PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Soloman van der Vaart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lars Hellstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). van der Vaart's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Nah Mean. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

van der Vaart
vs
Hellstrom

183 cm
24
178 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

182 cm
23
174 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
KO power

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Soloman van der Vaart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Lars Hellstrom!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, William Gold and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hellstrom lands a nice looking body shot.
Hellstrom uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from van der Vaart.
A jab from van der Vaart misses.
Hellstrom swings and misses with a hook to the body.
van der Vaart bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
van der Vaart misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hellstrom scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A combination from Hellstrom does no damage.
Hellstrom uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from van der Vaart.
van der Vaart missing with a left hand there. Hellstrom was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
van der Vaart is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hellstrom.
van der Vaart looks to land a left hand but Hellstrom moved out of range nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from van der Vaart. Hellstrom does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hellstrom connects with a single shot there.
van der Vaart connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hellstrom's hands.
Hellstrom uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by van der Vaart.
van der Vaart thows a body shot but no joy.
van der Vaart fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hellstrom on the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
van der Vaart keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hellstrom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
van der Vaart paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Hellstrom scores with a shot to the body.
van der Vaart misses with a looping right.
Hellstrom takes a swing at van der Vaart's ribcage but misses.

van der Vaart takes the fight into the clinch.
Hellstrom's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
van der Vaart gets through Hellstrom's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hellstrom pressing his opponent against the cage.
Hellstrom swings away with an uppercut that misses.
van der Vaart can't find room to land a body shot as Hellstrom controls the action.
van der Vaart has a couple of punches blocked by Hellstrom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
van der Vaart tries to throw a body punch but Hellstrom avoids it by throwing van der Vaart back against the cage.
van der Vaart swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hellstrom is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hellstrom lands with a left to the head.
van der Vaart has a couple of punches blocked by Hellstrom.
van der Vaart has a couple of punches blocked by Hellstrom.
Hellstrom blocks an uppercut.
Hellstrom is leaning against van der Vaart and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hellstrom misses with a short punch on the inside.
van der Vaart has a couple of punches blocked by Hellstrom.
van der Vaart looking to stall.
Hellstrom can't find room to land a body shot as van der Vaart controls the action.
van der Vaart has a couple of punches blocked by Hellstrom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hellstrom escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
van der Vaart is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hellstrom.
van der Vaart stalks Hellstrom and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hellstrom's face. Hellstrom staggers backwards, shaken.
Hellstrom doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hellstrom displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as van der Vaart throws out the jab.
van der Vaart throws a series of punches but Hellstrom avoids them all with ease.
van der Vaart throws a looping overhand right but Hellstrom ducks down to avoid it.
van der Vaart takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A big right from van der Vaart misses.
Hellstrom ducks under a wild hook from van der Vaart.
A shot to the body from Hellstrom misses
and van der Vaart cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
van der Vaart lands a two punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
van der Vaart throws out a loose jab but Hellstrom uses good head movement to avoid it.
A good leg kick by Hellstrom.
van der Vaart throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hellstrom scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Hellstrom misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Hellstrom.
van der Vaart avoids the body shot from Hellstrom.
van der Vaart is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
van der Vaart takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hellstrom looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
van der Vaart tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hellstrom was well out of range. Poor timing from van der Vaart.
Hellstrom uses good head movement to avoid the hook from van der Vaart.
Hellstrom throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
van der Vaart connects with a right hand. Hellstrom shakes it off.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hellstrom.
Hellstrom has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hellstrom there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hellstrom connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between van der Vaart's hands.
van der Vaart avoids the body shot from Hellstrom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hellstrom misses with a straight left.
Hellstrom displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as van der Vaart throws out the jab.
A combination from Hellstrom does no damage.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hellstrom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Soloman van der Vaart dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A big left from Hellstrom misses.
Hellstrom ducks under a wild hook from van der Vaart.
Soloman van der Vaart is winning the standup battle so far.
Hellstrom's jab looks to have found its range, popping van der Vaart under the eye.
Hellstrom throws out a powerful jab.
van der Vaart takes one to the side of the head.
van der Vaart fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hellstrom manages to avoid it.
Hellstrom throws a lazy uppercut
and van der Vaart counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
van der Vaart misses with a straight left.
van der Vaart lands with an uppercut that bounces Hellstrom off the cage and back into rage.
van der Vaart thows a body shot but no joy.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hellstrom.
van der Vaart slips a jab from Hellstrom.
Hellstrom keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from van der Vaart.
Hellstrom staying out of range there.
Hellstrom swings for the body but van der Vaart moves out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
van der Vaart throws a jab but it's blocked by Hellstrom.
Hellstrom walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hellstrom misses with a body shot.
van der Vaart shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
van der Vaart misses with a looping left.
A nice combination there by van der Vaart.
Hellstrom uses good head movement to avoid the hook from van der Vaart.
The crowd cheers as Hellstrom lands an impressive looking overhand right. van der Vaart doesn't seem phased though.
Hellstrom throws a hook to the side of van der Vaart's head but van der Vaart sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
van der Vaart misses with a punch on the inside.
Hellstrom misses with a hook to the ribs.
van der Vaart leaning his opponent against the cage.
Hellstrom has van der Vaart pushed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
van der Vaart lands with a short shot to the head.
Hellstrom is pushing van der Vaart up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
van der Vaart lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
van der Vaart is struggling to control the position.
van der Vaart is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hellstrom trying to control the position but instead, van der Vaart has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hellstrom into the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Hellstrom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hellstrom lands with a light punch inside.
Come on Hellstrom - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hellstrom.
van der Vaart throws a punch but it's blocked by Hellstrom.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by van der Vaart as Hellstrom tries to tie him up.
Hellstrom lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hellstrom leaning against his opponent.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Lars Hellstrom.
Hellstrom avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hellstrom staying out of range there.
Hellstrom misses with a low kick.
Hellstrom keeps the fight on the outside.
Hellstrom misses with an uppercut
and van der Vaart counters with a two punch combo.
van der Vaart misses with a straight right.
van der Vaart looks to land a right hand but Hellstrom moved out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from van der Vaart. Hellstrom does a little dance to reset his feet.
van der Vaart is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hellstrom.
Hellstrom ducks down and throws a hook to the body but van der Vaart moves away.
Hellstrom looks to land a combination but van der Vaart avoids it well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
van der Vaart throws a jab when Hellstrom was well out of range.
Nice shot lands for Hellstrom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
van der Vaart throws a lazy right hand but Hellstrom sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
van der Vaart pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hellstrom looks to score with a jab to the body but van der Vaart is just out of range.
van der Vaart misses with a hook. Hellstrom ducked under it 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 Soloman van der Vaart will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hellstrom misses with a wild body shot.
Hellstrom slips under a jab.
van der Vaart fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hellstrom on the side of the head.
Hellstrom steps to the side to avoid the strikes from van der Vaart.
Hellstrom swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
van der Vaart misses with a looping left.
Hellstrom slips under a jab.
Hellstrom clobbers van der Vaart with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Hellstrom fails to land with a series of punches.
van der Vaart bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hellstrom scores with a sloppy right hand. van der Vaart should have avoided that one.
van der Vaart paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
van der Vaart throws a right hand that Hellstrom ducks under and follows up with a left that Hellstrom also avoids with ease.
Hellstrom uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from van der Vaart.
Hellstrom slips a jab from van der Vaart.
van der Vaart throws a lazy right hand but Hellstrom sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hellstrom lands a jab to the nose.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hellstrom, right into the meat.
Hellstrom swings for the body but van der Vaart moves out of range.
van der Vaart throws a hook but Hellstrom blocks it.
Lars Hellstrom seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hellstrom throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hellstrom ducks under a wild hook from van der Vaart.
van der Vaart uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
van der Vaart throws a big shot that misses.
van der Vaart looks to land a left hand but Hellstrom moved out of range nicely.
Hellstrom lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
van der Vaart missing with a left hand there. Hellstrom was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hellstrom throws a nice outside leg kick.
van der Vaart walks into a straight right hand from Hellstrom.
van der Vaart throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hellstrom on the side of the head.
van der Vaart looks to land a right hand but Hellstrom moved out of range.
Hellstrom ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hellstrom throws a hook to the side of van der Vaart's head but van der Vaart sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
van der Vaart misses with a straight right.
van der Vaart misses with a body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
van der Vaart throws a right and a left that Hellstrom avoids nicely.
van der Vaart misses with a series of wild punches.
Hellstrom scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Hellstrom throws a series of punches but van der Vaart moves out of range.
A punch combination from Hellstrom misses.
van der Vaart takes one to the side of the head.
van der Vaart avoids a punch combination nicely.
van der Vaart doesn't manage to clinch there - Hellstrom circles away.
A big right from van der Vaart misses.
Hellstrom pivots, looking for a leg kick but van der Vaart is out of range and Hellstrom settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
van der Vaart smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hellstrom throws a leg kick which misses van der Vaart's front leg but catches the back leg as van der Vaart tries to avoid it.
Hellstrom ducks under a wild hook from van der Vaart.
Hellstrom takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Hellstrom swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Hellstrom misses with a straight left.
Hellstrom looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hellstrom moves out of range as van der Vaart strikes.
van der Vaart throws a right and a left that Hellstrom avoids nicely.
Hellstrom throws a series of punches but van der Vaart moves out of range.
van der Vaart looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Crunch! Hellstrom slams his shin into van der Vaart's torso.
Hellstrom cracks the inside of van der Vaart's front leg.
Hellstrom tries to land a leg kick but van der Vaart saw it coming and moves away.
van der Vaart looks to land a left hand but Hellstrom moved out of range nicely.
Lars Hellstrom has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hellstrom misses the shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
van der Vaart looks to throw the jab but Hellstrom is out of range.
Hellstrom slips under a jab from van der Vaart.
Hellstrom takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A good leg kick by Hellstrom.
Hellstrom will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Hellstrom connects with a nice looking jab.
Hellstrom throws a good cross that connects.
van der Vaart pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hellstrom scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Soloman van der Vaart has been cut.
Hellstrom throws the left hand but van der Vaart avoids the punch easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
van der Vaart throws a good cross that connects.
van der Vaart will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hellstrom throws a shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lars Hellstrom.
I think van der Vaart 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Soloman van der Vaart!