PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mike Van Rijn (ranked 1270 p4p, 158 weight class) and Evgeni Lomachenko (ranked 608 p4p, 72 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Van Rijn
vs
Lomachenko

180 cm
23
163 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

168 cm
30
152 lbs
14 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Van Rijn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Evgeni Lomachenko!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Rijn ducks under a wild hook from Lomachenko.
Van Rijn seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Lomachenko throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Van Rijn counters with a straight right hand.
Evgeni Lomachenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Rijn tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lomachenko manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lomachenko changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Van Rijn has managed to clinch.
Lomachenko tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Van Rijn smiles and moves away.
Lomachenko lands a jab.
Lomachenko has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Lomachenko throws a lazy right hand but Van Rijn sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A punch combination from Van Rijn misses.
Lomachenko is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Rijn has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Lomachenko finds it's way round the side to connect with Van Rijn's head.
Van Rijn uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lomachenko.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lomachenko is defended easily by Van Rijn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lomachenko misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mike Van Rijn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evgeni Lomachenko.
Van Rijn waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lomachenko.
Van Rijn throws a nice outside leg kick.
Lomachenko thuds a left hand into Van Rijn's body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lomachenko.
Lomachenko misses with a hook.
Van Rijn looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
A shot to the liver by Lomachenko. Beautiful body shot.
Van Rijn listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Van Rijn drives through and clinches with Lomachenko against the cage.
Van Rijn lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Van Rijn scores with a shot to the side of Lomachenko's head.
Lomachenko wants a takedown.
Van Rijn pushes Lomachenko back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Van Rijn.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Rijn scores with a shot to the side of Lomachenko's head.
Lomachenko takes a shot to the head.
Van Rijn lands with a left to the head.
A hook to the body from Van Rijn.
Good body shot from Van Rijn.
Van Rijn lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lomachenko backwards.
Lomachenko tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Van Rijn smiles and moves away.
Van Rijn lands a head kick. Lomachenko smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Lomachenko shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Van Rijn moves into the clinch.
Lomachenko tries to pull guard but Van Rijn won't allow it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Van Rijn.
I was talking to Van Rijn's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Lomachenko drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Van Rijn gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Lomachenko tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Van Rijn.
Van Rijn lands a body punch.
Lomachenko drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lomachenko looks winded!
A shot in the inside from Van Rijn.
A short left from Van Rijn.
Van Rijn scores with a shot to the side of Lomachenko's head.
Van Rijn scores with a shoulder strike.
Van Rijn lands a nice shot to the body.
Van Rijn presses Lomachenko against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Lomachenko jumps guard but Van Rijn stands there with Lomachenko around his waist. Lomachenko gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A body shot lands from Van Rijn.
Van Rijn pushes Lomachenko back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Van Rijn softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short right from Van Rijn.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Rijn lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lomachenko backwards.
Van Rijn lands with a left to the head.
Van Rijn lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lomachenko fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Van Rijn.
Lomachenko tries for a takedown. No joy.
Van Rijn digs a right hand into Lomachenko's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Lomachenko's gas tank.
Still in the clinch, Van Rijn scores with a nice short uppercut.
Lomachenko takes a shot to the head.
Lomachenko misses with a short punch on the inside.
Van Rijn lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Van Rijn cracks Lomachenko with a nice body shot.
Lomachenko can't find room to land a body shot as Van Rijn controls the action.
Van Rijn throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Lomachenkos head.
Lomachenko misses with a punch to the body.
Lomachenko is trying to pull guard but Van Rijn turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Van Rijn lands a body punch in the clinch.
Van Rijn is leaning against Lomachenko and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Van Rijn makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Van Rijn.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A shot in the inside from Van Rijn.
A nice right hand lands inside from Van Rijn.
Still in the clinch, Van Rijn scores with a nice short uppercut.
A short uppercut from Van Rijn.
Van Rijn works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Van Rijn dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Van Rijn pushes Lomachenko up against the cage in a clinch.
Van Rijn makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Lomachenko misses with a body punch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Van Rijn.
Mike Van Rijn has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Lomachenko drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Van Rijn gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Van Rijn lands a left hand.
Van Rijn working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Lomachenko is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Van Rijn is defending well.
Van Rijn makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Van Rijn presses Lomachenko against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Van Rijn lands with a left to the head.
Van Rijn working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Van Rijn blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Rijn lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Van Rijn misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lomachenko looking for a takedown.
Mike Van Rijn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evgeni Lomachenko.
Van Rijn lands with a short shot to the head.
Lomachenko changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Van Rijn fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Lomachenko is breathing heavily.
Van Rijn slips under a jab from Lomachenko.
Van Rijn is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Lomachenko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lomachenko misses with a left hand
letting Van Rijn counter with a right hand.
Van Rijn tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lomachenko with a lazy takedown attempt

and Van Rijn counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Van Rijn.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Van Rijn.
Van Rijn works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Van Rijn working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Van Rijn lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Van Rijn scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A nice right hand lands inside from Van Rijn.
Van Rijn softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Van Rijn lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Lomachenko is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Rijn makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Lomachenko is still on wobbly legs! Can Van Rijn finish him?
Van Rijn scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Nice body punch from Van Rijn.
Lomachenko tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Lomachenko tries to pull guard but Van Rijn won't allow it.
Lomachenko seems to have recovered his senses.
Van Rijn lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lomachenko backwards.
Van Rijn lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Van Rijn.
Van Rijn lands a hook that snaps the head of Lomachenko backwards.
A short body shot lands from Van Rijn as the two fighters clinch.
Van Rijn lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Van Rijn cracks Lomachenko with a nice body shot.
A right hook to the body lands for Van Rijn.
Van Rijn lands a hook that snaps the head of Lomachenko backwards.
Van Rijn lands a shoulder strike.
Van Rijn lands a right hand.
Van Rijn pushes Lomachenko back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Van Rijn lands a hook to the side of the head.
Van Rijn lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A shot in the inside from Van Rijn.
Van Rijn presses Lomachenko against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Van Rijn works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Van Rijn lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Van Rijn lands a shoulder strike.
Van Rijn scores with a shot to the side of Lomachenko's head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Van Rijn.
A right hand to the body from Van Rijn.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Rijn lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Van Rijn scores with a nice short uppercut.
Van Rijn scores with a shot to the side of Lomachenko's head.
Van Rijn pushes Lomachenko back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Van Rijn lands with a left to the head.
Van Rijn cracks Lomachenko with a nice body shot.
Van Rijn softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Van Rijn as the two fighters clinch.
Van Rijn lands a hook to the side of the head.
Van Rijn pushes Lomachenko back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Van Rijn pushes Lomachenko back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Van Rijn lands a right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Rijn lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Van Rijn lands a hook that snaps the head of Lomachenko backwards.
Van Rijn pushes Lomachenko back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Van Rijn - that landed with a thud.
Van Rijn lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Van Rijn digs a right hand into Lomachenko's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Lomachenko's gas tank.
A short left from Van Rijn.
Van Rijn creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Lomachenko with a big uppercut! Lomachenko tries to clinch up but Van Rijn pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Lomachenko to the mat! Lomachenko covers up and Van Rijn unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:08 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Mike Van Rijn!