PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joels Van Wijnbergen (ranked 4870 p4p, 619 weight class) and TJ Hearts (ranked 2632 p4p, 370 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as TJ Hearts enters the cage!

Van Wijnbergen
vs
Hearts

185 cm
30
210 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

182 cm
31
211 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joels Van Wijnbergen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, TJ Hearts!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Paul Aken and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hearts tries to score a power double leg takedown but Van Wijnbergen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hearts somewhat.
We've been told by Van Wijnbergen's head coaches at Ryōzanpaku Dojo that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Hearts throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Van Wijnbergen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hearts throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Van Wijnbergen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Van Wijnbergen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hearts does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Van Wijnbergen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Van Wijnbergen stuns Hearts with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Van Wijnbergen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hearts is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
The fighters circling - Van Wijnbergen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a looping right.
TJ Hearts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hearts lands a nice shot to the body.
Van Wijnbergen throws a low kick but Hearts avoids it.
Hearts connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hearts fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Van Wijnbergen manages to avoid it.
Van Wijnbergen lands a really nice looking cross but Hearts seems unphased.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hearts dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hearts throws a body punch but Van Wijnbergen moves out of range.
Hearts drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

It looks like TJ Hearts has been cut.
Hearts loads up on a big right hand but Van Wijnbergen slips the punch.
Van Wijnbergen jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Van Wijnbergen drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A big right from Hearts misses.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hearts lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Van Wijnbergen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Van Wijnbergen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Van Wijnbergen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Van Wijnbergen throws a sloppy head kick and Hearts moves out of range easily.
Hearts throws a hook but Van Wijnbergen blocks it.
Hearts throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Van Wijnbergen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Joels Van Wijnbergen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hearts throws out a loose jab but Van Wijnbergen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hearts closes the distance and clinches up with Van Wijnbergen, looking for a takedown. Hearts pushes Van Wijnbergen against the cage but Van Wijnbergen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Van Wijnbergen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hearts.
Hearts avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hearts throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hearts misses with an uppercut.
Hearts's coach down at Gym Beam was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Hearts's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hearts connects with a hook to the 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!
Hearts checks the leg kick nicely there.
Van Wijnbergen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hearts swings for the body but Van Wijnbergen moves out of range.
Van Wijnbergen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Wijnbergen thows a body kick. Hearts tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Hearts slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Van Wijnbergen throws a body shot but no joy.
Hearts connects with a body shot that sends Van Wijnbergen's belly button to the back.
A swing and a miss from Hearts.
Nice uppercut there from Van Wijnbergen.
A shot to the liver by Hearts. Beautiful body shot.
Hearts darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Van Wijnbergen just misses with a punch to the body.
Hearts pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hearts misses with a double jab.
Hearts dives in for a single leg takedown but Van Wijnbergen sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Joels Van Wijnbergen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of TJ Hearts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Van Wijnbergen there.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Van Wijnbergen.
Hearts thuds his shin into the meat of Van Wijnbergen's side.
Van Wijnbergen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hearts misses with a low kick.
Van Wijnbergen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hearts was well out of range. Poor timing from Van Wijnbergen.
Van Wijnbergen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hearts.
Hearts with a jab.
Hearts fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Danga de danga de dang - Hearts scores with a four punch combination!
Van Wijnbergen takes one to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hearts scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Van Wijnbergen doesn't seem bothered though.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a wild body shot.
Van Wijnbergen lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hearts misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Van Wijnbergen.
Hearts lands with a straight right. Van Wijnbergen didn't see that one coming.
Van Wijnbergen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Van Wijnbergen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hearts.
Van Wijnbergen throws a quick counter kick to the body but Hearts avoids it.
Hearts throws a series of punches but Van Wijnbergen moves out of range.
Hearts throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Van Wijnbergen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hearts misses with a left hand
and Van Wijnbergen counters with an outside leg kick.
Van Wijnbergen throws a leg kick but Hearts sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Van Wijnbergen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a low kick.

Hearts looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Van Wijnbergen!
Van Wijnbergen is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hearts has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hearts controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but TJ Hearts will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on TJ Hearts's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Van Wijnbergen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Van Wijnbergen just misses with a punch to the body.
Hearts lands a jab to the nose.
Van Wijnbergen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hearts.
Hearts thuds a left hand into Van Wijnbergen's body.
Van Wijnbergen loads up on a big right hand but Hearts slips the punch.
Van Wijnbergen throws a body punch but Hearts moves out of range.
Van Wijnbergen cracks Hearts with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Van Wijnbergen thuds his right hand into Hearts's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Hearts lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Hearts dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Van Wijnbergen. That did some damage!
Van Wijnbergen throws a sloppy head kick and Hearts moves out of range easily.
Van Wijnbergen drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hearts takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Hearts drives through with a takedown into Van Wijnbergen's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Van Wijnbergen has his feet on Hearts's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hearts bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Van Wijnbergen looks to land a left hand but Hearts moved out of range nicely.
Hearts blocks a head kick by Van Wijnbergen.
Hearts scores with a crisp jab that stopped Van Wijnbergen in his tracks.
No joy there for Hearts, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Van Wijnbergen throws a good cross that connects.
Hearts on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Hearts scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Van Wijnbergen doesn't seem bothered though.

Hearts feints and as Van Wijnbergen raises his hands in defense, Hearts changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Van Wijnbergen keeping moving, preventing Hearts from controlling successfully.
Hearts throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Wijnbergen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Van Wijnbergen managing to control the position.
Van Wijnbergen trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hearts stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Van Wijnbergen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hearts throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Van Wijnbergen is looking to wear down Hearts with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Hearts misses with a body shot.
Hearts takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hearts throws a body punch but Van Wijnbergen moves out of range.
Hearts moves out of range as Van Wijnbergen throws a body kick.
A clash of legs there as Hearts blocks the low kick.
Van Wijnbergen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hearts misses with a hook.
Hearts takes one to the chin there.
Hearts connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Left hook, right uppercut from Van Wijnbergen.
Hearts throws a body punch but Van Wijnbergen moves out of range.
Hearts scores with a jab to the body.
Hearts throws a right and a left that Van Wijnbergen avoids nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hearts lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hearts takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Hearts digs a good hook to Van Wijnbergen's body.
Van Wijnbergen lands a body shot.
Van Wijnbergen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hearts. That did some damage!
Van Wijnbergen misses with a body shot.
Van Wijnbergen misses with an attempted mid kick.
Jab from Hearts.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Van Wijnbergen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joels Van Wijnbergen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on TJ Hearts's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Van Wijnbergen moves into range and connects with a jab.
Hearts avoids the body shot from Van Wijnbergen.
Hearts thuds a left hand into Van Wijnbergen's body.
Van Wijnbergen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Van Wijnbergen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hearts looks to score with a jab to the body but Van Wijnbergen is just out of range.
Van Wijnbergen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
TJ Hearts seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hearts will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Hearts throws a body shot but no joy.
Van Wijnbergen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Van Wijnbergen avoids a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A swing and a miss from Van Wijnbergen.
Hearts takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Van Wijnbergen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hearts throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hearts looks to land a combination. Van Wijnbergen sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Wijnbergen's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hearts connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Van Wijnbergen scrambles back to his feet.
Hearts sizes up Van Wijnbergen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hearts.
Van Wijnbergen takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hearts lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A big left from Van Wijnbergen misses.
Van Wijnbergen throws a hook but Hearts blocks it.
Hearts smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hearts connects with a body shot.
Van Wijnbergen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hearts shoots in looking for a takedown but Van Wijnbergen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hearts's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nice uppercut there from Van Wijnbergen.
Hearts shoots in but no luck this time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A telegraphed right hand from Hearts misses the target.
Van Wijnbergen misses the jab.
Hearts's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Hearts avoids the body shot from Van Wijnbergen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hearts misses with a series of wild punches.
Hearts tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Van Wijnbergen scores with a three punch combo!
Hearts connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Van Wijnbergen's hands.
Hearts moves out of range of the strikes.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hearts scores with a shot to the body.
Van Wijnbergen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hearts moves out of range of the leg kick from Van Wijnbergen.
Hearts lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hearts dodges the punch combination from Van Wijnbergen.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a straight left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Wijnbergen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Van Wijnbergen throws a body punch but Hearts moves out of range.
Van Wijnbergen connects with the punch.
Hearts bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Van Wijnbergen looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Van Wijnbergen scores with a push kick.
Hearts lands a nice looking kick to the body. Van Wijnbergen takes a step back to recover.
Hearts swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Van Wijnbergen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hearts rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Van Wijnbergen counters with a straight right hand.
Van Wijnbergen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Van Wijnbergen throws a leg kick but Hearts sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Hearts on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Van Wijnbergen motions for Hearts to come forward. Van Wijnbergen throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hearts swings for the body but Van Wijnbergen moves out of range.
Hearts misses with a body kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hearts lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hearts throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Van Wijnbergen counters with a right hand to the body.
Hearts staying out of range there.
Hearts swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Van Wijnbergen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hearts keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hearts connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Van Wijnbergen, right into the meat.
Hearts blocks the body kick.
Nice cross by Hearts.
Hearts works the jab nicely.
Van Wijnbergen scores with a kick to the body.
Hearts punishes Van Wijnbergen's body with a nice straight punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hearts ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hearts looks to throw the jab but Van Wijnbergen is out of range.
It looked like Van Wijnbergen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hearts dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Van Wijnbergen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to TJ Hearts.
Well Hearts 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 28:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

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