PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Van Halen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcos Nunes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nunes has chosen Selling My Soul-by- BLACK SABBATH as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Van Halen
vs
Nunes

196 cm
31
287 lbs
23 - 13 - 0

197 cm
38
278 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Counter fighter
Fast

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 - 13 - 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 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marcos Nunes !
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Radbod Blank and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Halen walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Van Halen tries to clinch but Nunes moves out of range.
Nunes avoids the head kick by Van Halen.
Van Halen throws a one two combo.

It looks like Marcos Nunes has been cut.
Van Halen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nunes swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Van Halen clinches with his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nunes jumps guard but Van Halen stands there with Nunes around his waist. Nunes gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nunes is looking to take this one to the mat.

Van Halen pulls guard effortlessly.
Nunes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nunes won't allow Van Halen to sweep him here.
Nunes wants to pass the guard but Van Halen is keeping the position.
Nunes trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Halen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nunes is pushing down on Van Halen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Van Halen is fighting to maintain full guard but Nunes has managed to sneak the leg through.
Van Halen pushes Nunes off looking to stand but Nunes dives back in and keeps control.
Van Halen preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Nunes is looking to take a break and control but Van Halen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nunes passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Van Halen!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nunes looking to control but Van Halen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Nunes 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.
Van Halen holds on to Nunes around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
Nunes can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Van Halen is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nunes tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Van Halen tries to hold on but Nunes pushes him away.
Van Halen manages to control the position for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Nunes shoots in and bounces Van Halen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Van Halen wants to get back to his feet but Nunes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Halen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Van Halen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Van Halen keeping full guard, as Nunes tries to pass.
Van Halen working a defensive guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Raphael Van Halen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Marcos Nunes '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.

Van Halen misses with a kick to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nunes tries for a takedown. No joy.

Van Halen tightens his grip and picks Nunes up, before dumping him to the ground. Nunes manages to land in guard.
Nunes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Van Halen postures up in Nunes 's guard and throws a big left but Nunes blocks it.
Nunes is trying to control the position but Van Halen postures up.
Van Halen trying to control but Nunes is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Raphael Van Halen has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Van Halen fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Halen clinches.
Van Halen digs a right hand into Nunes 's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Nunes 's gas tank.
Van Halen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Nunes backwards.
Van Halen stops a takedown attempt from Nunes .
Stalling in the clinch from Van Halen.

Van Halen pulls guard.
Van Halen wants to sweep but no luck.
Nunes trying to control but Van Halen is working from the bottom.
Van Halen wants to stand but Nunes is controlling the position.
Nunes trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Halen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Marcos Nunes .
Nunes moves forwards but Van Halen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nunes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Van Halen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Nunes tries to sprawl but Van Halen drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Van Halen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nunes defends it well.
Van Halen wants to take a breather but Nunes is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Halen controlling the action here.
Van Halen stalling away here and it's allowed Nunes to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Nunes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Van Halen manages to get himself to full guard.
Nunes trying to control but Van Halen is working from the bottom.
Nunes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nunes wants to control from the top but Van Halen keeps moving.
Van Halen can't keep his opponent in guard - Nunes advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Halen wants to improve his position but Nunes is controlling well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nunes is just content to waste time from the top position. Van Halen takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Nunes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Van Halen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Van Halen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Marcos Nunes '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!

Van Halen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nunes looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Van Halen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The strikes coming from Van Halen are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Van Halen wants to control but Nunes is keeping him busy.
A control attempt from Nunes but he's now mounted!
Nunes is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Halen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nunes is looking to escape.
Nunes is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.

Van Halen goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Nunes turns into him and now he's in Van Halen's guard.
Nunes being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Halen keeping moving, preventing Nunes from controlling successfully.
Van Halen is trying to control the position but Nunes postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Raphael Van Halen just wasn't active enough.
Van Halen looks to score with a jab to the body but Nunes is just out of range.
Van Halen fails with an attempt to clinch.

Van Halen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nunes manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Nunes is trying to control the position but Van Halen postures up.
Nunes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Van Halen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Halen trying to control the position from guard on top but Nunes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Van Halen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Van Halen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nunes is on top in guard.
Raphael Van Halen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Van Halen controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Raphael Van Halen.

Van Halen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Van Halen lands a hook to the side of the head.

Van Halen jumps into guard, dragging Nunes to the mat.
Nunes trying to control but Van Halen is working from the bottom.

Nunes has gone for a leg lock! Van Halen slips out almost immediately though and dives into Nunes 's guard.
Raphael Van Halen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nunes is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Van Halen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Van Halen trying to control but Nunes is working from the bottom.
Van Halen stopping the sweep attempt from Nunes .
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nunes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Van Halen.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raphael Van Halen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Van Halen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raphael Van Halen!
Raphael Van Halen thanked the fans post fight for their support.