PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tremaine Van (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and EM Punk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van comes to the ring accompanied by Drowning Pool - Bodies. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Van
vs
Punk

175 cm
26
155 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
28
160 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Good low kicks
Granite chin

KnockOut

M.O. Fight Wear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tremaine Van !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, EM Punk!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Punk looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Van thumps Punk with a low kick.
Van misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Van takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Punk looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Punk fails with an attempt to clinch.
Van thinks about countering with a head kick.

Punk scores with a takedown into Van 's guard.
Van utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Punk throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Punk throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Van knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Punk on the ground.
Punk throws a big right hand that misses.
Punk throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punk in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Van utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Punk is looking to work some ground and pound but Van has wrist control.
Van utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Punk with a flurry of punches that miss.
Van is breathing heavily.
Punk postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Punk has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Punk throwing strikes but missing.
Punk postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Punk is looking to work some ground and pound but Van has wrist control.
Van avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Van avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Punk is looking to work some ground and pound but Van has wrist control.
Punk postures up in Van 's guard and throws a big left but Van blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Punk postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Punk postures up in Van 's guard and throws a big left but Van blocks it.
Van on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Van tries to get out of the position.
Punk throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Van avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Van preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Punk with a flurry of punches that miss.
Punk is looking to work some ground and pound but Van has wrist control.
Punk throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Van avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Punk throwing strikes but missing.
Van utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Punk postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Punk.
Punk in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Punk working some strikes from top position.
Punk throwing strikes from guard but Van blocks nicely.
Punk landing some decent shots from guard.
Punk throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Punk with a flurry of punches that miss.
Punk throws a big elbow that misses.
Punk throws a big elbow that misses.
Punk throws a big elbow that misses.
Punk working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Punk accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Punk is looking to work some ground and pound but Van has wrist control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Van utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Punk loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Punk with a flurry of punches that miss.
Punk postures up in Van 's guard and throws a big left but Van blocks it.
Punk missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Punk trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Punk accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Punk throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Punk working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Punk accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

EM Punk dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Punk shoots in looking for a takedown. Van tries to sprawl out of it but Punk keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Van manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A counter left hand to the body from Van misses its target.
Van throws a head kick that Punk semi-blocks.
Punk shoots for a takedown but Van saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Punk.
Tremaine Van has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of EM Punk.
Van lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Punk shoots in looking for a takedown but Van manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Punk's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Van tries to clinch there but Punk circles away.
EM Punk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice takedown defense from Van . No joy for Punk on that attempt.
Punk with a poor takedown
and Van counters with a left to the body.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Punk.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Punk.
Punk tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Punk tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Van parries the strikes from Punk easily there. Punk is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Van to escape.
The ground and pound from Punk seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Van dodges the ground and pound from Punk.
Punk connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Van some visible discomfort.
Punk throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Punk misses with the ground and pound.
Punk 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.
Punk misses with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Punk working the ground and pound but Van is defending the strikes.
EM Punk has got the better of the ground game so far.
Punk misses with the ground and pound.
The ground and pound from Punk seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Punk throws an elbow but Van slips to the side and avoids it well.
The strikes coming from Punk are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Punk misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Punk in side control, throwing shots but Van defends.
Punk sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Van is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Punk creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Van sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Punk tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Punk tries to score with some ground and pound. Van controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Van defending against the ground and pound.
Punk has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Punk creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Van sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Punk creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Van sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Punk throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Punk fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Van parries the strikes from Punk easily there. Punk is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Van to escape.
Punk creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Van sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Punk in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Punk throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Punk fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Van managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Punk.
Punk misses with the ground and pound.
Punk throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Punk.
Punk tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Punk in side control, throwing shots but Van defends.
Van defending against the ground and pound.
Punk working the ground and pound but Van is defending the strikes.
The ground and pound from Punk seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Punk is chipping away with strikes.
The strikes coming from Punk are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The strikes coming from Punk are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Punk misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Van parries the strikes from Punk easily there. Punk is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Van to escape.
Punk working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

EM Punk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Punk closes this distance looking for a takedown but Van circles away.
Van swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Punk closes this distance looking for a takedown but Van circles away.
Punk slips a jab from Van .
Punk misses with a takedown
and Van counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Tremaine Van has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of EM Punk.
No joy there for Van , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Punk walks into a stiff left hand from Van .
Punk fails with the takedown
enabling Van to counter with a crisp jab.
Punk looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Van is fending him off so far but Punk persists. Nope, Van circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Punk closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Punk closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Van did well to prevent Punk getting side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punk not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Van keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Van is looking to improve his position.
Punk missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Punk sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Van defending well though.
Punk throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Punk prevents Van from improving his position.
Punk throwing shots but Van is blocking nicely.
Van avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Punk.
Van avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Punk.
EM Punk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Punk seems content to control.
Let's hope that Punk has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Punk feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Punk is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Punk passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Van seems a little lost for a moment, as Punk dominates the positioning.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Punk.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Punk is continuing to stall.
Tremaine Van has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
EM Punk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Punk 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for EM Punk!
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for EM Punk!
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for EM Punk!

EM Punk wins by unanimous decision!
Tremaine Van was interviewed post fight and said 'Well done to Mark Holm. I'm very disappointed with that fight, I need to figure out what went wrong '.