PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ludo Van Veen (ranked 671 p4p, 99 weight class) and Rudy Rhod (ranked 741 p4p, 111 weight class). Van Veen's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Give it ALL. Rudy Rhod will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Van Veen
vs
Rhod

185 cm
26
174 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

180 cm
24
169 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Reaper Combatwear

Aspire Clothing

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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ludo Van Veen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rudy Rhod!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Colin Fotheringham and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rhod misses with a hook.
Rhod has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Van Veen is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Van Veen throws a one two combo.
Van Veen misses with a low kick as Rhod jumps back.
Van Veen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Van Veen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rhod throws out a loose jab but Van Veen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Van Veen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Van Veen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rhod lands with a thumping leg kick.
A lazy body kick from Van Veen
and Rhod counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rhod cracks Van Veen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Van Veen takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Veen can't find room to land a body shot as Rhod controls the action.
Rhod digs a right hand into Van Veen's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Van Veen's gas tank.
Van Veen misses with the head strike.
Rhod swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A right hook to the body lands for Rhod.
Rhod lands a right hand.
Van Veen lands with a left to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhod throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Van Veens head.
Van Veen lands a shoulder strike.
Rhod gets through Van Veen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Van Veen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rhod backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rhod.
Rhod misses with the head strike.
Rhod scores with a shot to the side of Van Veen's head.
Rhod lands a hook that snaps the head of Van Veen backwards.
Rhod scores with a shoulder strike.
Van Veen struggles to land a body shot inside as Rhod controls his hands.
Rhod misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rhod misses with a punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rhod.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rhod swings wildly with an uppercut but Van Veen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Van Veen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Rhod.
A short left from Rhod.
Van Veen tries a body shot but Rhod blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Van Veen.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Van Veen.
Van Veen tries to throw a body punch but Rhod avoids it by throwing Van Veen back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Veen struggles to land a body shot inside as Rhod controls his hands.
Van Veen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rhod doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Van Veen lands with a short shot to the head.
Van Veen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rhod lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rhod lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rhod tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rhod lands a nice uppercut.
Nice body punch from Rhod.
Van Veen prevents a body shot from Rhod.
Rhod blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Van Veen working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rhod has a couple of punches blocked by Van Veen.
Rhod working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Van Veen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Van Veen blocking some punches.
Van Veen struggles to land a body shot inside as Rhod controls his hands.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Van Veen struggles to land a body shot inside as Rhod controls his hands.
Rhod lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Van Veen.
Van Veen lands a nice shot to the body.
Rhod tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Van Veen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rhod swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rhod lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Van Veen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rhod tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Van Veen tries to throw a body punch but Rhod avoids it by throwing Van Veen back against the cage.
Rhod just leaning against Van Veen, taking a breather.
Rhod blocks a body shot from Van Veen.
Rhod throws a punch but it's blocked by Van Veen.
Van Veen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rhod is trying to maintain a safe position but Van Veen gets an underhook and turns Rhod into the cage.
Rhod prevents a body shot from Van Veen.
Rhod lands a left hand that snaps the head of Van Veen backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rhod creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rhod lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Van Veen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rhod backwards.
Van Veen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rhod tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Good body shot from Van Veen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rhod tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Van Veen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
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!
Van Veen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rhod backwards.
Rhod misses with a punch on the inside.
Rhod prevents a body shot from Van Veen.
Van Veen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rhod tries to throw a body punch but Van Veen avoids it by throwing Rhod back against the cage.
Rhod's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Van Veen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Van Veen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Good exchange - Van Veen coming out on top.
Van Veen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rhod's hands.
Van Veen looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Van Veen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Van Veen looks to throw a body kick
and Rhod counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Van Veen thinking.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rhod displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Van Veen throws out the jab.
Rhod now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Van Veen misses with a wild body shot.
Van Veen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rhod manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Van Veen backing away here, and Rhod unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Rhod displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Van Veen throws out the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rudy Rhod dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rhod walks forward, straight into a front kick from Van Veen.
Rhod tries to close the distance and clinch but Van Veen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Van Veen lands a jab.
Van Veen misses with a kick to the body.
Van Veen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Rhod.
Rhod moves away from the strike by Van Veen.
Rhod steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Van Veen.
Rhod misses with a wild body shot.
Rhod connects with a good right hand that stumbles Van Veen. Van Veen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A lazy left from Rhod finds it's target.
Van Veen wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Veen fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rhod is out of range.
Van Veen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Van Veen looks to score with a jab to the body but Rhod is just out of range.
Rhod swings for the body but Van Veen moves out of range.
As Rhod backs away, Van Veen returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping body kick lands there for Van Veen.
Van Veen takes one to the chin there.
Rhod scores with a hook.
Rhod throws a jab but it's blocked by Van Veen.
Van Veen is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Van Veen lands a jab to Rhod's midsection.
Nice straight punches there by Van Veen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Van Veen.

Rhod has managed to clinch.
Rhod gets through Van Veen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rhod misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rhod.
Rhod misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Rhod fails to land.
Van Veen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
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 short uppercut from Van Veen.
Van Veen blocking some punches.
Rhod misses with a body punch.
Rhod misses with some punches.
Van Veen has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Van Veen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Van Veen lands with a light punch inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Veen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Van Veen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rhod backwards.
Rhod lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Van Veen tries a body shot but Rhod blocks it.
Rhod lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rhod doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rudy Rhod seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Van Veen working aggressively here.
Van Veen misses with a body punch.
Van Veen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Van Veen tries to work over Rhod's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rhod struggles to land a body shot inside as Van Veen controls his hands.
Rhod misses with a punch on the inside.
Van Veen can't find room to land a body shot as Rhod controls the action.
Rhod lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Van Veen misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rhod.
Van Veen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rhod blocking some punches.
Rhod throws a punch but it's blocked by Van Veen.
Rhod tries to work over Van Veen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhod lands a hook that snaps the head of Van Veen backwards.
Rhod tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Van Veen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rhod's elbow.
Rhod lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Van Veen or not.
Rhod misses with a hook to the ribs.
Van Veen lands a right hand.
Van Veen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rhod misses with a punch on the inside.
Rhod softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Van Veen struggles to land a body shot inside as Rhod controls his hands.
Rhod tries to work over Van Veen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A right handed body shot lands from Rhod.
Van Veen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rhod's elbow.
Rhod misses with a punch to the body.
Van Veen tries a body shot but Rhod blocks it.
Rhod throws a head punch that misses.
Van Veen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Van Veen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Van Veen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Van Veen can't find room to land a body shot as Rhod controls the action.
Rhod trying to control the position but instead, Van Veen has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rhod into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rhod working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Van Veen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Van Veen tries to throw a body punch but Rhod avoids it by throwing Van Veen back against the cage.
Rhod misses with a punch on the inside.
Rhod lands with a short punch from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rhod misses with a body punch.
Rhod throws a punch but it's blocked by Van Veen.
Van Veen tries a body shot but Rhod blocks it.
Van Veen tries to work over Rhod's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A shot in the inside from Rhod.
Rhod lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Van Veen backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Van Veen.
Van Veen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Van Veen tries a body shot but Rhod blocks it.
A right hand to the body from Van Veen.
Van Veen tries to throw a body punch but Rhod avoids it by throwing Van Veen back against the cage.
Rhod tries a body shot but Van Veen blocks it.
Rhod scores with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rudy Rhod will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rhod misses with a right hand
and Van Veen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rhod throws a jab when Van Veen was well out of range.
Ludo Van Veen is winning the standup battle so far.
Van Veen clobbers Rhod with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rhod throws an off balance right hand
and Van Veen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ludo Van Veen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Veen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rhod counters with a low kick, right behind Van Veen 's knee.
Rhod motions for Van Veen to come forward. Rhod throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Van Veen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rhod counters with a left to the body.
Van Veen misses with a hook to the body
letting Rhod counter with a right hand.
Van Veen ducks under a wild hook from Rhod.
Van Veen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
It seemed like Rhod was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Veen just misses with a punch to the body.
Van Veen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Van Veen just misses with a punch to the body.
Rhod doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Van Veen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rhod uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Van Veen.
A little jabbing left from Rhod on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Veen keeps the fight on the outside.
Rhod looks to throw the jab but Van Veen is out of range.
Van Veen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rhod takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Van Veen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rhod swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rhod takes one on the button.
Rhod pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Van Veen looks to throw the jab but Rhod is out of range.
Rhod is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Rhod connects with a nice looking jab.
Van Veen scores with a kick to the body.
Van Veen misses with a straight right.
Rhod tries to counter with a clinch but Van Veen shakes him off and moves away.
Van Veen moves away from the strike by Rhod.
Van Veen is looking to counter punch.
Rhod defending well as Van Veen loads up on a big left hand.
Van Veen throws a body punch but Rhod moves out of range.
Rhod uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Van Veen.
It seemed like Rhod was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Veen connects with a right hand. Rhod shakes it off.
Donk. Van Veen catches Rhod right on the button with a cross.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A swing and a miss from Rhod.
Van Veen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rhod under the eye.
Van Veen swats away the attempt to clinch by Rhod.
Rhod staying out of range there.
Rhod avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Van Veen swings away with a body shot that misses
and Rhod counters with a nice uppercut.
Van Veen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Van Veen lands with a straight right. Rhod didn't see that one coming.
Van Veen throws a poor cross that misses
and Rhod connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Van Veen throws a body punch but Rhod moves out of range.
It seemed like Rhod was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Van Veen lands with a straight right. Rhod didn't see that one coming.
Rudy Rhod is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhod connects with a solid leg kick.
Rhod takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Van Veen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rhod was well out of range. Poor timing from Van Veen.
Rhod takes a jab right on the kisser.
Van Veen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Van Veen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rhod.
Rhod scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Van Veen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rhod manages to avoid it.
Van Veen misses with a body shot.
Van Veen misses with a wild body shot.
Rhod attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A little feinted left hand from Van Veen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Van Veen staying out of range there.
It looked like Van Veen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Rhod rushes Van Veen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rhod goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rhod works on Van Veen's body with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Veen can't find room to land a body shot as Rhod controls the action.
Van Veen lands a shot to the body.
Van Veen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rhod backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Van Veen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Van Veen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rhod's elbow.
Rhod lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short left from Rhod.
Van Veen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Van Veen scores with a nice hook to the head.
Van Veen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rhod lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Van Veen lands a shot to the body.
Van Veen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Van Veen tries a body shot but Rhod blocks it.
Van Veen tries to work over Rhod's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rhod works on Van Veen's body with a couple of short punches.
Van Veen tries to throw a body punch but Rhod avoids it by throwing Van Veen back against the cage.
Rhod tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Van Veen's elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ludo Van Veen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rhod 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rudy Rhod!
Rudy Rhod seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.