PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Van Halen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Todd Nieds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Van Halen
vs
Nieds

196 cm
31
287 lbs
23 - 12 - 0

191 cm
32
240 lbs
22 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

BeastMode

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 23 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Raphael Van Halen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Todd Nieds!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Bruno Hogan and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Halen throws an off balance right hand
and Nieds counters with a good low kick that Van Halen was not able to check.
Van Halen looks to land a right hand but Nieds moved out of range.
Van Halen misses with a straight left.
Good exchange - Van Halen coming out on top.

Van Halen feints and as Nieds raises his hands in defense, Van Halen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nieds working a defensive guard here.
Nieds keeping moving, preventing Van Halen from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van Halen passes into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Halen thows a huge punch but Nieds dodges it nicely.
Nieds tries to get to full guard but Van Halen has control of the leg.

Van Halen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nieds is just riding it out for now. Van Halen eventually gives up the hold.
Van Halen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Van Halen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieds wants to control but Van Halen is keeping busy.

Van Halen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nieds is just riding it out for now. Van Halen eventually gives up the hold.
Van Halen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Nieds is defending against the submission attempts here by Van Halen.

Van Halen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Nieds really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Van Halen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Halen not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Van Halen is working for a kimura but Nieds is defending it quite comfortably.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Van Halen connects with a nice short shot to Nieds's temple.

Van Halen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Van Halen is thwarting Nieds's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieds is refusing to be controlled, as Van Halen sits in half guard.

Van Halen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nieds sees it coming and defends easily.
Nieds wants to control but Van Halen is keeping busy.

Nieds is defending against the submission attempts here by Van Halen.
Nieds is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Halen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nieds's head.
Van Halen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Van Halen is looking for a kimura but Nieds is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Van Halen to get the leverage.

Van Halen is working for a kimura but Nieds is defending it quite comfortably.
Van Halen not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Van Halen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nieds has managed to free his arm - good work.
Van Halen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Van Halen seems to be working for a kimura but Nieds defends the submission attempt.
Nieds is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Van Halen dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Van Halen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Van Halen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Nieds counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Van Halen thinking.
Van Halen checks a leg kick.
Van Halen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Van Halen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Raphael Van Halen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Halen lunges at Nieds with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Nieds's hand.
Van Halen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Halen blocks a low kick nicely.
Nieds pushes Van Halen away with a front kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nieds throws a wild body kick that Van Halen sees coming a mile off.
Van Halen misses with an uppercut. Nieds saw that one coming.
Van Halen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nieds dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieds looks for the body kick but Van Halen saw that one coming.
Good work by Nieds as he checks the leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Halen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Todd Nieds seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nieds throws a body kick that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Van Halen. Nieds does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nieds scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nieds ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Van Halen throws a jab but it's blocked by Nieds.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nieds keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Van Halen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Nieds thumps Van Halen with a low kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Nieds, right into the meat.
Nieds fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieds throws a head kick but Van Halen moves out of range.
A solid body kick from Nieds.
Van Halen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Nieds.
Nieds chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nieds throws a nice outside leg kick.
Van Halen is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Nieds throws a quick inside leg kick.
Van Halen takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
An inside leg kick lands from Nieds.
Nieds throws a leg kick which misses Van Halen's front leg but catches the back leg as Van Halen tries to avoid it.
Van Halen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A nice inside leg kick there by Nieds. That's going to slow Van Halen down.
Nieds with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieds jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Van Halen takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Nieds cracks Van Halen with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Van Halen tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Nieds pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Van Halen is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:16 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Todd Nieds!
A relieved looking Todd Nieds thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.