PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Laurens Van Der Sluijs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Avon Barksdale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van Der Sluijs comes into the arena with Shutterbugg - Big Boi Feat. Cutty blaring out of the sound system. This should be a great matchup!

Van Der Sluijs
vs
Barksdale

178 cm
29
176 lbs
19 - 8 - 0

174 cm
27
185 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
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 19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Laurens Van Der Sluijs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Avon Barksdale!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to the liver by Van Der Sluijs. Beautiful body shot.
Van Der Sluijs throws a leg kick which misses Barksdale's front leg but catches the back leg as Barksdale tries to avoid it.
Barksdale throws a chopping leg kick but Van Der Sluijs manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Nice shot by Van Der Sluijs.
Barksdale blocks a low kick nicely.
Van Der Sluijs with a poor takedown
and Barksdale counters with an outside leg kick.
Van Der Sluijs walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Barksdale checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Barksdale avoids the body shot from Van Der Sluijs.
Barksdale shoots for a takedown but Van Der Sluijs saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The fighters circling - Van Der Sluijs throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Barksdale throws a push kick but Van Der Sluijs slaps the foot to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barksdale looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Van Der Sluijs scores with a sloppy right hand. Barksdale should have avoided that one.
Van Der Sluijs misses with a right hand

and Barksdale counters with a nice double leg into side control. Van Der Sluijs won't be happy with that.
Van Der Sluijs is looking for a sweep.

Barksdale tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Barksdale has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Van Der Sluijs is pushing Barksdale's head away, looking to escape. Barksdale manages to hold on to the position though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Der Sluijs manages to work his way to half guard, despite Barksdale's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Barksdale is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Van Der Sluijs moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Van Der Sluijs can't keep his opponent in guard - Barksdale advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Barksdale is trying to control. Van Der Sluijs wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Barksdale is looking to advance position but Van Der Sluijs won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Sluijs is looking for a sweep. Barksdale is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Barksdale wants to work for an arm triangle but Van Der Sluijs is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Barksdale works his way into side control.
Barksdale tries to advance to mount but can't.
Barksdale wants to lay and pray for a moment but Van Der Sluijs keeps working.

Barksdale is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Van Der Sluijs knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale advances to full mount.
Van Der Sluijs tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Barksdale goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Van Der Sluijs is on top in guard.
Van Der Sluijs trying to control but Barksdale is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
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 Laurens Van Der Sluijs will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Van Der Sluijs misses with a lunging right hand
and Barksdale counters with an inside leg kick.

Van Der Sluijs tries to keep at a distance but Barksdale has taken the fight into the clinch.
Barksdale jumps guard but Van Der Sluijs turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Van Der Sluijs's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Van Der Sluijs looks to land a left hand but Barksdale moved out of range nicely.
Van Der Sluijs scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Barksdale works Van Der Sluijs's body with a nice hook.
Barksdale ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Van Der Sluijs moves away.
Avon Barksdale is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barksdale walks into a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Van Der Sluijs thumps Barksdale with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Der Sluijs takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Van Der Sluijs throws a nice looking combination but Barksdale bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Van Der Sluijs throws a chopping leg kick but Barksdale manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Barksdale lands a jab to Van Der Sluijs's midsection.
Barksdale uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Van Der Sluijs.
Van Der Sluijs lands a jab to Barksdale's midsection.
Barksdale blocks a jab.
Van Der Sluijs throws a series of strikes that have Barksdale backpedaling.
Van Der Sluijs lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Van Der Sluijs throws a right hand that Barksdale ducks under and follows up with a left that Barksdale also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Sluijs lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
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 big left from Van Der Sluijs misses.
Barksdale plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Barksdale uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Van Der Sluijs.
Van Der Sluijs misses the shot to the body.
Van Der Sluijs lands a right hook to the body.
A punch lands to the side of Barksdale 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Barksdale with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Barksdale is defended easily by Van Der Sluijs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Sluijs scores with a punch to the head.
Van Der Sluijs fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barksdale manages to avoid it.
Barksdale tries to close the distance and clinch up but Van Der Sluijs swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Van Der Sluijs scores with a shot to the body.
Laurens Van Der Sluijs seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Barksdale.
A looping hook to the body misses from Van Der Sluijs. Barksdale does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barksdale bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Van Der Sluijs's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Sluijs misses with a straight right.
Van Der Sluijs will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Van Der Sluijs pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Barksdale misses with a head kick.
No joy there for Van Der Sluijs, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A chopping leg kick lands by Barksdale.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barksdale misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Van Der Sluijs scores with a crisp jab that stopped Barksdale in his tracks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Laurens Van Der Sluijs dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Van Der Sluijs misses with a left hand
and Barksdale counters with a nice body kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Van Der Sluijs.
A telegraphed right hand from Van Der Sluijs misses the target.
Van Der Sluijs throws a wild body kick that Barksdale sees coming a mile off.
Van Der Sluijs fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Barksdale looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Van Der Sluijs moves out of range of the body kick from Barksdale.
Van Der Sluijs throws a looping overhand right but Barksdale ducks down to avoid it.
Van Der Sluijs looks to land a right hand but Barksdale moved out of range.
Barksdale throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Barksdale is looking to land body kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barksdale moves out of range of the leg kick from Van Der Sluijs.
Van Der Sluijs ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barksdale moves away.
Van Der Sluijs takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Van Der Sluijs swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Barksdale.
Van Der Sluijs misses with a hook
and Barksdale counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Van Der Sluijs is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Barksdale moves away from the strike by Van Der Sluijs.
Barksdale avoids the body shot from Van Der Sluijs.
Barksdale shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Laurens Van Der Sluijs is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Sluijs tries to land a front kick but Barksdale steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Barksdale throws a head kick but Van Der Sluijs moves out of range.
Barksdale tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barksdale moves out of range of the body kick from Van Der Sluijs.
Van Der Sluijs stalks Barksdale and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Barksdale's face. Barksdale staggers backwards, shaken.
Barksdale tries for a takedown but Van Der Sluijs sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barksdale. Van Der Sluijs does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barksdale uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Van Der Sluijs.

Van Der Sluijs scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Van Der Sluijs tries to stand but can't do so whilst Barksdale controls his leg.
Van Der Sluijs slows the pace down in half guard.
Van Der Sluijs trying to pass the guard but Barksdale defending well.
Avon Barksdale has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barksdale has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Barksdale wants to get back to full guard.
Barksdale wants to control but Van Der Sluijs is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Laurens Van Der Sluijs.
Van Der Sluijs blocks a low kick nicely.
Barksdale tries to land a front kick but Van Der Sluijs steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Van Der Sluijs defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Barksdale.
Barksdale on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Barksdale misses with a low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Van Der Sluijs bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Barksdale is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Van Der Sluijs rather than just go for the knockout.

Barksdale has managed to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Laurens Van Der Sluijs showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Van Der Sluijs, 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Laurens Van Der Sluijs!
After winning the bout, Laurens Van Der Sluijs thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Avon Barksdale spoke after the fight, saying 'I'll be back.'.