PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rich Van Winkle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nagib Holgersen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Van Winkle
vs
Holgersen

174 cm
23
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rich Van Winkle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nagib Holgersen!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holgersen tries to clinch up but Van Winkle circles away and keeps his distance.
Holgersen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Van Winkle defends well and Holgersen ends up having to push Van Winkle into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Holgersen jumps guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Holgersen is on top in guard.
Van Winkle is controlling Holgersen's posture.
Holgersen trying to control but Van Winkle is working from the bottom.
Holgersen wants to get up but he can't break Van Winkle's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Van Winkle on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Van Winkle tries to get out of the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Holgersen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holgersen trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Winkle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Van Winkle knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Holgersen on the ground.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nagib Holgersen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Van Winkle swinging wildly here.
Holgersen shoots in but no luck this time.
Van Winkle fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Holgersen wants to clinch
and Van Winkle counters with a straight right hand.
Van Winkle misses with a looping left.

Holgersen clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Winkle gets through Holgersen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Van Winkle definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Van Winkle wants to get back to striking at distance but Holgersen won't allow it.
Holgersen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Van Winkle fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rich Van Winkle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nagib Holgersen.
Holgersen takes one to the chin there.
Holgersen closes the distance looking to clinch
and Van Winkle counters with a nice uppercut.
Van Winkle uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Holgersen has time to react.
Van Winkle stuffs the takedown attempt from Holgersen. Holgersen gets slowly back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Holgersen fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holgersen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Van Winkle throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Holgersen gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Holgersen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Van Winkle but Van Winkle pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Holgersen looks winded!
Van Winkle throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice defenses there by Holgersen.
Holgersen slips under a jab from Van Winkle.
Van Winkle waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Holgersen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Winkle takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Van Winkle throws an overhand right that lands on Holgersen's shoulder, as Holgersen tries to avoid the shot.
Van Winkle lands with an overhand left.
Van Winkle throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Holgersen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Holgersen just misses with a punch to the body.

Holgersen forces Van Winkle back against the cage and clinches.
Van Winkle lands a shoulder strike.
Van Winkle is trying to force a seperation but Holgersen has the dominant position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holgersen will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Van Winkle up against the cage.
Holgersen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Van Winkle pulls him back up using the underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rich Van Winkle will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Van Winkle throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Holgersen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice takedown defense from Van Winkle. No joy for Holgersen on that attempt.
Van Winkle cracks Holgersen with a good jab.
Holgersen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Van Winkle throws a series of punches but Holgersen avoids them all with ease.
Holgersen fails with a takedown attempt.
Van Winkle stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Van Winkle wants it to stay on the feet.
Rich Van Winkle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nagib Holgersen.
Holgersen scores with a body shot.
Rich Van Winkle is winning the standup battle so far.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Van Winkle, as that shot connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Van Winkle.
Van Winkle throws a jab when Holgersen was well out of range.
Holgersen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Van Winkle sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Holgersen is breathing heavily.
Nice sprawl there from Van Winkle as Holgersen shoots in.
Van Winkle paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Van Winkle blocks a head kick by Holgersen.
Van Winkle fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Holgersen on the side of the head.
Van Winkle misses with the combination.
Van Winkle with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Van Winkle throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Van Winkle looks to throw the jab but Holgersen is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Van Winkle. Those never looked like landing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Holgersen is defended easily by Van Winkle.
Van Winkle will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Van Winkle connects with a single shot there.
Holgersen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Winkle scores with a decent looking hook.
Holgersen drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Holgersen takes one on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Winkle stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Holgersen.
Van Winkle looks to land a right hand but Holgersen moved out of range.

Holgersen has Van Winkle up against the cage in a clinch.
Van Winkle pressing his opponent against the cage.
Van Winkle looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Holgersen tries for a takedown but Van Winkle manages to get underhooks.
Van Winkle displaying some good clinch control by pressing Holgersen up against the cage.
Holgersen lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Winkle is trying to push Holgersen away but Holgersen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Van Winkle has had enough of the clinch but Holgersen keeps him there for the moment.
Van Winkle wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Holgersen has him pressed against the cage.
Holgersen prevents Van Winkle from breaking the clinch.
Holgersen jumps guard but Van Winkle stands there with Holgersen around his waist. Holgersen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Van Winkle prevents a body shot from Holgersen.

Holgersen has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Van Winkle uses from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Van Winkle decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holgersen loads up on a big right hand but Van Winkle slips the punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rich Van Winkle dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Holgersen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
We've been informed that Holgersen has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Van Winkle scores with a jab.
Holgersen throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Van Winkle missing with a left hand there. Holgersen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Holgersen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Van Winkle sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Holgersen somewhat.
Nagib Holgersen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Holgersen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Van Winkle connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Van Winkle throws a shot from downtown. Holgersen moves away and avoids it.
Van Winkle is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Van Winkle throws the left hand but Holgersen avoids the punch easily.
Holgersen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rich Van Winkle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nagib Holgersen.
Van Winkle swings widly with a right hand
and Holgersen counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Van Winkle with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Winkle misses with a series of wild punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Van Winkle fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Van Winkle throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Holgersen on the side of the head.
Van Winkle's jab looks to have found its range, popping Holgersen under the eye.
Holgersen tries to clinch
and Van Winkle counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Holgersen slips a jab from Van Winkle.
Van Winkle throws a jab when Holgersen was well out of range.
Holgersen fails with a takedown attempt.
Van Winkle feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Holgersens jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holgersen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Van Winkle.
Holgersen has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Holgersen shoots in for a double leg but Van Winkle sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Van Winkle feints a jab promting Holgersen to slip. Van Winkle then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Holgersen slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Holgersen drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Winkle fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Holgersen on the side of the head.
Rich Van Winkle is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Holgersen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rich Van Winkle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Holgersen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Van Winkle.
Van Winkle cracks Holgersen with an open hand slap.
Van Winkle throws a good cross that connects.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Winkle lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Van Winkle.
Holgersen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A nice combination there by Holgersen.
Holgersen slips under a jab.
Van Winkle lands a head shot.
Van Winkle throws a big shot that misses.
A punch lands to the side of Holgersen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Holgersen moves out of range as Van Winkle strikes.
Van Winkle darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Holgersen throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Winkle uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Holgersen has time to react.
Van Winkle lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Holgersen circles away quickly and effectively.
Holgersen on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Holgersen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Van Winkle throws a hook to the side of Holgersen's head but Holgersen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Van Winkle throws a good cross that connects.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Van Winkle.
Van Winkle tries to bum rush Holgersen with a series of wild strikes but Holgersen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holgersen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Van Winkle swivels and escapes.
Van Winkle bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Nagib Holgersen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A cross from Van Winkle lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rich Van Winkle showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Van Winkle, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rich Van Winkle!