PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Van Rijn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Azh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van Rijn comes to the cage accompanied by Francesco Zappalà - No Way Out. Azh is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Manu Militari - Voix De Fait. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Van Rijn
vs
Azh

196 cm
30
221 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

190 cm
27
212 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Van Rijn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Andre Azh!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Edson Gomes and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azh throws a lazy right hand but Van Rijn sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Azh motions for Van Rijn to come forward. Azh throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Azh connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A big left from Azh misses.
Azh lands a lovely overhand right.
Azh misses with a hook
and Van Rijn counters with a low kick, right behind Azh 's knee.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Van Rijn scores with a knee to the head.
Van Rijn scores with a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Van Rijn.
Azh leaning against his opponent.
Azh blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Van Rijn is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Van Rijn keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Azh's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Rijn tries a knee to the head but Azh blocks it.
Azh takes an elbow to the temple.
Van Rijn missing with knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Azh fails to land.
Azh looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Azh managing to block the knees to the body from Van Rijn.
Van Rijn blocks an uppercut.
Van Rijn scores with a knee to the head.
Van Rijn misses with a knee to the head.
Van Rijn tries to land a knee to the head but Azh blocks with his arms.
Van Rijn with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Azh stalling in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Azh breaks the clinch.
A combination from Van Rijn does no damage.
Van Rijn misses with a jab, cross combination.
Van Rijn throws a nice inside leg kick.
Azh lands a nice shot to the body.
Van Rijn takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Mike Van Rijn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azh lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

It looks like Mike Van Rijn has been cut.
Van Rijn misses with a jab, cross combination.
Azh lunges at Van Rijn with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Van Rijn's hand.
Azh misses with a hook.

Azh is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Van Rijn's half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Azh seems to be working for a kimura but Van Rijn defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Rijn won't allow Azh to pass to mount.
Azh is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Azh seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Van Rijn does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Azh is trying to work for a kimura but Van Rijn is defending well.
Azh is trying to control. Van Rijn wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azh stops Van Rijn from getting back to his feet.
Azh wants to control but Van Rijn is keeping him busy.
Azh is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Azh is trying to control the action in half guard but Van Rijn is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Andre Azh.
Van Rijn throws a head kick but Azh moves out of range.
Azh connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Azh lands the left hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Van Rijn steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Azh.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Van Rijn checks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Azh dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mike Van Rijn's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Van Rijn pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Van Rijn lands a high kick!
Van Rijn bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Nice takedown defense from Van Rijn. No joy for Azh on that attempt.
Van Rijn throws a head kick but Azh moves out of range.
A jab from Azh misses.
Van Rijn misses the jab.
Van Rijn scores with a nice right hand.
Van Rijn throws a head kick that misses.
Azh misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Van Rijn.
A nice leg kick lands there from Van Rijn.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Rijn throws a low kick but it's checked well by Azh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Rijn throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Van Rijn throws a head kick but Azh moves out of range.
Azh jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Van Rijn looks to land a body kick but Azh moved away.
Azh showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Van Rijn.
Azh connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Azh throws a right hand that Van Rijn ducks under and follows up with a left that Van Rijn also avoids with ease.
Azh on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Van Rijn. Van Rijn obviously looking to wear him down.

Van Rijn gets caught flat footed, as Azh shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Van Rijn knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Azh on the ground.
Azh tries to free his leg and advance position but Van Rijn is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Rijn is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Azh accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Azh pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Van Rijn is keeping the position for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Azh trying to control but Van Rijn is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Rijn tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Azh trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Azh trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Rijn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Van Rijn on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Van Rijn tries to get out of the position.
Azh is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Andre Azh.
Van Rijn tries a head kick but it misses.
Azh listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Van Rijn throws a head kick that misses.
Azh swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A low kick from Van Rijn is predictable there
and Azh counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A jab lands there for Azh.
Mike Van Rijn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Azh shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Van Rijn defends it nicely.
Azh shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Van Rijn as he jumps to the side.
Mike Van Rijn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Azh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Rijn misses with a two punch combination.
Azh swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Azh scores with a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Rijn takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Van Rijn steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Azh.
Van Rijn leaves Azh with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Andre Azh seems to be getting the better of the standup.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Rijn leaves Azh with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Van Rijn walks into a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Azh showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mike Van Rijn's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Azh avoids the body shot from Van Rijn.
Azh rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Van Rijn counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Van Rijn throws a sloppy head kick and Azh moves out of range easily.
Van Rijn misses with a double jab.
Van Rijn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Azh manages to avoid it.
Azh tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Van Rijn swivels and escapes.

Azh shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Van Rijn manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Azh pushing down on Van Rijn's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Azh is keen to just control but Van Rijn is a slippery customer.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Azh is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Van Rijn has managed to free his arm - good work.

Azh is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Van Rijn doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Azh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azh is pressing down on Van Rijn's thigh, looking to free his foot. Van Rijn is holding on for now.
Azh looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Azh has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azh trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Azh with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Andre Azh has got the better of the ground game so far.
Azh sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Van Rijn stops Azh from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Rijn tries to reverse the position but Azh maintains control.

Van Rijn has left one of his arms exposed and Azh doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Van Rijn screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Andre Azh!
During a confident post fight interview, Andre Azh thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.