PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Staale Dal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Van Buren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Staale Dal has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dal
vs
Van Buren

225 cm
18
266 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

195 cm
22
219 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Staale Dal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matt Van Buren!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Josh West and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Dal as Van Buren shoots in.
Dal throws a combination that misses

and Van Buren counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Van Buren drops back looking for a leg! Dal is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Dal manages to kick Van Buren off! Van Buren jumps back into Dal's guard.

Van Buren gets to his feet - Dal follows without any prompting.
Dal throws a left and a right that both miss

and Van Buren counters with a shoot takedown. Dal fights it but they end up in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dal utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dal working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Van Buren.
Van Buren showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Van Buren throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Buren sitting in guard here, content to control.
Van Buren won't allow Dal to get back to his feet.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Van Buren is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Matt Van Buren has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Van Buren moves into the clinch successfully.

Van Buren's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Van Buren shoots in and bounces Dal off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Dal keeping moving, preventing Van Buren from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren stays in close to Dal's body and controls the position.
Van Buren throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van Buren controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Matt Van Buren.
Dal fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Van Buren on the side of the head.
Staale Dal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren slips a jab and a cross from Dal.
Dal jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

It looks like Matt Van Buren has been cut.
Horrible takedown by Van Buren or perhaps it was just good defense by Dal which made him look bad.
Dal throws a shot from downtown. Van Buren moves away and avoids it.
Van Buren showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dal.

Van Buren scores with a takedown into Dal's guard.
Dal is breathing heavily.
Van Buren engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van Buren gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dal thuds his right hand into Van Buren's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Van Buren moves into the clinch.
Dal is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Dal wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Van Buren leaning his opponent against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Van Buren obliges.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Van Buren connects with a knee to the head.
Van Buren lands an elbow that stopped Dal in his tracks for a moment.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Van Buren obliges.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Van Buren dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matt Van Buren's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Dal misses with a two punch combination.

Van Buren closes the distance and clinches.
Dal working hard to break the clinch.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Van Buren. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Van Buren lands a damaging elbow.
Dal takes an elbow to the temple.
Van Buren tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Van Buren landing knees to the head.
Dal looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Van Buren escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dal loads up on a big right hand but Van Buren slips the punch.
Dal is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Dal lands with a hook. Van Buren tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Dal is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A combination from Dal does no damage.
Dal throws a right hand that Van Buren ducks under and follows up with a left that Van Buren also avoids with ease.
Dal throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dal falls off balance throwing a combination

and Van Buren counters with a shoot takedown. Dal fights it but they end up in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Buren throws a big right hand that misses.
Dal preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Van Buren with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dal knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Van Buren on the ground.
Dal keeping moving, preventing Van Buren from controlling successfully.
Van Buren sitting in guard here, content to control.
Van Buren throwing strikes but missing.
Van Buren throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Van Buren with a flurry of punches that miss.
Van Buren slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Dal will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matt Van Buren was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Van Buren tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dal sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Van Buren somewhat.
Dal swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Van Buren counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Van Buren.
Dal takes a knee right on the jaw!

Van Buren escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dal misses with a wild combination.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Van Buren.
Van Buren misses with a takedown attempt - Dal sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Staale Dal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Van Buren.
Van Buren dives in and grabs Dal's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dal pushes down on Van Buren's head and hops out.
Dal throws a right and a left that Van Buren avoids nicely.
A punch combination from Dal misses.
Van Buren fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dal lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Van Buren circles away quickly and effectively.
Staale Dal is winning the standup battle so far.
Dal misses with the combination.
Van Buren shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dal as he avoids it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Van Buren.
Dal fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Van Buren shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Van Buren showed some decent athleticism there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Buren throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Van Buren showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Matt Van Buren's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Dal rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Van Buren moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Dal misses with a few strikes there.
Van Buren shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Van Buren has a takedown stuffed.
Van Buren shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dal as he avoids it easily.
Staale Dal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Van Buren.
Dal will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Van Buren shoots in for a takedown but Dal shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Dal misses with a double jab

and Van Buren counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dal keeping moving, preventing Van Buren from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Buren might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Dal kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Van Buren slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Van Buren is looking to work some ground and pound but Dal has wrist control.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Matt Van Buren hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Dal throws a series of punches but Van Buren avoids them all with ease.
Dal misses with a few strikes there.
Van Buren tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dal sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Van Buren somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dal throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Van Buren.
Van Buren throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dal's waist but Dal gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Van Buren off to one side.
Dal misses with a wild combination.
Dal swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Van Buren counters with a nice double leg into side control. Dal won't be happy with that.
Van Buren throws an elbow but Dal slips to the side and avoids it well.
Van Buren postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Van Buren throws a strike aimed at the side of Dal's head but Dal avoids it well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Buren throws a strike aimed at the side of Dal's head but Dal avoids it well.
Van Buren has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Van Buren passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Dal!
Van Buren sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Van Buren throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Van Buren throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Van Buren throwing strikes here but Dal is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Van Buren controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dal is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Van Buren throwing strikes here but Dal is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Dal avoids a series of strikes thrown by Van Buren.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Buren throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Matt Van Buren is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Van Buren controlling his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Van Buren comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Van Buren 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Van Buren!
In his post fight interview, Matt Van Buren started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.