PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gennady Golovkin (ranked 194 p4p, 25 weight class) and Mike Van Rijn (ranked 911 p4p, 114 weight class). Gennady Golovkin is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Golovkin
vs
Van Rijn

179 cm
31
169 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

180 cm
25
163 lbs
18 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition

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 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gennady Golovkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Van Rijn!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Jonathan Paton and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Golovkin has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Van Rijn finds it's way round the side to connect with Golovkin's head.
Golovkin looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Golovkin scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Van Rijn doesn't seem bothered though.
Golovkin throws a series of punches but Van Rijn avoids them all with ease.
A leg kick checked by Golovkin.
Golovkin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Van Rijn.

Van Rijn drives through and clinches with Golovkin against the cage.
Golovkin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Golovkin lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Van Rijn or not.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Golovkin.
Van Rijn pushes Golovkin back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Golovkin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Van Rijn's elbow.
Golovkin tries to throw a body punch but Van Rijn avoids it by throwing Golovkin back against the cage.
Van Rijn lands an uppercut.
Van Rijn tries to throw a body punch but Golovkin avoids it by throwing Van Rijn back against the cage.
Golovkin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Van Rijn's elbow.
We've been informed that Van Rijn has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Van Rijn lands with a short shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Rijn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Van Rijn lands a body shot.
Golovkin makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Golovkin.
Golovkin throws a punch but it's blocked by Van Rijn.
Golovkin lands with a right to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Golovkin struggles to land a body shot inside as Van Rijn controls his hands.
Van Rijn blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Golovkin lands a nice uppercut.
Golovkin is looking to break free of the clinch but Van Rijn has double underhooks.
Van Rijn lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Van Rijn pushes Golovkin back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Van Rijn prevents a body shot from Golovkin.
Van Rijn cracks Golovkin with a nice body shot.
Golovkin is trying to break the clinch but Van Rijn is controlling him.
Van Rijn lands a right hand that snaps the head of Golovkin backwards.
Golovkin can't find room to land a body shot as Van Rijn controls the action.
Van Rijn tries to throw a body punch but Golovkin avoids it by throwing Van Rijn back against the cage.
Van Rijn lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Nice body punch from Golovkin.
Golovkin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Van Rijn misses with a punch to the body.
Van Rijn tries to work over Golovkin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Van Rijn lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Van Rijn can't find room to land a body shot as Golovkin controls the action.
Van Rijn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Golovkin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Van Rijn fails to land.
This has been an exciting period of action!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Van Rijn creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Golovkin working aggressively here.
Van Rijn misses with a hook from the clinch.
Van Rijn makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Golovkin goes for a takedown attempt but Van Rijn pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Van Rijn uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Golovkin.
Golovkin lands a slapping body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Rijn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Golovkin throws a hook to the side of Van Rijn's head but Van Rijn sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Van Rijn takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Golovkin misses with a body shot.
Van Rijn throws a right hand that misses
and Golovkin counters with a straight right hand.

Van Rijn clinches up with Golovkin and pushes him back against the cage.
Van Rijn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Golovkin's elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Van Rijn.
Van Rijn lands a shoulder strike.
Van Rijn tries to throw a body punch but Golovkin avoids it by throwing Van Rijn back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Van Rijn.
Van Rijn lands a shoulder strike.
Nice body punch from Golovkin - that landed with a thud.
A body shot lands from Golovkin.
Golovkin tries to work over Van Rijn's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Van Rijn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Golovkin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Van Rijn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Golovkin fails to land.
Van Rijn misses with a body punch.
A nice left hand lands by Van Rijn.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Van Rijn creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Golovkin prevents a body shot from Van Rijn.
Van Rijn misses with a punch to the body.
Golovkin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Van Rijn lands a hook to the side of the head.
Golovkin tries to throw a body punch but Van Rijn avoids it by throwing Golovkin back against the cage.
A short uppercut from Van Rijn.
Golovkin looking to stall.
Golovkin misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Golovkin lands a left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Golovkin lands with a light punch inside.
Van Rijn tries to throw a body punch but Golovkin avoids it by throwing Van Rijn back against the cage.
Van Rijn makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Golovkin breaks from the clinch.
Golovkin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Van Rijn scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Van Rijn ducks under a wild hook from Golovkin.
Golovkin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Van Rijn is looking to clinch.
Van Rijn connects with a right hand. Golovkin shakes it off.
Golovkin throws a nice looking combination but Van Rijn bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Golovkin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Van Rijn.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Van Rijn connects with a high kick.
Golovkin just misses with a punch to the body.
Van Rijn keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Golovkin.
Van Rijn just misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Van Rijn will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Van Rijn lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Van Rijn takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Van Rijn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Golovkin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Golovkin misses with a wild body shot.
Golovkin misses with a looping right.
Golovkin lands a nice shot that snaps Van Rijn's head back.
Van Rijn connects with an inside leg kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Golovkin.
Golovkin throws a jab when Van Rijn was well out of range.
Van Rijn will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The fighters circling - Golovkin 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.
Golovkin feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Van Rijns jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Van Rijn tries to clinch but Golovkin is having none of it.
A slow jab from Golovkin misses its intended target.
Van Rijn explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Van Rijn forces Golovkin back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Golovkin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Van Rijn's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Van Rijn scores with a shoulder strike.
Van Rijn misses with a punch on the inside.
Van Rijn misses with a hook to the ribs.
Van Rijn tries to work over Golovkin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Golovkin breaks from the clinch.

Van Rijn moves into range and clinches up with Golovkin.
Golovkin lands an uppercut.
Golovkin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Van Rijn misses with a punch to the body.
Golovkin blocking some punches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Van Rijn.
A head punch on the inside from Van Rijn fails to land.
Golovkin is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Van Rijn is defending well.
Van Rijn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Golovkin's elbow.
Mike Van Rijn seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Van Rijn lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Van Rijn has a couple of punches blocked by Golovkin.
Van Rijn tries a body shot but Golovkin blocks it.

Golovkin breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Golovkin fails to land with a series of punches.
Gennady Golovkin is winning the standup battle so far.
Golovkin throws a body shot but no joy.
Van Rijn scores with a jab.
Van Rijn throws a leg kick
and Golovkin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Golovkin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Van Rijn scores with a jab to the head.

Van Rijn moves into range and clinches up with Golovkin.
Van Rijn tries to work over Golovkin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Golovkin.
Van Rijn lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Golovkin backwards.
Van Rijn misses with a body punch.
Van Rijn lands a shot to the body.
Van Rijn pushes Golovkin back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Van Rijn struggles to land a body shot inside as Golovkin controls his hands.
Golovkin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Van Rijn is working Golovkin over against the cage.
Van Rijn misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nice body punch from Golovkin.
Golovkin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Rijn lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Van Rijn misses with some punches.
Van Rijn misses with a body punch.
Golovkin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Van Rijn misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Van Rijn struggles to land a body shot inside as Golovkin controls his hands.
Van Rijn lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Van Rijn tries to work over Golovkin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Golovkin lands with a short shot to the head.
Van Rijn lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Golovkin backwards.
Van Rijn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Van Rijn misses with a hook to the ribs.
Van Rijn tries a body shot but Golovkin blocks it.
Van Rijn misses with a hook from the clinch.
Golovkin wants to break the clinch but can't.
Van Rijn lands a right hand.
Golovkin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Golovkin prevents a body shot from Van Rijn.
Van Rijn working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Rijn takes a shot to the head.
Golovkin makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Golovkin misses with a punch to the body.
Golovkin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Golovkin lands with a left to the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Van Rijn.
Van Rijn lands a body shot in the clinch.
Van Rijn tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Van Rijn lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A body shot lands from Golovkin.
Golovkin presses Van Rijn against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Golovkin blocking some punches.
Van Rijn lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Golovkin backwards.
Golovkin struggles to land a body shot inside as Van Rijn controls his hands.
Golovkin blocks a body shot from Van Rijn.

Golovkin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Van Rijn fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Golovkin.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Van Rijn takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Van Rijn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Golovkin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Van Rijn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Van Rijn throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Golovkin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Golovkin is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Golovkin has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Van Rijn finds it's way round the side to connect with Golovkin's head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Golovkin. Van Rijn does a little dance to reset his feet.
Van Rijn lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nice defenses there by Van Rijn.
Van Rijn tries to clinch but Golovkin is having none of it.
Golovkin misses with a looping right.
Golovkin throws a series of punches but Van Rijn avoids them all with ease.
Van Rijn steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Golovkin.
Van Rijn slips under a jab.
A big right from Golovkin misses.
Golovkin throws a right hand that misses

and Van Rijn counters by clinching up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Golovkin is leaning against Van Rijn and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Golovkin scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Van Rijn tries a body shot but Golovkin blocks it.
Still in the clinch, Van Rijn scores with a nice short uppercut.
Golovkin prevents a body shot from Van Rijn.
Van Rijn misses with some punches.
Van Rijn tries a body shot but Golovkin blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Golovkin lands a left hand.
Golovkin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Van Rijn misses with a body punch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Van Rijn tries to throw a body punch but Golovkin avoids it by throwing Van Rijn back against the cage.
Van Rijn throws a punch but it's blocked by Golovkin.
Van Rijn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Van Rijn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Van Rijn has a couple of punches blocked by Golovkin.
Van Rijn misses with a hook from the clinch.
Van Rijn fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Van Rijn misses with the head strike.
Golovkin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Golovkin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Van Rijn misses with a punch to the body.
Golovkin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Van Rijn backwards.
Van Rijn tries a body shot but Golovkin blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Rijn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Golovkin blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Golovkin breaks the clinch.
Golovkin throws a lazy right hand but Van Rijn sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Van Rijn digs a good hook to Golovkin's body.
Golovkin connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Golovkin takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Van Rijn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Golovkin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Golovkin checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Golovkin keeps the fight on the outside.

Van Rijn fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Golovkin, pushing him back against the cage.
Golovkin lands a hook that snaps the head of Van Rijn backwards.
Golovkin blocks a body shot from Van Rijn.
Golovkin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Van Rijn lands a nice uppercut.
Golovkin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Van Rijn's elbow.
Van Rijn is working Golovkin over against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Rijn misses with a punch to the body.
Golovkin lands with a right to the head.
Van Rijn keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Golovkin's efforts to push away.
Still in the clinch, Van Rijn scores with a nice short uppercut.
Van Rijn misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Golovkin misses with the head strike.
Van Rijn misses with a hook to the ribs.
Golovkin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Golovkin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Van Rijn lands a right hand that snaps the head of Golovkin backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Van Rijn.
Van Rijn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Golovkin blocks a body shot from Van Rijn.
Van Rijn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Golovkin lands a hook to the side of the head.
Van Rijn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Van Rijn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Golovkin lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Rijn lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Van Rijn misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gennady Golovkin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Van Rijn tries to work over Golovkin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Van Rijn tries a body shot but Golovkin blocks it.
A frustrated look appears on Golovkin's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Golovkin blocks an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Golovkin blocking some punches.
Golovkin prevents a body shot from Van Rijn.
Van Rijn misses with a punch to the body.
Golovkin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Van Rijn has him pressed against the cage.
Van Rijn is leaning against Golovkin and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Van Rijn lands a left hand that snaps the head of Golovkin backwards.
Van Rijn swings wildly with an uppercut but Golovkin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Van Rijn misses with a hook to the ribs.
Van Rijn lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Golovkin manages to break the clinch.
Van Rijn blocks a jab.
Van Rijn fails in his attempt to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mike Van Rijn.
I've got Van Rijn winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Van Rijn!