PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Verhoeven (ranked 6272 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mulu Namununga (ranked 6377 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Verhoeven
vs
Namununga

192 cm
25
211 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Frank Verhoeven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mulu Namununga!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Verhoeven throws a sloppy head kick and Namununga moves out of range easily.
Verhoeven throws a head kick that misses.
Namununga looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Namununga throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Verhoeven circles away from the clinch attempt.
Verhoeven throwing a counter right hand but Namununga manages to avoid it.
Namununga tries to clinch up

and Verhoeven counters with a single leg into guard. Namununga didn't expect that.
Verhoeven preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verhoeven is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Verhoeven is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verhoeven wants to control from the top but Namununga keeps moving.
Verhoeven slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Verhoeven pushing down on Namununga's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Namununga wants to get back to full guard but Verhoeven has mounted him!
Namununga tries to lock up and control but Verhoeven gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Namununga really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Verhoeven throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

Verhoeven looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Namununga is trying desperately to improve position.
Verhoeven looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Verhoeven can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Namununga is looking to escape.
Namununga holds on, trying desperately to control.
Namununga is squirming around, avoiding Verhoeven's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Namununga is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Namununga wants to hold on but Verhoeven pushes him away.
Namununga really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Verhoeven controlling the pace for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Verhoeven is trying to control here but Namununga has managed to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Verhoeven dominated that round.
That's time! Verhoeven's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Namununga throws a head kick that misses.
Namununga doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Danga de danga de dang - Verhoeven scores with a four punch combination!
Nice takedown defense from Namununga. No joy for Verhoeven on that attempt.
Verhoeven 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.
Namununga throws a leg kick that misses.
Verhoeven seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
A looping hook to the body misses from Namununga. Verhoeven does a little dance to reset his feet.
Verhoeven seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Namununga throws a leg kick but Verhoeven checks it.
Verhoeven changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verhoeven throws a low kick, looking for Namununga's leg but Namununga calmly moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Verhoeven.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Verhoeven moves out of range as Namununga throws a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verhoeven looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Namununga throws a big shot that misses.

Namununga has Verhoeven up against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Verhoeven.
Namununga misses with a body punch.
Namununga prevents a body shot from Verhoeven.
Verhoeven blocks a body shot from Namununga.
Namununga misses with a punch to the body.
Namununga goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Namununga tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Verhoeven's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Namununga blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Namununga fails to land.

Namununga breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Namununga thows a leg kick but Verhoeven checks it
and Verhoeven counters with a good, hard body kick but Namununga shrugs it off.
Verhoeven moves out of range of the body kick.
Frank Verhoeven is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick misses from Namununga.
Namununga scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Verhoeven fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Namununga tries to work over Verhoeven's front leg with a kick but Verhoeven checks it.
Namununga throws a sloppy head kick

and Verhoeven counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Namununga is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Namununga is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Verhoeven seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Namununga does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Namununga keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Namununga wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Verhoeven is trying to control the action in half guard but Namununga is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Verhoeven on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Namununga. Namununga obviously looking to wear him down.
Frank Verhoeven seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Namununga throws a push kick but Verhoeven slaps the foot to one side.
Namununga throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Namununga throws a low kick but Verhoeven moves out of range easily.
Namununga throws a body kick that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Namununga avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mulu Namununga will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Verhoeven on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Namununga. Namununga obviously looking to wear him down.
Namununga misses with a head kick.
A low kick from Namununga misses
and Verhoeven counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A combination from Verhoeven does no damage.
Verhoeven tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Namununga manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Namununga throws a sloppy head kick and Verhoeven moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verhoeven chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Namununga can pounce on him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Verhoeven dives in and grabs Namununga's left leg, looking for a takedown. Namununga pushes down on Verhoeven's head and hops out.
An inside leg kick lands from Namununga.
Namununga misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Verhoeven.
As Namununga looks to move away, Verhoeven throws a big counter combo but Namununga just gets out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Namununga tries to land a front kick but Verhoeven steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Verhoeven was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Namununga is looking to clinch.
Namununga finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Verhoeven is looking for a counter combo.
Namununga is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Namununga goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Namununga scores with a head kick. Verhoeven tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Frank Verhoeven has been cut.
Namununga misses with a head kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Verhoeven blocks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Namununga throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A jab from Namununga misses.
Namununga throws out a leg kick but Verhoeven moves out of range and Namununga only half commits.
Namununga scores with a nice head shot.

Namununga moves into the clinch.
Namununga misses with a body punch.

Namununga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Verhoeven - that will leave a mark!
Namununga tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Namununga is looking to clinch but Verhoeven is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Namununga throws a leg kick but Verhoeven moved away.
Verhoeven is looking for a counter combo.
Namununga throws a nice outside leg kick.
Namununga tries a low kick but Verhoeven avoids it.
Verhoeven blocks a leg kick.
Verhoeven throws a head kick that misses.
Namununga throws a leg kick but Verhoeven checks it.
Namununga goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Namununga throws a leg kick but Verhoeven sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Namununga tries to land a front kick but Verhoeven steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Namununga thuds his shin into the meat of Verhoeven's side.

Verhoeven tries to keep at a distance but Namununga has taken the fight into the clinch.
Namununga swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Namununga working aggressively here.
Namununga swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Namununga breaks from the clinch.
Namununga lands a big head kick that sends Verhoeven to the canvas! Namununga follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mulu Namununga!