PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nathaniel Dormier (ranked 7066 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raphael Van Halen (ranked 5438 p4p, 0 weight class). Nathaniel Dormier has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Dormier
vs
Van Halen

184 cm
21
214 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nathaniel Dormier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raphael Van Halen!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Halen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dormier tries to counter by clinching up but Van Halen breaks away and moves out of range.
Nathaniel Dormier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Halen shoots in but no luck this time.
Dormier throws a big counter combination but Van Halen scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Van Halen is defended easily by Dormier.
Van Halen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dormier pinned against the cage. Dormier gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nathaniel Dormier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raphael Van Halen.
Van Halen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Dormier counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Dormier not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dormier cracks Van Halen with a solid left hand.
Dormier makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Dormier passes Van Halen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Dormier controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Van Halen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Dormier works his way into full mount!
Dormier landing strikes, looking to finish!
Dormier looking to finish Van Halen with some ground and pound. This is bad for Van Halen!
Van Halen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Dormier controlling his opponent.
Dormier looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Halen is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dormier takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Dormier definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dormier avoids the attempt from Van Halen to control.
Van Halen throws a strike from the bottom but Dormier uses the opportunity to take his back.

Dormier is working for a rear naked choke. Van Halen is not defending it well and Dormier has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Van Halen refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Van Halen's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Nathaniel Dormier!