PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rico Verhoeven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Engle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Verhoeven
vs
Engle

196 cm
27
242 lbs
2 - 13 - 0

225 cm
28
275 lbs
10 - 3 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rico Verhoeven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joey Engle!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Aafke Stam and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Verhoeven clinches up against the cage.
Verhoeven with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Verhoeven with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Engle's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Engle steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Verhoeven.

Engle moves into the clinch.
Verhoeven tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Verhoeven looking to slow down the pace here.
Engle is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Engle manages to break the clinch.

Engle gets a clinch.

Engle pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Engle gets a clinch.

Engle breaks the clinch.

Engle rushes Verhoeven and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Engle manages to break the clinch.

Verhoeven has closed the distance and engaged Engle in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Verhoeven jumps guard but Engle stands there with Verhoeven around his waist. Verhoeven gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Engle escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Verhoeven closes the distance and clinches.
Verhoeven misses with a knee to the head.
Verhoeven tries a knee to the head but Engle blocks it.

Engle breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Engle takes the fight into the clinch.
Verhoeven misses with a knee to the head.

Engle manages to break the clinch.

Engle gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Engle pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Engle gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Engle's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Engle tries to clinch but Verhoeven moves out of range.

Verhoeven forces Engle back against the cage and clinches.

Engle breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verhoeven scores with a crisp jab that stopped Engle in his tracks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Engle moves into the clinch.

Engle breaks from the clinch.

Verhoeven clinches up against the cage.

Engle breaks from the clinch.

Verhoeven clinches.

Engle breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Verhoeven closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Verhoeven is trying to pull guard but Engle turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Engle breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Engle tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Verhoeven paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Verhoeven gets tackled into the cage by Engle. Engle maintains the clinch.
Verhoeven with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Verhoeven is trying to stall.

Engle escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Engle fails in his attempt to clinch.

Engle rushes Verhoeven and presses him up against the cage.
Verhoeven misses with a knee strike.

Engle breaks from the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Verhoeven throws a knee to the head but misses.

Engle breaks from the clinch.

Verhoeven tries to keep at a distance but Engle has taken the fight into the clinch.
Verhoeven wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rico Verhoeven. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Verhoeven misses with a knee strike.
Verhoeven is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Engle pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Engle moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verhoeven tries a knee to the head but Engle blocks it.
Verhoeven using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Engle has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Engle avoiding damage as Verhoeven throws knees to the body.
Verhoeven with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Engle breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A big left from Verhoeven misses.

Engle tries to keep at a distance but Verhoeven has taken the fight into the clinch.
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!

Engle's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Engle instigates a clinch.

Engle breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Verhoeven swats away the attempt to clinch by Engle.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Engle gets tackled into the cage by Verhoeven. Verhoeven maintains the clinch.
Verhoeven tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Verhoeven trying to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Engle dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Engle fails with an attempt to clinch.

Engle clinches up against the cage.
Verhoeven tries to land knees in the clinch but Engle avoids the damage to the body.

Engle breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Verhoeven has Engle up against the cage in a clinch.

Engle breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Verhoeven has closed the distance and engaged Engle in a clinch.
Verhoeven throws a knee to the head but misses.

Engle escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Engle tries to clinch but Verhoeven moves out of range.

Verhoeven has Engle up against the cage in a clinch.
Verhoeven throws a knee to the head but misses.
Verhoeven pushes off an throws an elbow but Engle leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Engle manages to break the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Engle breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Verhoeven clinches up with Engle and pushes him back against the cage.

Engle breaks the clinch.

Engle drives through and clinches with Verhoeven against the cage.
Verhoeven jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Engle walks away with a smile on his face. Verhoeven gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Engle has Verhoeven up against the cage in a clinch.

Engle escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Verhoeven has Engle up against the cage in a clinch.
Verhoeven tries to stall but Engle uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Verhoeven throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Engle blocks it with crossed arms.

Engle's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Verhoeven tries to keep at a distance but Engle has taken the fight into the clinch.
Engle avoiding damage as Verhoeven throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verhoeven tries to land a knee to the head but Engle blocks with his arms.

Engle breaks the clinch.
Engle tries to close the distance and clinch but Verhoeven swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Engle moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Engle escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Joey Engle seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Verhoeven instigates a clinch.
Verhoeven fails to pull guard.
Verhoeven tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Verhoeven fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rico Verhoeven. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Engle breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Engle closes the distance and clinches.

Engle pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Engle fails in his attempt to clinch.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Engle instigates a clinch.

Engle breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Verhoeven instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Engle pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rico Verhoeven is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Engle tries to clinch but Verhoeven moves out of range.

Engle tries to keep at a distance but Verhoeven has taken the fight into the clinch.

Engle manages to break the clinch.
Engle tries to close the distance and clinch but Verhoeven swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Engle has Verhoeven up against the cage in a clinch.
Verhoeven tries for a takedown. No joy.

Engle breaks from the clinch.

Engle moves into the clinch.

Engle breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Verhoeven misses with a knee to the head.
Verhoeven tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Engle pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Engle moves into the clinch.

Engle escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Engle pushes Verhoeven up against the cage in a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Verhoeven tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Verhoeven misses with a knee to the head.

Engle breaks from the clinch.

Engle pushes Verhoeven up against the cage in a clinch.

Engle breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Engle moves into range and clinches up with Verhoeven.

Engle breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Verhoeven clinches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Engle breaks the clinch.

Verhoeven has closed the distance and engaged Engle in a clinch.

Engle's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Verhoeven keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Engle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Verhoeven moves into the clinch successfully.
Engle avoiding damage as Verhoeven throws knees to the body.

Engle escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Verhoeven takes the fight into the clinch.

Engle manages to break the clinch.

Verhoeven moves into the clinch.
Verhoeven misses with a knee strike.
Verhoeven tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Engle pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Verhoeven has taken the fight to the clinch.

Engle's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Verhoeven forces Engle back against the cage and clinches.
Engle on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Verhoeven gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Joey Engle has been cut.
Verhoeven misses with a body punch.

Engle manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Engle blocks the leg kick.

Verhoeven rushes Engle and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Verhoeven tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Verhoeven wants to stall.
Verhoeven looking to throw knees to the head but Engle is blocking nicely.
Verhoeven stalling in the clinch but Engle improves position.

Engle's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Engle moves into the clinch successfully.

Engle manages to break the clinch.

Verhoeven takes the fight into the clinch.

Engle pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Engle has taken the fight to the clinch.

Engle's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Engle rushes Verhoeven and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Engle escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Engle closes the distance and clinches.
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!
Verhoeven is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Engle breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Engle clinches with his opponent.

Engle escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Engle tries to clinch but Verhoeven is having none of it.

Engle gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Verhoeven tries to stall but Engle uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Engle breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Engle tries to clinch but Verhoeven is having none of it.

Verhoeven drives through and clinches with Engle against the cage.
Verhoeven tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Verhoeven with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Engle breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Verhoeven clinches.

Engle breaks from the clinch.

Engle gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Verhoeven tries a knee to the head but Engle blocks it.

Engle breaks the clinch.
Engle is looking to clinch but Verhoeven is avoiding it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Engle blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Joey Engle seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Verhoeven goes for a takedown attempt but Engle pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Engle clinches up against the cage.

Engle pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Verhoeven tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Engle wants to clinch up but Verhoeven keeps it at a distance.

Engle closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Verhoeven tries for a takedown. No joy.

Engle escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Verhoeven tries to keep at a distance but Engle has taken the fight into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Engle breaks the clinch.
Rico Verhoeven has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Verhoeven moves into range and clinches up with Engle.

Engle escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Engle wants to clinch up but Verhoeven keeps it at a distance.
Joey Engle is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Engle instigates a clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Verhoeven throws a knee to the head but misses.

Engle escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Engle tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Verhoeven paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Verhoeven tries to keep at a distance but Engle has taken the fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joey Engle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Engle has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Engle!
Joey Engle decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.