PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rico Verthonghen (ranked 3798 p4p, 4570 weight class) and Liam Studd (ranked 449 p4p, 494 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Verthonghen
vs
Studd

199 cm
25
275
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
252
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Nutritional Shaved Ice

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rico Verthonghen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Liam Studd!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Sano and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Studd ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Studd throws a looping overhand right but Verthonghen ducks down to avoid it.
Studd scores with a decent looking hook.
Verthonghen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Verthonghen seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Studd gets a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Studd creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Verthonghen blocks a body shot from Studd.
Studd goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Verthonghen blocks a body shot from Studd.

Verthonghen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Studd throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Verthonghen counter with a right hand.
Studd tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Verthonghen counters with a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Studd misses with a shot to the body
and Verthonghen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Studd blocks a head kick by Verthonghen.
Verthonghen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Studd should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Studd doesn't manage to clinch there - Verthonghen circles away.
Verthonghen scores with a body shot.
Studd takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Studd tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Verthonghen counters with a one-two to the body.
Verthonghen just misses with a punch to the body.
Studd tries to close the distance and clinch up but Verthonghen swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Studd drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Studd moves in looking to clinch but Verthonghen pushes him off.
Verthonghen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Verthonghen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Studd misses with a straight right.
Studd takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Liam Studd seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Studd misses with a hook.
Verthonghen misses with a kick to the body.
Studd throws a body punch but Verthonghen moves out of range.
Verthonghen misses the shot to the body.
Verthonghen sets himself, and Studd steps forward looking for the clinch! Verthonghen avoids it this time.
Studd throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fighters circle momentarily. Verthonghen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Studd wants to clinch
and Verthonghen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Studd clinches with his opponent.
A short right from Studd on the inside.
Verthonghen blocks an uppercut.
Studd digs a right hand underneath Verthonghen's ribcage. Verthonghen let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Verthonghen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Studd tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Verthonghen's elbow.
Verthonghen blocks a body shot from Studd.
Studd tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Verthonghen's elbow.
Studd misses with a punch on the inside.
Studd goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Studd goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Studd tries to work over Verthonghen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Studd scores with a nice hook to the head.
Verthonghen is looking to break free of the clinch but Studd has double underhooks.
Studd tries a body shot but Verthonghen blocks it.
Studd doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Studd doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Studd can't find room to land a body shot as Verthonghen controls the action.
Studd tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Studd misses with a punch to the body.
Studd content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Studd misses with a punch to the body.
Verthonghen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Studd tries to work over Verthonghen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Verthonghen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rico Verthonghen will probably get the nod.
That's time! Verthonghen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Studd moves in looking to clinch but Verthonghen pushes him off.
A little feinted left hand from Verthonghen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Studd misses with a shot to the body
and Verthonghen counters with a nice uppercut.
Verthonghen circles away from the clinch attempt
and Studd takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Verthonghen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Studd looks to clinch
and Verthonghen counters with a slapping leg kick.

Studd rushes Verthonghen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verthonghen has had enough of the clinch but Studd keeps him there for the moment.

Verthonghen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Verthonghen 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.
Verthonghen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Studd counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verthonghen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Verthonghen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Studd moves away.
Studd throws an off balance right hand
and Verthonghen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Studd thinking.
Studd wants to clinch up but Verthonghen keeps it at a distance.
Studd keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Verthonghen throws a series of punches but Studd moves out of range.
Studd tries to clinch but Verthonghen is having none of it.
Verthonghen lands with a nice body kick.
Verthonghen throws a nice looking combination but Studd bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Studd fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Verthonghen, pushing him back against the cage.
Studd is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Studd tries to throw a body punch but Verthonghen avoids it by throwing Studd back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Studd tries a body shot but Verthonghen blocks it.
Studd stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Verthonghen has had enough of the clinch but Studd keeps him there for the moment.
Studd tries to throw a body punch but Verthonghen avoids it by throwing Studd back against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Studd.
Liam Studd seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Studd tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Verthonghen can't break the clinch.
Studd lands a hook to the side of the head.
Studd tries to work over Verthonghen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A frustrated look appears on Verthonghen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Studd tries to work over Verthonghen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Verthonghen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verthonghen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A short left from Studd.
Verthonghen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Studd tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Verthonghen's elbow.
The referee is keeping an eye on Studd - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Studd misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Verthonghen is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Studd misses with a hook from the clinch.
Studd doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Verthonghen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Verthonghen.
Studd misses with a hook to the ribs.

Verthonghen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verthonghen circles away from the clinch attempt
and Verthonghen counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Verthonghen ducks under a wild hook from Studd.
Studd just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromVerthonghen.
Studd tries to clinch up.
Studd closes the distance but Verthonghen moves to the side
letting Verthonghen counter with a right hand.
Studd swings for the body but Verthonghen moves out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Studd tries to close the distance and clinch up but Verthonghen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Verthonghen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Both fighters circling a little - Verthonghen finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Verthonghen dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Verthonghen keeps the fight on the outside.
Studd throws a hook but Verthonghen blocks it.
Verthonghen appears to be looking for a big counter.
Studd is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
A solid leg kick lands there for Verthonghen.
Verthonghen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Studd sees it coming and avoids it easily.
It seemed like Studd was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Rico Verthonghen is winning the standup battle so far.

Studd clinches up against the cage.
Verthonghen blocks an uppercut.
Studd wants to stall.
Studd tries to throw a body punch but Verthonghen avoids it by throwing Studd back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Studd can't find room to land a body shot as Verthonghen controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Studd fails to land.

Verthonghen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Verthonghen lands with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verthonghen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Verthonghen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Studd moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rico Verthonghen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Studd tries to clinch there but Verthonghen circles away.
A slow jab from Studd misses its intended target.
Studd walks forward, straight into a front kick from Verthonghen.

Studd closes the distance and clinches.
Studd fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Studd doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Studd tries a body shot but Verthonghen blocks it.
Studd is struggling to control the position.
Studd tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Liam Studd has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Studd lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Verthonghen backwards.

Verthonghen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Studd moves into the clinch.
Studd misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Verthonghen blocks a body shot from Studd.
Studd doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Studd fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Studd goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Studd tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Verthonghen's elbow.
Studd misses with a punch to the body.
Studd has a couple of punches blocked by Verthonghen.
Studd tries to work over Verthonghen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Studd tries to work over Verthonghen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Verthonghen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Studd fails in his attempt to clinch.
Verthonghen lands a head kick. Studd smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Verthonghen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Studd tries to clinch but Verthonghen moves out of range.
Verthonghen seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Studd stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Verthonghen.
Studd rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Verthonghen counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Studd looks to land a right hand but Verthonghen moved out of range.
Studd tries to clinch up but Verthonghen circles away and keeps his distance.

Studd clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Studd tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Studd misses with the head strike.
Studd throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Verthonghens head.
Studd throws a head punch that misses.
A right hand to the body from Studd.
Studd misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Studd swings wildly with an uppercut but Verthonghen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Verthonghen blocks a body shot from Studd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Studd misses with the head strike.
Studd tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Verthonghen's elbow.
Verthonghen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Liam Studd.
I think Verthonghen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rico Verthonghen!