks for a takedown but van Nistelrooy sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Haminall. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
van Nistelrooy digs a good hook to Haminall's body.
Matt Haminall seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Haminall is on the wrong end of a nice combination from van Nistelrooy.
van Nistelrooy connects with a body shot that sends Haminall's belly button to the back.
van Nistelrooy lands with an uppercut that bounces Haminall off the cage and back into rage.
van Nistelrooy lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
van Nistelrooy dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
van Nistelrooy connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Horrible takedown by Haminall or perhaps it was just good defense by van Nistelrooy which made him look bad.
Good standup being displayed there by van Nistelrooy as he connects with a hook.
van Nistelrooy throws a good cross that connects.
Haminall drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
van Nistelrooy stuns Haminall with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
DeQuinten van Nistelrooy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
van Nistelrooy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Haminall walks into a jab.
van Nistelrooy throws a series of punches but Haminall avoids them all with ease.
van Nistelrooy lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Haminall slips a jab and a cross from van Nistelrooy.
Haminall takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Haminall.
Haminall 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!
Haminall controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
van Nistelrooy wants to get back to his feet but Haminall drags him back down.
Haminall controlling the position from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matt Haminall wasn't doing enough on the ground.
van Nistelrooy misses with a few strikes there.
Haminall shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Haminall shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. van Nistelrooy defends it nicely.
No luck for Haminall with that takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from van Nistelrooy as Haminall shoots in.
Haminall fails with a takedown attempt.
van Nistelrooy moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
van Nistelrooy lands with an uppercut that bounces Haminall off the cage and back into rage.
van Nistelrooy scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Matt Haminall has been cut.
van Nistelrooy lands a nice shot to the body.
van Nistelrooy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
van Nistelrooy scores with a nice strike.
Haminall has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
van Nistelrooy pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Haminall back to the cage. van Nistelrooy follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters circle momentarily. van Nistelrooy darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
van Nistelrooy is working the combinations to good effect here.
Haminall fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by van Nistelrooy.
Haminall is on the wrong end of a nice combination from van Nistelrooy.
van Nistelrooy throws a series of strikes that have Haminall backpedaling.
van Nistelrooy shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Haminall eats them both and turns towards van Nistelrooy to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Donk. van Nistelrooy catches Haminall right on the button with a cross.
van Nistelrooy throws a head kick that Haminall semi-blocks.
Haminall fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
van Nistelrooy lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by van Nistelrooy.
van Nistelrooy lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
van Nistelrooy lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
van Nistelrooy dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Haminall takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
van Nistelrooy is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
van Nistelrooy bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Haminall shoots for a takedown but van Nistelrooy saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
van Nistelrooy scores with a sloppy right hand. Haminall should have avoided that one.
van Nistelrooy jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
van Nistelrooy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Haminall showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from van Nistelrooy.
van Nistelrooy throws a series of punches but Haminall avoids them all with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

DeQuinten van Nistelrooy dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matt Haminall's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

van Nistelrooy scores with a decent looking hook.
Haminall shoots for a double leg takedown but van Nistelrooy sprawls well. He's pushed Haminall's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Haminall shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Haminall was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
van Nistelrooy wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Haminall tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haminall's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matt Haminall wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Haminall shoots in looking for a takedown. van Nistelrooy tries to sprawl out of it but Haminall keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. van Nistelrooy manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
van Nistelrooy throws a right and a left that Haminall avoids nicely.
van Nistelrooy has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
van Nistelrooy lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Haminall circles away quickly and effectively.
van Nistelrooy connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
van Nistelrooy defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Haminall.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Haminall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Haminall showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from van Nistelrooy.
van Nistelrooy's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and van Nistelrooy duly obliges.
Haminall changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. van Nistelrooy tries to avoid it but Haminall manages to keep hold of a leg and drag van Nistelrooy to the ground. van Nistelrooy escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
van Nistelrooy throws a combination. Haminall tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Haminall decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Haminall is looking to take a break and control but van Nistelrooy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Haminall stops van Nistelrooy from getting back to his feet.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matt Haminall wasn't doing enough on the ground.
van Nistelrooy lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Haminall tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but van Nistelrooy swivels and escapes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Haminall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
van Nistelrooy bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Haminall's head backwards.
van Nistelrooy lands a nice hook to Haminall's body. Haminall takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
van Nistelrooy lands with an uppercut that bounces Haminall off the cage and back into rage.
DeQuinten van Nistelrooy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
van Nistelrooy tries to bum rush Haminall with a series of wild strikes but Haminall uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
van Nistelrooy scores with a punch to the head.
A jab from van Nistelrooy finds it's way through Haminall's defenses.
Haminall takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Haminall takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
van Nistelrooy scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
van Nistelrooy scores with a hook to the body. Haminall takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Left hook, right uppercut from van Nistelrooy.
van Nistelrooy scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Haminall has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from van Nistelrooy finds it's way round the side to connect with Haminall's head.
van Nistelrooy looks to land a combination but Haminall avoids it well.
van Nistelrooy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Decent striking displayed by van Nistelrooy there.
A punch combination from van Nistelrooy misses.
van Nistelrooy feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Haminalls jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by van Nistelrooy!
Haminall takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Haminall looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matt Haminall wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Haminall looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
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 Matt Haminall will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Matt Haminall's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

van Nistelrooy works the jab nicely.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts van Nistelrooy, as that shot connected.
van Nistelrooy scores with a nice head shot.
van Nistelrooy scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
van Nistelrooy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Haminall takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
No luck for Haminall with that takedown attempt.
van Nistelrooy looks to land a combination. Haminall sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
van Nistelrooy tests Haminall's chin there with a solid looking shot.
van Nistelrooy cracks a nice hook into Haminall's ribs.
Haminall has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Haminall looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
van Nistelrooy throws a head kick that half lands.
Haminall looks for a takedown but van Nistelrooy sprawls well.
van Nistelrooy throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Haminall shoots in and gets a takedown into van Nistelrooy's guard.
Haminall trying to control but van Nistelrooy is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if van Nistelrooy can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Haminall showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Matt Haminall wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Haminall misses with a takedown attempt - van Nistelrooy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Haminall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice jab there from van Nistelrooy.
van Nistelrooy getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
van Nistelrooy slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
van Nistelrooy lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
van Nistelrooy moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Haminall is trying hard to land a takedown here. van Nistelrooy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
van Nistelrooy throws a right and a left that Haminall avoids nicely.
A lazy left from van Nistelrooy finds it's target.
van Nistelrooy lands with a good body shot.
van Nistelrooy cracks Haminall with a right hand to the side of the head.
van Nistelrooy lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
DeQuinten van Nistelrooy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Haminall tries for a takedown but van Nistelrooy sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Haminall takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
van Nistelrooy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Haminall takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Haminall tries to score a power double leg takedown but van Nistelrooy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Haminall somewhat.
Haminall is on the wrong end of a nice combination from van Nistelrooy.
van Nistelrooy displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
van Nistelrooy works over Haminall's head and body with a nice combination.
van Nistelrooy connects with the punch.
Haminall shoots for a double leg takedown but van Nistelrooy sprawls well. He's pushed Haminall's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
van Nistelrooy scores with a hook.
A lazy left from van Nistelrooy finds it's target.
van Nistelrooy lands a nice hook to Haminall's body. Haminall takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A punch lands to the side of Haminall 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haminall needs to keep his hands up - van Nistelrooy had a free shot at his head there.
van Nistelrooy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Haminall tries for a takedown but van Nistelrooy sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
van Nistelrooy's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and van Nistelrooy duly obliges.
van Nistelrooy throws a shot to the body.
van Nistelrooy misses with the combination.
Haminall shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as van Nistelrooy sprawls well. van Nistelrooy wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Haminall gets slowly back to his feet.
Haminall tries for a takedown but van Nistelrooy sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
van Nistelrooy lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
van Nistelrooy bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Haminall's head backwards.
Haminall closes the distance and clinches up with van Nistelrooy, looking for a takedown. Haminall pushes van Nistelrooy against the cage but van Nistelrooy circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Haminall moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Haminall throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around van Nistelrooy's waist but van Nistelrooy gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Haminall off to one side.
van Nistelrooy scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Haminall doesn't seem bothered though.
van Nistelrooy lands with a right hand.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by van Nistelrooy!
van Nistelrooy lands with a good body shot.
Haminall shoots in for a takedown but van Nistelrooy shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by van Nistelrooy!
van Nistelrooy lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Haminall looks for a takedown but van Nistelrooy sprawls well.
Haminall showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from van Nistelrooy.
van Nistelrooy swinging wildly here.
Haminall has a takedown stuffed.
Haminall tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but van Nistelrooy swivels and escapes.
Danga de danga de dang - van Nistelrooy scores with a four punch combination!
van Nistelrooy connects with a body shot.
Haminall has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
van Nistelrooy dips to his left and cracks Haminall with an uppercut!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
van Nistelrooy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Haminall.
Nice sprawl there from van Nistelrooy as Haminall shoots in.
van Nistelrooy lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Haminall has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Haminall tries for a takedown but van Nistelrooy sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
DeQuinten van Nistelrooy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think van Nistelrooy 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... DeQuinten van Nistelrooy!