PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Loki Van Dijk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and LeBron James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Van Dijk
vs
James

170 cm
23
132 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

225 cm
27
130 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Loki Van Dijk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, LeBron James!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Saam Ante and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Dijk shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

James closes the distance and clinches.
James tries for a takedown. No joy.
Van Dijk jumps guard but James stands there with Van Dijk around his waist. Van Dijk gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
James is working for takedown but Van Dijk is calmly controlling the position for now.
James is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Van Dijk pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Loki Van Dijk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of LeBron James.
Van Dijk is pressed up against the cage. James has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Van Dijk down to the mat. Van Dijk avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Van Dijk drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
James can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Van Dijk controls the pace.
James doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
James is striking off his back. Van Dijk thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Van Dijk is trying to control the action in half guard but James is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Dijk is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Van Dijk tries to pass to full mount but James defends it.
James is not content to let Van Dijk control the position.
Van Dijk missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Van Dijk is working for a kimura but James is defending it quite comfortably.

Van Dijk is trying to work for a kimura but James is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is in trouble now - Van Dijk has advanced to mount!
James swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Van Dijk controlling from the full mount.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Van Dijk trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James throwing hammer fists to the chest of Van Dijk. What's that going to do exactly?
James throwing hammer fists to the chest of Van Dijk. What's that going to do exactly?
Van Dijk can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as James is looking to escape.
James slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Van Dijk is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
James throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Dijk prevents James from improving his position.

James actively working from the bottom here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if James can do anything to dispel that myth.
Van Dijk wants to pass the guard but James is defending well.
James flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Well, if Van Dijk 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Van Dijk moves into full mount! James won't be happy about that!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Loki Van Dijk dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

James gets tackled into the cage by Van Dijk. Van Dijk maintains the clinch.

James tightens his grip and picks Van Dijk up, before dumping him to the ground. Van Dijk manages to land in guard.
Van Dijk managing to control the position.
James loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Van Dijk holds on and takes a little breather.
James looking to pass the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Van Dijk is on top in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James keeping moving, preventing Van Dijk from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
James throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
James scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
James has momentary wrist control but Van Dijk slips an elbow through the middle.
James throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Van Dijk trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
James wants to get back to his feet but Van Dijk is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Van Dijk stands up and waves to James to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Dijk throws a sloppy head kick and James moves out of range easily.

Van Dijk closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. James quickly recovers to half guard.
Van Dijk passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for James!
James can't escape the position.
James is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Dijk moves to the back position.
Van Dijk slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Dijk punches James on the ear.
Van Dijk controlling the position well here. James rolled but Van Dijk kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Van Dijk wants to control the position but James frees himself and scrambles - Van Dijk manages to regain control in side control.
James trying to remain calm as Van Dijk controls from the top position.

Van Dijk has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
James shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Dijk fails with a takedown attempt.
James misses with a takedown
and Van Dijk counters with a body kick that stops James in his tracks momentarily.
James shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Van Dijk sprawls well. Van Dijk wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. James gets slowly back to his feet.
Loki Van Dijk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of LeBron James.

Van Dijk scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Dijk works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
James tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Van Dijk wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Dijk advances to full mount.
Van Dijk looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Loki Van Dijk dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Van Dijk throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. James tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Van Dijk is in James's guard.

James looking for subs off his back but Van Dijk has passed one foot through into half guard.
Van Dijk is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
James flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Van Dijk stands up from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Dijk closes the distance and pushes James back into the cage.
Van Dijk wants to break free but James has control.

Van Dijk turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Van Dijk manages to end up in side control.
You can see the frustration on James's face as Van Dijk controls the position.
James tries to get back to half guard but can't.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
James is not content to let Van Dijk control the position.
James tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van Dijk decides to stand back up. Van Dijk steps back and let's James get back to his feet.
Van Dijk misses with a takedown attempt - James sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
James shoots in for a takedown but Van Dijk shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Van Dijk fails with an attempt to clinch.
James misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Dijk doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.
Van Dijk throws a half hearted mid kick.
James wants to clinch up but Van Dijk keeps it at a distance.

Van Dijk darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Dijk drops an elbow to the side of James's head.
James punching from the bottom.
Van Dijk looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Van Dijk moves into full mount! James won't be happy about that!
James really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Van Dijk. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Van Dijk trying to control but James is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Van Dijk looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Van Dijk wants to control the pace but James is squirming around nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Loki Van Dijk showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Van Dijk has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Loki Van Dijk!