PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Justin van der Horst (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul The Ribber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). van der Horst's entrance music is I Will Not Bow. A fine choice. Paul The Ribber will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

van der Horst
vs
The Ribber

185 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

recos laboratory
Hell's Balls Fightwear

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Justin van der Horst!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paul The Ribber!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The Ribber lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends van der Horst sprawling to the canvas. The Ribber follows him down, looking for the kill. Can van der Horst hang on?

van der Horst is rocked!

It looks like Justin van der Horst has been cut.
van der Horst trying to hold on to The Ribber's head to control him but The Ribber postures up.
Oh van der Horst is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The Ribber tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
van der Horst seems to have got his legs back now.
van der Horst wants to control but The Ribber is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The Ribber content to control rather than advance.
van der Horst is looking to escape.
The Ribber is tying to control. van der Horst wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The Ribber should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
van der Horst wants to improve his position but The Ribber is controlling well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

The Ribber closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

The Ribber decides to stand back up. The Ribber steps back and let's van der Horst get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
van der Horst has had enough of the clinch but The Ribber keeps him there for the moment.
The Ribber lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
van der Horst tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. The Ribber just stands there and leans against the cage.
The Ribber lands a body punch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

The Ribber breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The Ribber throws a one two combo.

The Ribber scores a takedown into full mount!
The Ribber looking to control but van der Horst is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
van der Horst wants to hold on but The Ribber pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
van der Horst is trying desperately to improve position.
The Ribber can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as van der Horst is looking to escape.
van der Horst tries to hold on but The Ribber postures up.
van der Horst working to try and regain half guard.
van der Horst is working hard here to advance position.
van der Horst is breathing heavily.
The Ribber tries to control but van der Horst wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Ribber breaks from van der Horst's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
van der Horst avoids a series of strikes thrown by The Ribber.
van der Horst tries to get back to half guard but can't.
van der Horst tries to hold on but The Ribber postures up.
van der Horst is trying desperately to improve position.
The Ribber can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as van der Horst is looking to escape.
The Ribber working van der Horst over with strikes here.
van der Horst is in all sorts of trouble here.
The Ribber controlling the position easily from mount.
van der Horst is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The Ribber sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
van der Horst is squirming around, avoiding The Ribber's attempts to control the action.
van der Horst tries to buck The Ribber off but he can't manage it.

The Ribber is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. van der Horst can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
The Ribber with the ground and pound from mount.
The Ribber takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul The Ribber dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Justin van der Horst's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

The Ribber misses with a head kick.

The Ribber clinches.
The Ribber goes for a takedown in the clinch but van der Horst prevents it.
van der Horst wants to break the clinch but can't.
van der Horst wants to break the clinch but can't.
van der Horst goes for a takedown in the clinch but The Ribber prevents it.
The Ribber working aggressively here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
van der Horst can't break the clinch.
The Ribber softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The Ribber wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
van der Horst tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. The Ribber just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Ribber tries to pull guard but van der Horst won't allow it.
The Ribber fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Justin van der Horst has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul The Ribber.
van der Horst wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but The Ribber has him pressed against the cage.
van der Horst is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
van der Horst jumps guard but The Ribber stands there with van der Horst around his waist. van der Horst gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
van der Horst wants to break free but The Ribber has control.
The Ribber tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. van der Horst smiles and moves away.
The Ribber is looking to clinch but van der Horst is avoiding it.
The Ribber closes the distance and clinches up with van der Horst, looking for a takedown. The Ribber pushes van der Horst against the cage but van der Horst circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
van der Horst fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The Ribber tries to clinch but fails miserably

and van der Horst counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The Ribber breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice defenses there by van der Horst.
The Ribber misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
van der Horst blocks a low kick nicely.
The Ribber scores with a one two! van der Horst had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
van der Horst moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
van der Horst tries a head kick but it misses.

The Ribber fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with van der Horst, pushing him back against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

van der Horst escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Paul The Ribber seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The Ribber swats away the attempt to clinch by van der Horst.

van der Horst gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The Ribber must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
van der Horst has The Ribber pulled in close to control his posture.

The Ribber stands up and waves to van der Horst to follow him.
The Ribber will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

The Ribber takes the fight into the clinch.
van der Horst has The Ribber pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. The Ribber manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The Ribber tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. van der Horst just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Ribber tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. van der Horst just stands there and leans against the cage.
van der Horst wants to get back to striking at distance but The Ribber won't allow it.

The Ribber breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The Ribber misses with a jab, cross combination.
The Ribber is looking to clinch.
The Ribber throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and van der Horst counters by clinching up.
The Ribber looking for a takedown.
van der Horst is leaning against The Ribber and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

The Ribber manages to break the clinch.
The Ribber pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Justin van der Horst is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The Ribber tries to clinch but van der Horst is having none of it.
The Ribber swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and van der Horst counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
van der Horst passes The Ribber's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Paul The Ribber will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Justin van der Horst's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

The Ribber doesn't succeed with the takedown

and van der Horst counters by clinching up.

The Ribber escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

van der Horst closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The Ribber can't do much from the bottom here.
The Ribber tries to bench press van der Horst off him but van der Horst keeps the position.
The Ribber trying to remain calm as van der Horst controls from the top position.
The Ribber is trying to get back to half guard.
The Ribber seems a little lost for a moment, as van der Horst dominates the positioning.
Check out the look on van der Horst's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
van der Horst happy to just control the position for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Ribber tries to control the position but he's not in luck - van der Horst easily slips into full mount!
The Ribber can't escape the position.
The Ribber sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The Ribber trying to control but van der Horst postures up.
The Ribber wants to get back to his feet.
van der Horst takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
The Ribber is trying to stand back up but van der Horst is controlling him
van der Horst sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. The Ribber defending well though.
The Ribber is looking for a sweep. van der Horst is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
van der Horst controlling the action here.
The Ribber wants to control but van der Horst is keeping busy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

van der Horst closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - van der Horst lands in his opponent's guard.
van der Horst prevents The Ribber from getting back to his feet.
van der Horst passes The Ribber's left leg - he's now in half guard.
van der Horst controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Ribber is looking to escape.
The Ribber tries to roll over but van der Horst keeps him under control.
van der Horst with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

van der Horst is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and The Ribber defends it well.
van der Horst prevents The Ribber from improving his position.
van der Horst takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The Ribber wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
van der Horst is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The Ribber is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The Ribber trying to control here.
van der Horst sitting and controlling from the half guard.
van der Horst works his way into side control.
Justin van der Horst overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The Ribber throws van der Horst to one side and escapes!

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin van der Horst showed his dominance in that final round.
I think The Ribber has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul The Ribber!