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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Leon Opstad (ranked 5681 p4p, 619 weight class) and Tuan Duc Van (ranked 5461 p4p, 603 weight class). Opstad comes to the cage accompanied by Moby - Natural Blues. 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.
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| 188 cm
26
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0 |
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180 cm
24
198 lbs
2 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leon Opstad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tuan Duc Van!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Opstad on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Van. Van obviously looking to wear him down.
Opstad fails with an attempt to clinch.
Van lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Van clinches up against the cage.
Van breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Van fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Opstad.
Opstad shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Van but Van pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Leon Opstad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Opstad throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Opstad shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Van misses with a double jab.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Van, right into the meat.
Opstad circles away from the clinch attempt.
Opstad has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Van clinches up against the cage.
Van fails to pull the fight into his guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Opstad trying to control the position but instead, Van has worked for underhooks and has pushed Opstad into the cage.
Van escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No luck for Opstad with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leon Opstad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Opstad thuds his right hand into Van's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Tuan Duc Van is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Opstad misses with a straight right.
Van throws a counter combo.
Opstad shoots in looking for a takedown but Van manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Opstad's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Opstad shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Van as he avoids it easily.
Van takes the fight into the clinch.
Opstad is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Van can't fight it off and eventually Opstad manages to take the fight to the floor. Van looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Opstad has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Van is proving hard to escape from.
Van wants to get back to his feet but Opstad is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Van working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Opstad.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Opstad thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Opstad wants to stand but Van has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Opstad won't allow Van to get back to his feet.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Opstad fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Van 's head but he takes it in his stride.
It looks like Tuan Duc Van has been cut.
Van closes the distance and clinches.
Van breaks from the clinch.
Van connects with an inside leg kick.
Good leg kick by Van there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Opstad scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Opstad throws a series of punches but Van avoids them all with ease.
Van throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A punch combination from Van misses.
Van is looking to slow Opstad down with leg kicks.
Opstad shoots for a takedown but Van saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Van lands a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Opstad.
Van lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Opstad throws a low kick but Van moves out of range easily.
Despite the aggression on Van's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Van misses with a jab, cross combination.
Opstad looks to throw the jab but Van is out of range.
Van tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Opstad manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Van walks into a straight right hand from Opstad.
Opstad misses with an uppercut
and Van counters with a two punch combo.
Van tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Opstad manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Opstad pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
We've been informed that Van has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Opstad swats away the attempt to clinch by Van.
Van moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Van clinches up against the cage.
Opstad has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Van avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Opstad has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Van regains guard immediately.
Van is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Opstad presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Tuan Duc Van dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tuan Duc Van's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Van has taken the fight to the clinch.
Van tries to pull guard but Opstad holds him up against the cage and eventually Van drops back down to his feet.
Van breaks the clinch.
Tuan Duc Van seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Van slips a jab from Opstad.
Van misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Opstad.
Opstad misses with a left hand
and Van counters by clinching up.
Van wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Van wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Opstad has him pressed against the cage.
Van tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Opstad breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Van doesn't manage to clinch there - Opstad circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Opstad slips a jab and a cross from Van.
Opstad looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Van throws a counter combo.
Opstad looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Van is fending him off so far but Opstad persists. Nope, Van circles away and we're back to standing.
Opstad closes this distance looking for a takedown but Van circles away.
Van is looking to clinch.
Van tries to clinch there but Opstad circles away.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Opstad misses.
Van throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Van ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Van lands a two punch combo.
Van throws a combination. Opstad tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Van fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Opstad looks to land a combination but Van avoids it well.
Van misses with a series of wild punches.
Tuan Duc Van is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Van stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Van wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leon Opstad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van stuffs the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Van throws a right hand that Opstad ducks under and follows up with a left that Opstad also avoids with ease.
Van tries to clinch but Opstad is having none of it.
Opstad misses with a double jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Opstad looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Opstad misses with a wild combination.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van is looking to clinch.
Opstad 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.
Van has Opstad up against the cage in a clinch.
Opstad has Van pressed against the cage, preventing Van from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Van breaks from the clinch.
Van throws a body punch but Opstad moves out of range.
Van feints a jab promting Opstad to slip. Van then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Opstad slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Van looks to land a combination. Opstad sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Opstad slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Opstad throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Van sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice uppercut lands for Van. That snapped Opstad's head back.
Opstad tries for a takedown but Van sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Van throws a counter combo.
Opstad dodges the punch combination from Van.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opstad misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Opstad throws a hook but Van avoids it easily.
Despite the aggression on Van's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Opstad throws a hook but Van avoids it easily.
Van is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Opstad closes this distance looking for a takedown but Van circles away.
Van thumps Opstad with a low kick.
Van throws a leg kick which misses Opstad's front leg but catches the back leg as Opstad tries to avoid it.
Van has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Opstad dodges the punch combination from Van.
Van has closed the distance and engaged Opstad in a clinch.
Van gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Opstad.
Van lands a left hand that snaps the head of Opstad backwards.
Opstad keeps control of Van as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Opstad just stands there and leans against the cage.
Van tries to break free but Opstad pushes him back against the cage.
Van breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Van will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Van closes the distance and pushes Opstad back into the cage.
Van looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Opstad wants the takedown. Van is fighting it off but Opstad persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Van's guard against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van wants to stand up but Opstad is controlling him.
Van keeping moving, preventing Opstad from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Tuan Duc Van showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tuan Duc Van's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!
Van throws a quick inside leg kick.
Opstad takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Van has closed the distance and engaged Opstad in a clinch.
Van breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Van gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Opstad breaks the clinch.
Opstad has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Opstad misses with a looping right.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Opstad lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Opstad swinging wildly here.
Opstad misses with a hook. Van ducked under it nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Opstad looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Van!
Van is trying to get back to his feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Opstad is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Van will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Opstad looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Opstad staying calm.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Van avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Opstad.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van wants to get back to his feet.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Van gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Van tries to circle away but Opstad has him pinned against the cage.
Opstad breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Leon Opstad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Van gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Van prevents Opstad from breaking the clinch.
Opstad keeps control of Van as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Van breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Opstad circles away from the clinch attempt.
Opstad is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Jab from Van.
Opstad is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Opstad misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Van.
Opstad tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Opstad shoots for a takedown but Van saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van closes the distance and clinches.
Van breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A jab from Van does it's job there.
Opstad looks for a takedown but Van sprawls well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Opstad is defended easily by Van.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leon Opstad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Opstad fails with a takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Van moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Opstad changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Van tries to avoid it but Opstad manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Van to the ground. Van escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Van throws a series of punches but Opstad avoids them all with ease.
Opstad drops down looking for a counter takedown but Van sprawls and moves away.
Van with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Tuan Duc Van is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Danga de danga de dang - Van scores with a four punch combination!
Van clinches.
And that's the end of the fight!
Tuan Duc Van comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Van 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tuan Duc Van!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
59% |
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