PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Strikes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Soloman van der Vaart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). van der Vaart has chosen Nah Mean as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Strikes
vs
van der Vaart

186 cm
28
180 lbs
20 - 17 - 1

183 cm
27
178 lbs
23 - 12 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 20 - 17 - 1, fighting out of London, Carlos Strikes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Soloman van der Vaart!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Colin Fotheringham and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
van der Vaart ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Strikes moves away.
Strikes throws a low kick but van der Vaart moves out of range easily.
Strikes fails with an attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from van der Vaart misses the target.
Strikes tries to close the distance and clinch but van der Vaart swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Donk. Strikes catches van der Vaart right on the button with a cross.
van der Vaart throws a right and a left that both miss.
Strikes tries to close the distance and clinch but van der Vaart swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Danga de danga de dang - van der Vaart scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Carlos Strikes has been cut.
A punch lands to the side of Strikes 's head but he takes it in his stride.
van der Vaart misses with a shot to the body
and Strikes counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. van der Vaart is lucky that one didn't land flush.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Strikes tries to bum rush van der Vaart with a series of wild strikes but van der Vaart uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
van der Vaart misses with a wild combination.

Strikes closes the distance and clinches.
Strikes tries to stall but van der Vaart uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
van der Vaart is working Strikes over against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Strikes wants to stall.
van der Vaart can't find room to land a body shot as Strikes controls the action.
van der Vaart pushes Strikes back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Strikes breaks from the clinch.
Strikes tries to clinch up
and van der Vaart counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
van der Vaart avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Strikes slips under a jab.
Strikes blocks a jab.
Nice body kick there by Strikes.
Carlos Strikes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
van der Vaart jabs at Strikes's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strikes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from van der Vaart.
Strikes doesn't manage to clinch there - van der Vaart circles away.

Strikes gets a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Strikes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with van der Vaart's elbow.
A right hand to the body from van der Vaart.

Strikes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Strikes moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
van der Vaart wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The fight stays on the outside here - Strikes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Strikes lets loose with a powerful body kick. van der Vaart will feel that in the morning.
Strikes fails to land with a series of punches.
Strikes fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strikes tries a head kick but it misses.
van der Vaart jabbing away but nothing is landing.
van der Vaart swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Strikes drives through and clinches with van der Vaart against the cage.
Strikes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. van der Vaart is defending well for now.
van der Vaart scores with a shoulder strike.
van der Vaart tries a body shot but Strikes blocks it.
van der Vaart lands a left hand.
van der Vaart misses with the head strike.
Strikes scores with a shot to the side of van der Vaart's head.
Strikes takes a shot to the head.
van der Vaart can't find room to land a body shot as Strikes controls the action.
van der Vaart misses with a body punch.
Nice body punch from van der Vaart.
Strikes looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A shot in the inside from van der Vaart.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

van der Vaart breaks from the clinch.
Strikes misses with a series of wild punches.
Strikes tries to clinch but van der Vaart moves away
and van der Vaart counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
van der Vaart throws a jab when Strikes was well out of range.
Strikes ducks under a wild hook from van der Vaart.
van der Vaart throws a hook but Strikes blocks it.
Strikes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Strikes doesn't manage to clinch there - van der Vaart circles away.
van der Vaart throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Strikes looks to score with a jab to the body but van der Vaart is just out of range.
Strikes moves in looking to clinch but van der Vaart pushes him off.
Strikes throws a one two combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Soloman van der Vaart will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Carlos Strikes's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Strikes is looking to clinch but van der Vaart is avoiding it.

It looks like Soloman van der Vaart has been cut.
van der Vaart throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Strikes stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
van der Vaart tries to bum rush Strikes with a series of wild strikes but Strikes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Strikes scoring well with a low kick there.
Strikes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
van der Vaart lands with a good body shot.
Strikes looks to throw the jab but van der Vaart is out of range.
Strikes scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
van der Vaart misses with a wild body shot.
van der Vaart lands an overhand right.
Strikes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but van der Vaart manages to avoid it.
Carlos Strikes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Strikes has closed the distance and engaged van der Vaart in a clinch.
van der Vaart takes an elbow to the temple.
Strikes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. van der Vaart is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from van der Vaart.
van der Vaart misses with some punches.
Strikes looking to stall.
van der Vaart lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
van der Vaart tries to throw a body punch but Strikes avoids it by throwing van der Vaart back against the cage.
Strikes tries to break free but van der Vaart pushes him back against the cage.
A hook to the body from van der Vaart.
Strikes trying to land knees to the body.
Strikes tries to land knees in the clinch but van der Vaart avoids the damage to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Strikes just misses with a elbow thrown towards van der Vaart's brow.
van der Vaart tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Strikes's elbow.
van der Vaart lands with a right to the head.
Strikes prevents a body shot from van der Vaart.
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!
A right hand to the body from van der Vaart.
van der Vaart gets through Strikes's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from van der Vaart.
A head punch on the inside from van der Vaart fails to land.
Soloman van der Vaart seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Strikes missing with knees to the body.
Strikes tries to circle away but van der Vaart has him pinned against the cage.
van der Vaart pushes Strikes back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, van der Vaart scores with a nice short uppercut.

Carlos Strikes's cut is getting worse.
Strikes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. van der Vaart is defending well for now.
A body shot lands from van der Vaart.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
van der Vaart gets through Strikes's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A left hand lands to the body for van der Vaart.
Good body shot from van der Vaart.
van der Vaart lands a left hand.
van der Vaart lands with a right to the head.
van der Vaart lands a hook to the side of the head.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
van der Vaart lands a right hand that snaps the head of Strikes backwards.
Strikes is trying to break the clinch but van der Vaart has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from van der Vaart.
Strikes is trying to break the clinch but van der Vaart has him pressed against the cage.
A short left from van der Vaart.
van der Vaart stalling the fight.
van der Vaart pushes Strikes back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Carlos Strikes's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Strikes looking to slow down the pace here.
Strikes throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but van der Vaart blocks it with crossed arms.

van der Vaart escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A combination from Strikes does no damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Strikes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Strikes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
van der Vaart takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strikes staying out of range there.
Strikes misses with a body kick.
Strikes on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Strikes tries to clinch up.
A looping hook to the body misses from van der Vaart. Strikes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Strikes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Strikes wants to clinch
and van der Vaart counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
van der Vaart throws a nice looking combination but Strikes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A big right from Strikes misses.
van der Vaart throws a series of punches but Strikes moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Soloman van der Vaart showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Strikes walks into a straight right hand from van der Vaart.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
van der Vaart tries to stall but Strikes uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A shot in the inside from Strikes.
Strikes is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Nice body punch from van der Vaart.
van der Vaart lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Strikes backwards.
van der Vaart is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
van der Vaart misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Strikes obliges.
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 hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
van der Vaart swings wildly with an uppercut but Strikes uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
van der Vaart swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Strikes has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Strikes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Strikes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Strikes tries to clinch but van der Vaart is having none of it.
Strikes takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Strikes swings widly with a right hand
and van der Vaart connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Strikes throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Strikes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Strikes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
van der Vaart ducks right into an uppercut from Strikes.
van der Vaart swings for the body but Strikes moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strikes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as van der Vaart throws out the jab.
van der Vaart tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Strikes was well out of range. Poor timing from van der Vaart.
Strikes tries to clinch up
and van der Vaart counters with a nice body shot.
Strikes scores with a hook to the body. van der Vaart takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Strikes rushes van der Vaart and presses him up against the cage.
van der Vaart taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
van der Vaart scores with a shoulder strike.

Jeez, Carlos Strikes's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
van der Vaart prevents a body shot from Strikes.
Strikes lands an elbow just above van der Vaart 's eye.
van der Vaart is leaning against Strikes and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
van der Vaart swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Strikes swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
van der Vaart lands a hook to the side of the head.
Strikes putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has van der Vaart in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
van der Vaart throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A left hand lands to the body for van der Vaart.
van der Vaart scores with a nice hook to the head.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Carlos Strikes's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Soloman van der Vaart!
Post fight, Soloman van der Vaart took to the microphone: '*Straps on the belt* "Damn this feels good!"'.