PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Robin Van Der Hoorn (ranked 3996 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdul Hakim Bafawuse (ranked 7842 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Van Der Hoorn
vs
Hakim Bafawuse

192 cm
25
158 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
25
158 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Robin Van Der Hoorn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Abdul Hakim Bafawuse!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, John Roberts and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bafawuse comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Van Der Hoorn fails in his attempt to clinch.

Bafawuse pushes Van Der Hoorn up against the cage in a clinch.

Bafawuse manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Bafawuse wants to stand up but Van Der Hoorn is controlling him.
Van Der Hoorn pushes down on Bafawuse's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Bafawuse wants to get back to full guard.
Van Der Hoorn wants to pass the guard but Bafawuse is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bafawuse is refusing to be controlled, as Van Der Hoorn sits in half guard.

Van Der Hoorn is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bafawuse sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bafawuse is doing well to control the position and prevent Van Der Hoorn from advancing to side control.
Bafawuse wants to get back to his feet.
Bafawuse really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Van Der Hoorn. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Van Der Hoorn throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Van Der Hoorn really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Van Der Hoorn thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bafawuse trying to hold on to Van Der Hoorn's head to control him but Van Der Hoorn postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bafawuse wants to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.

Bafawuse closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Van Der Hoorn did well to prevent Bafawuse getting side control.
Bafawuse is keen to just control but Van Der Hoorn is a slippery customer.
Bafawuse might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Van Der Hoorn haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Well, if Bafawuse is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Bafawuse wants to stand up but Van Der Hoorn has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Bafawuse seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Van Der Hoorn does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Bafawuse sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Hoorn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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

Bafawuse gets the takedown into side control.
Van Der Hoorn is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Bafawuse looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse wants to control but Van Der Hoorn is keeping him busy.
Van Der Hoorn manages to work his way to half guard, despite Bafawuse's best efforts.
Van Der Hoorn trying to control but Bafawuse postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Van Der Hoorn is looking for a sweep. Bafawuse is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Van Der Hoorn is pressing down on Bafawuse's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Hakim Bafawuse dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bafawuse throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Van Der Hoorn tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Bafawuse is in Van Der Hoorn's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Van Der Hoorn manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Van Der Hoorn tries to pull guard but Bafawuse forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Van Der Hoorn is trying to pull guard but Bafawuse has him pressed against the cage.

Van Der Hoorn ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Van Der Hoorn no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Bafawuse avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bafawuse wants to stand but Van Der Hoorn is controlling his posture from full guard.
Bafawuse trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Der Hoorn keeping full guard, as Bafawuse tries to pass.
Van Der Hoorn looking for a sweep. Not yet Van Der Hoorn, not yet.
Van Der Hoorn is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bafawuse must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bafawuse throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Van Der Hoorn works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Bafawuse gets to his feet - Van Der Hoorn follows without any prompting.
Van Der Hoorn blocks a low kick nicely.
Van Der Hoorn misses with the combination.

Bafawuse decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse wants to take a breather but Van Der Hoorn is having none of it.
Bafawuse is taking a breather. Van Der Hoorn says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Van Der Hoorn keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bafawuse thows a huge punch but Van Der Hoorn dodges it nicely.
Bafawuse trying to control the action but Van Der Hoorn is working from the bottom.
Bafawuse wants to stand up but Van Der Hoorn has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Bafawuse throwing shots but Van Der Hoorn is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Van Der Hoorn.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Bafawuse throws a wild body kick that Van Der Hoorn sees coming a mile off.
It looked like Van Der Hoorn was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Bafawuse.
Van Der Hoorn looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Van Der Hoorn shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bafawuse shapes to counter with a head kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robin Van Der Hoorn. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bafawuse gets the takedown into side control.

Van Der Hoorn throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Bafawuse will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nice takedown defense from Bafawuse. No joy for Van Der Hoorn on that attempt.

Bafawuse shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Bafawuse was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bafawuse throws an elbow but Van Der Hoorn slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse scoring with punches and elbows.
Bafawuse controlling from side mount.

Bafawuse has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Bafawuse shoots in and gets a takedown into Van Der Hoorn's guard.
Bafawuse trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Abdul Hakim Bafawuse will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Bafawuse looks to land a combination. Van Der Hoorn sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Bafawuse takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Van Der Hoorn enables Bafawuse to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Van Der Hoorn manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Van Der Hoorn is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Bafawuse manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Der Hoorn postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Van Der Hoorn avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Van Der Hoorn trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Der Hoorn avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Van Der Hoorn trying to control the position from guard on top but Bafawuse is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bafawuse can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bafawuse utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Bafawuse looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Van Der Hoorn has picked Bafawuse up and slammed him! Bafawuse can't keep hold of the triangle and Van Der Hoorn manages to pass to side control!
You can see the frustration on Bafawuse's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Van Der Hoorn throws an elbow but Bafawuse slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bafawuse tries to bench press Van Der Hoorn off him but Van Der Hoorn keeps the position.
Bafawuse wants to get back to his feet but Van Der Hoorn drags him back down.
Van Der Hoorn gets to mount! Bafawuse was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Robin Van Der Hoorn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bafawuse working to try and regain half guard.
Van Der Hoorn throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Bafawuse is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Hoorn controlling the pace for now.
Van Der Hoorn prevents Bafawuse from getting the reversal.
Van Der Hoorn throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Bafawuse tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bafawuse tries to hold on but Van Der Hoorn postures up.
Bafawuse is desperately trying to improve his position but Van Der Hoorn has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse keeps trying to improve his position.
Bafawuse is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Van Der Hoorn in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Van Der Hoorn throws some wild stikes that Bafawuse manages to avoid easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Van Der Hoorn looking to finish with strikes here!
Bafawuse wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robin Van Der Hoorn showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bafawuse has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Abdul Hakim Bafawuse!