PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Richie Aprile (ranked 1874 p4p, 5840 weight class) and Patrick Van Kerckhoven (ranked 227 p4p, 543 weight class). Van Kerckhoven has chosen Neo Cortex - Elements (Daniel Cain Remix) as his entrance music. Patrick Van Kerckhoven acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Aprile
vs
Van Kerckhoven

190 cm
23
270
5 - 2 - 0

197 cm
23
256
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Kersikov's Vitamin Clinic (160)

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Richie Aprile!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Patrick Van Kerckhoven!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Illya Tyunina and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aprile looks to land a combination. Van Kerckhoven sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Van Kerckhoven scores with a jab to the jaw.
Aprile throws a lazy uppercut
and Aprile takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Aprile moves out of range as Van Kerckhoven strikes.
Aprile misses with the combination.
Van Kerckhoven looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Aprile swings for the body but Van Kerckhoven moves out of range.
Van Kerckhoven dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Aprile. That did some damage!
Aprile throws a hook but Van Kerckhoven avoids it easily.
Van Kerckhoven swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A telegraphed right hand from Aprile misses the target.
Van Kerckhoven doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Van Kerckhoven slips under a jab from Aprile.
Van Kerckhoven avoids a punch combination nicely.
Van Kerckhoven swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aprile connects with a looping right hand.
Van Kerckhoven scores with a leg kick.
Aprile smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Aprile looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Aprile staying out of range there.
A slow jab from Aprile misses its intended target.
Aprile misses with a straight right.
Van Kerckhoven feints a counter leg kick.
Good shot there by Aprile.
Aprile fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And Van Kerckhoven responds with a good body kick, but Aprile manages to step out the way in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aprile slips a jab and a cross from Van Kerckhoven.
Aprile throws a hook to the side of Van Kerckhoven's head but Van Kerckhoven sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Van Kerckhoven throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Van Kerckhoven slips under a jab from Aprile.
Aprile is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Aprile connects with a right hand. Van Kerckhoven shakes it off.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aprile misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Van Kerckhoven.
Van Kerckhoven throws out a counter right but Aprile avoids it with no problem.
Aprile misses with a series of wild punches.
Van Kerckhoven steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Aprile connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aprile throws out a loose jab but Van Kerckhoven uses good head movement to avoid it.
Aprile throws a right and a left that Van Kerckhoven avoids nicely.
Aprile uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Van Kerckhoven.
Van Kerckhoven slips a straight right by Aprile.
Van Kerckhoven throws out a counter right but Aprile avoids it with no problem.
Aprile swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Van Kerckhoven dodges the punch combination from Aprile.
Van Kerckhoven displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Richie Aprile has been cut.
Aprile throws a lazy uppercut
letting Van Kerckhoven counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aprile misses with a wild combination.
Aprile throws a body punch but Van Kerckhoven moves out of range.
Aprile throws a right and a left that Van Kerckhoven avoids nicely.
Van Kerckhoven jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Kerckhoven steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Aprile.
Aprile throws a good cross that connects.
Aprile misses with an uppercut.
Good shot there by Van Kerckhoven.
Aprile throws the left hand but Van Kerckhoven avoids the punch easily.
Van Kerckhoven swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Van Kerckhoven feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Aprile sprawling to the canvas! Aprile rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Van Kerckhoven finish him?!
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 Richie Aprile will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Richie Aprile'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.

Aprile scores with a crisp jab that stopped Van Kerckhoven in his tracks.
Aprile swings for the body but Van Kerckhoven moves out of range.
Aprile throws a hook but Van Kerckhoven blocks it.

Van Kerckhoven lands a big right hand that sends Aprile crashing to the mat! Van Kerckhoven stays standing though and waves Aprile back to his feet!
Aprile lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Aprile.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aprile swings for the body but Van Kerckhoven moves out of range.
Van Kerckhoven follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Van Kerckhoven gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Aprile.
Aprile tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Van Kerckhoven was well out of range. Poor timing from Aprile.
Aprile looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Van Kerckhoven sends Aprile crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Van Kerckhoven is motioning to the referee to let Aprile up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
Aprile lands a really nice looking cross but Van Kerckhoven seems unphased.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aprile looks to score with a jab to the body but Van Kerckhoven is just out of range.
Van Kerckhoven follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Van Kerckhoven ducks under a wild hook from Aprile.
A looping hook to the body misses from Aprile. Van Kerckhoven does a little dance to reset his feet.
Aprile throws a big shot that misses.
A jab from Van Kerckhoven finds it's way through Aprile's defenses.
Aprile lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Van Kerckhoven looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Van Kerckhoven takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Aprile looks to score with a jab to the body but Van Kerckhoven is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aprile scores with a nice head shot.
Richie Aprile is winning the standup battle so far.
Aprile misses with a straight right.
Richie Aprile seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Kerckhoven keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Aprile loads up on a big right hand but Van Kerckhoven slips the punch.
Van Kerckhoven lands a jab to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aprile connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Van Kerckhoven momentarily.
Aprile misses with a hook.
Van Kerckhoven has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Van Kerckhoven moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A telegraphed right hand from Aprile misses the target.
Aprile throws a hook but Van Kerckhoven blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aprile tests Van Kerckhoven's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Aprile moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Aprile lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Aprile is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Aprile throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Van Kerckhoven! But no joy.
Aprile throws a jab when Van Kerckhoven was well out of range.
Aprile throws a hook to the side of Van Kerckhoven's head but Van Kerckhoven sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Van Kerckhoven throws out a counter right but Aprile avoids it with no problem.
Van Kerckhoven slips a jab and a cross from Aprile.
Van Kerckhoven appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Van Kerckhoven throws a shot from downtown. Aprile moves away and avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aprile connects with a body shot that sends Van Kerckhoven's belly button to the back.
Aprile lands with a good body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Kerckhoven scores with a spinning back kick!
Van Kerckhoven takes one to the chin there.
Van Kerckhoven takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Aprile throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Van Kerckhoven. Aprile shrugs it off though.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aprile connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Van Kerckhoven uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Aprile.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Richie Aprile dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Richie Aprile's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Van Kerckhoven slips under a jab.
Patrick Van Kerckhoven has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aprile misses with a wild body shot.
Aprile is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Van Kerckhoven can do to turn this around?
Aprile slips under a jab from Van Kerckhoven.
Van Kerckhoven ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Aprile throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Van Kerckhoven to counter with a crisp jab.
Aprile gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Van Kerckhoven has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Aprile ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Van Kerckhoven moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Aprile. Van Kerckhoven does a little dance to reset his feet.
Van Kerckhoven unleashes a big counter combination but Aprile bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Aprile throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Kerckhoven feints a counter leg kick.
Aprile swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aprile misses with a hook.
Van Kerckhoven looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Van Kerckhoven misses with a hook
and Aprile counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Van Kerckhoven throws a nice inside leg kick.
A punch lands to the side of Aprile 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Aprile loads up on a big right hand but Van Kerckhoven slips the punch.
Van Kerckhoven uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Aprile.
Aprile misses with an uppercut. Van Kerckhoven saw that one coming.
Van Kerckhoven is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

Van Kerckhoven drops Aprile with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Aprile looks back up at him and smiles so Van Kerckhoven waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Aprile is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aprile throws a combination that misses
and Van Kerckhoven counters with a huge right that knocks Aprile out cold! Van Kerckhoven is running around with a crazed look on his face - you can see how much that meant to him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Patrick Van Kerckhoven!
A very excited looking Patrick Van Kerckhoven made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.