PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Riley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ludwig Van Normayen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Riley
vs
Van Normayen

188 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

186 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Riley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ludwig Van Normayen!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Eddie Farnsworth and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riley stalks Van Normayen and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Van Normayen's face. Van Normayen staggers backwards, shaken.
A head kick misses from Van Normayen.
Van Normayen misses with a head kick.
Van Normayen misses with a head kick.
Van Normayen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Riley darts in trying to clinch
and Van Normayen counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Riley is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Van Normayen throws a head kick that misses.
Van Normayen throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Riley looks to clinch

and Van Normayen moves into the clinch.

Van Normayen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Riley looks to clinch

and Van Normayen counters by clinching up.

Van Normayen manages to break the clinch.
Van Normayen avoids a kick to the body.
Van Normayen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Riley throws a sloppy head kick and Van Normayen moves out of range easily.
Van Normayen throws a head kick but Riley moves out of range.
Riley tries to clinch

and Van Normayen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Van Normayen.

Van Normayen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Van Normayen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Van Normayen circles away from the clinch attempt
and Van Normayen counters with a head kick. That will keep Riley thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Riley wants to clinch but Van Normayen slips to the side

and Van Normayen counters by moving into the clinch.
Van Normayen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Riley tries to land knees in the clinch but Van Normayen avoids the damage to the body.
Van Normayen leaning his opponent against the cage.
Riley wants to stall.

Van Normayen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick misses from Van Normayen.
Van Normayen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Van Normayen throws a head kick that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Van Normayen looks gassed!
Riley throws a quick inside leg kick.
Riley wants to clinch.
Riley throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Van Normayen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Van Normayen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Riley fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riley moves in looking to clinch but Van Normayen pushes him off.
Riley throws the kick towards the body but Van Normayen avoids it.
Riley throws a right and a left that Van Normayen avoids nicely.
Riley throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Van Normayen.
Riley pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Van Normayen forces Riley back against the cage and clinches.
Riley looking to throw knees to the head but Van Normayen is blocking nicely.
Van Normayen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
With the fighters up against the cage, Riley throws an elbow but misses.
Riley is trying to break the clinch but Van Normayen is controlling him.

Van Normayen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Riley scores with a head kick.

Riley tries to keep at a distance but Van Normayen has taken the fight into the clinch.

Van Normayen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Van Normayen circles away from the clinch attempt

and Van Normayen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Van Normayen.
Van Normayen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Riley using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Van Normayen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Van Normayen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Van Normayen breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Riley tenderised Van Normayen's leg. Van Normayen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Van Normayen throws a head kick that misses.
Van Normayen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Joe Riley has been cut.
Riley throws a series of punches but Van Normayen avoids them all with ease.
Riley darts in trying to clinch
and Van Normayen counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Riley is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A head kick from Riley lands but Van Normayen takes it in his stride.
Riley blocks a head kick by Van Normayen.
Van Normayen throws a lazy head kick
and Riley counters with a leg kick.
Riley moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Riley scores with a kick to the body.

Van Normayen rushes Riley and presses him up against the cage.

Van Normayen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Riley moves to clinch but Van Normayen breaks away

and Van Normayen counters by clinching up.
Riley tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Van Normayen avoids it.

Van Normayen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Joe Riley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Riley looks to clinch

and Van Normayen moves into the clinch.
Riley missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riley misses with a knee to the head.

Van Normayen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
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!
Riley lands a jab-cross combination.
Van Normayen tries a head kick but it misses.
Riley moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Riley keeps Van Normayen at a distance using the push kick.
Riley wants to clinch up but Van Normayen keeps it at a distance.
Van Normayen misses with a head kick.
Riley checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Riley tries to clinch but Van Normayen is having none of it.

Van Normayen closes the distance and clinches.
Riley pushes off an throws an elbow but Van Normayen leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Van Normayen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Riley lands a high kick!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Van Normayen closes the distance and clinches.

Van Normayen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Van Normayen circles away from the clinch attempt
and Van Normayen counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ludwig Van Normayen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Riley's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Van Normayen tries a head kick but it misses.
Van Normayen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Riley scores with a head kick. Van Normayen tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Riley!
Riley scores with a one two! Van Normayen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Riley thows a body kick. Van Normayen tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Ludwig Van Normayen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Riley tries to clinch up

and Van Normayen counters with a head kick that drops Riley to the mat! Riley scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Riley is rocked!

Van Normayen closes the distance and clinches.
Oh Riley is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Van Normayen pressing his opponent against the cage.
Van Normayen continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

Van Normayen breaks from the clinch.
Riley seems to have got his legs back now.
Joe Riley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Riley blocks a head kick by Van Normayen.
Van Normayen is breathing heavily.
Riley scores with a head kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Riley plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Riley tries to clinch but Van Normayen moves away

and Van Normayen counters by moving into the clinch.

Van Normayen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Normayen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Riley wants to clinch but Van Normayen slips to the side

and Van Normayen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Riley tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Van Normayen avoids it.
Riley tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Van Normayen breaks from the clinch.
Riley darts in trying to clinch
and Van Normayen counters with a low kick, right behind Riley 's knee.
Riley darts in trying to clinch
and Van Normayen counters with a nice leg kick.
Riley tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Van Normayen moves into the clinch.
Van Normayen crunches a lovely knee into Riley's ribcage.
Riley misses with an elbow strike.
Riley misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Van Normayen.
Van Normayen slows down the pace here.
Van Normayen tries a knee to the head but Riley blocks it.
Riley misses with a knee to the head.

Van Normayen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Van Normayen is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Riley.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riley misses with a combination

and Van Normayen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Van Normayen manages to break the clinch.
Riley looks to clinch

and Van Normayen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Van Normayen.
Riley is looking to control Van Normayen's arms but Van Normayen gets an underhook and turns him. Now Riley has his back to the cage.
Riley tries a knee to the head but Van Normayen blocks it.
Van Normayen avoiding damage as Riley throws knees to the body.
Van Normayen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Van Normayen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Van Normayen misses with a hook. Riley ducked under it nicely.
Riley closes the distance looking to clinch
and Van Normayen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Van Normayen throws a sloppy head kick and Riley moves out of range easily.
A head kick by Riley misses
and Van Normayen counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Riley moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Riley blocks a head kick by Van Normayen.
A punch combination from Riley misses.
Riley tries to clinch but Van Normayen moves away

and Van Normayen moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Normayen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Van Normayen is looking to chop away at Riley's legs.
Riley is working the combinations to good effect here.
Riley throws a nice head kick!

Van Normayen drives through and clinches with Riley against the cage.
Riley throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Van Normayen blocks it with crossed arms.
Riley tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Van Normayen breaks the clinch.
Riley misses with a body shot.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Van Normayen checks a leg kick.
Riley tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Van Normayen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Van Normayen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Riley tries to clinch

and Van Normayen counters by clinching up.
Riley misses with a knee strike.

Van Normayen breaks the clinch.
Riley tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Van Normayen counters by moving into the clinch.

Van Normayen manages to break the clinch.
A head kick misses from Van Normayen.
Riley throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Van Normayen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riley is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Riley throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Riley lands a two punch combo.
Riley throws a leg kick that is checked
and Van Normayen counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Riley is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Joe Riley's cut is getting worse.
A nice inside leg kick there by Riley. That's going to slow Van Normayen down.
Riley scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Van Normayen throws a low kick but Riley avoids it.
Riley blocks a head kick by Van Normayen.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Riley.
Riley lands with a slapping head kick.
Riley moves to clinch but Van Normayen breaks away

and Van Normayen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Van Normayen.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Riley with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Van Normayen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Van Normayen swats away the attempt to clinch by Riley.
Riley misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ludwig Van Normayen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Joe Riley's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Van Normayen misses with a head kick.
Riley avoids the head kick by Van Normayen.
Riley misses with a double jab.
Riley closes the distance looking to clinch

and Van Normayen moves into the clinch.

Van Normayen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Riley jabs Van Normayen right on the nose. Van Normayen blinks but takes it well.
Riley tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Van Normayen counters with a good low kick that Riley was not able to check.
The fight stays on the outside here - Riley looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Van Normayen thumps Riley with a low kick.
Riley tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Van Normayen counters with a big head kick but Riley shrugs it off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Riley doesn't manage to clinch there - Van Normayen circles away.
Riley tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Van Normayen counters with a head kick. That will keep Riley thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Joe Riley's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley wants to clinch but Van Normayen slips to the side

and Van Normayen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Van Normayen.
Van Normayen scores with a knee to the head.
Van Normayen managing to block the knees to the body from Riley.

Van Normayen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Riley closes the distance looking to clinch

and Van Normayen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Riley tries to land knees in the clinch but Van Normayen avoids the damage to the body.
Riley with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Van Normayen stalls.
Riley tries to land a knee to the head but Van Normayen blocks with his arms.
Van Normayen is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Van Normayen blocks an elbow strike.
Van Normayen leaning against his opponent.
Riley tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Van Normayen avoids it.
Van Normayen avoiding damage as Riley throws knees to the body.
Van Normayen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van Normayen breaks the clinch.
Van Normayen avoids the head kick by Riley.
Riley throws a series of punches but Van Normayen moves out of range.
Riley tries to clinch
and Van Normayen counters with a good low kick that Riley was not able to check.
Van Normayen cracks Riley with a right hand to the side of the head.
Van Normayen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Riley.
Riley tries to clinch

and Van Normayen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Van Normayen manages to break the clinch.
Riley looks to clinch

and Van Normayen counters by moving into the clinch.
Riley tries to land a knee to the head but Van Normayen blocks with his arms.

Van Normayen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Van Normayen circles away from the clinch attempt
and Van Normayen counters with a solid body kick.
A head kick by Riley misses

and Van Normayen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Van Normayen.

Van Normayen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Riley misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riley closes the distance looking to clinch
and Van Normayen counters with a good low kick that Riley was not able to check.
Van Normayen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Riley scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Riley doesn't manage to clinch there - Van Normayen circles away.
Van Normayen circles away from the clinch attempt

and Van Normayen moves into the clinch.
Joe Riley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Riley tries to pull guard but Van Normayen holds him up against the cage and eventually Riley drops back down to his feet.
Van Normayen stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Riley misses with a knee to the head.

Van Normayen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Riley throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Van Normayen connects with a leg kick. Riley looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Van Normayen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Van Normayen slips a jab and a cross from Riley.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Riley.
Riley wants to clinch up but Van Normayen keeps it at a distance.
Van Normayen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ludwig Van Normayen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Riley tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Riley scores with a one two! Van Normayen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Van Normayen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Riley is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Riley is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Riley throws an elbow but it misses.
Van Normayen leaning against his opponent.
Riley wants a takedown but no success here.
Riley with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Van Normayen breaks the clinch.
Riley closes the distance but Van Normayen moves to the side

and Van Normayen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Van Normayen manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Riley using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Van Normayen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ludwig Van Normayen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Van Normayen 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ludwig Van Normayen!