PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hendrik Vermeulen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lay Pray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Vermeulen
vs
Pray

187 cm
20
197 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
190 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Hellbent
Urban Fighter

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hendrik Vermeulen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Lay Pray!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Daniel Bishop and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vermeulen stalks Pray and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Pray's face. Pray staggers backwards, shaken.

Pray rushes Vermeulen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Pray looking for a takedown.
Pray is trying to pull guard but Vermeulen turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Vermeulen stops a takedown attempt from Pray.
Hendrik Vermeulen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lay Pray.
Pray is looking to take this one to the mat.
Pray tries to pull guard but Vermeulen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Pray manages to pull guard.
Vermeulen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Pray manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Vermeulen manages to get himself to full guard.

Pray distracts Vermeulen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Vermeulen wants to get back to his feet but Pray is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Vermeulen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pray.
Pray tries to free his leg and advance position but Vermeulen is retaining full guard.
Vermeulen wants to sweep but no luck.
Vermeulen is trying to control the position but Pray postures up.
Pray stands up over Vermeulen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pray accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vermeulen pulls Pray in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pray postures up and lands a big shot to Vermeulen's brow.
Vermeulen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Vermeulen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Vermeulen prevents Pray from improving his position.
Pray is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Vermeulen jumps into side control!
Pray manages to get back to half guard.
Pray moves into full guard.
Pray trying to strike off his back.
Pray is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pray looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vermeulen is one step ahead there.
Vermeulen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pray swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vermeulen won't allow Pray to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vermeulen trying to control but Pray is working from the bottom.
Pray looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Vermeulen won't allow Pray to sweep him here.
Pray manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Vermeulen manages to get himself to full guard.

Vermeulen looking for a sweep. Not yet Vermeulen, not yet.
Pray stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vermeulen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vermeulen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pray on the ground.
Pray in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pray throws a big elbow that misses.
Pray throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pray postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Vermeulen controls Pray momentarily but Pray frees himself.
Vermeulen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pray is one step ahead there.
Pray loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pray is pushing down on Vermeulen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Vermeulen is fighting to maintain full guard but Pray has managed to sneak the leg through.
Vermeulen taking some punishment here, with Pray in his half guard.
Pray drops an elbow to the side of Vermeulen's head.
Vermeulen is refusing to be controlled, as Pray sits in half guard.
Vermeulen trying to control but Pray postures up.
Pray missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pray missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pray has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pray not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Vermeulen is looking for a sweep. Pray is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pray thows a huge punch but Vermeulen dodges it nicely.
Vermeulen is looking for a sweep. Pray is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vermeulen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Vermeulen tries to get out of the position.
Vermeulen is trying to maintain the position but Pray is very close to passing his half guard.
Vermeulen has hold of Pray's hands but Pray slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Pray tries to pass to full mount but Vermeulen defends it.
Vermeulen is trying to maintain the position but Pray is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vermeulen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vermeulen.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pray accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vermeulen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pray's guard.

Pray looking to control.
Vermeulen wants to control from the top but Pray keeps moving.
Pray wants to sweep but no luck.
Pray keeping moving, preventing Vermeulen from controlling successfully.
Vermeulen postures up.
Pray looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vermeulen is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lay Pray dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pray shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Vermeulen counters with a left and a right that stings Pray.
Pray has a takedown stuffed.
It looked like Vermeulen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Pray shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Vermeulen pinned against the cage. Vermeulen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
As Pray looks to move away, Vermeulen throws a big counter combo but Pray just gets out of the way.
Hendrik Vermeulen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lay Pray.
Pray tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vermeulen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pray tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Vermeulen defends well and Pray ends up having to push Vermeulen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Vermeulen circles away from the clinch attempt
and Vermeulen counters with a series of strikes. Pray will be more careful next time no doubt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pray moves in looking to clinch but Vermeulen pushes him off.
Pray takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Pray closes this distance looking for a takedown but Vermeulen circles away.
Vermeulen stalks Pray and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Pray's face. Pray staggers backwards, shaken.

Pray is rocked!

It looks like Lay Pray has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vermeulen misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vermeulen lands with a straight right. Pray didn't see that one coming.
Pray shoots in for a takedown but Vermeulen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hendrik Vermeulen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pray shoots in for a double leg but Vermeulen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pray tries to clinch up
enabling Vermeulen to counter with a crisp jab.
Vermeulen throws a combination. Pray tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Pray is still on wobbly legs! Can Vermeulen finish him?
Pray tries for a takedown but Vermeulen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Pray seems to have recovered his senses.
Vermeulen scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Hendrik Vermeulen is winning the standup battle so far.
Pray has his takedown stuffed
and Vermeulen counters with a series of strikes. Pray will be more careful next time no doubt.
The crowd cheers as Vermeulen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Pray doesn't seem phased though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pray is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vermeulen lands with an overhand left.
Pray is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Vermeulen throws a right and a left that Pray avoids nicely.
Pray has his takedown stuffed
and Vermeulen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Vermeulen lands with a nice combination. Pray backs away looking to recover.
Vermeulen connects with a good straight punch right through the guard and follows up with a right hook and a left hook! That last one sent Pray tumbling to the canvas! Vermeulen pours on the pressure with more strikes and the referee has no hesitation diving in to stop the fight! Pray was done - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Hendrik Vermeulen!
Hendrik Vermeulen retains his middleweight title!
Hendrik Vermeulen thanked the fans post fight for their support.