PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alphonzo Mirage (ranked 95 p4p, 16 weight class) and Joels Van Wijnbergen (ranked 323 p4p, 48 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Mirage
vs
Van Wijnbergen

191 cm
29
212 lbs
20 - 7 - 0

185 cm
34
210 lbs
18 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

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 20 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alphonzo Mirage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joels Van Wijnbergen!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Andrew Berry and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mirage throws a hook but Van Wijnbergen avoids it easily.
Van Wijnbergen is trying to counter with his kicks.
Van Wijnbergen walks into a straight right hand from Mirage.
Van Wijnbergen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mirage moves away.
Mirage misses with an uppercut. Van Wijnbergen saw that one coming.
Van Wijnbergen misses the shot to the body.
Mirage swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Mirage works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a hook.
Van Wijnbergen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Mirage throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Mirage buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Mirage fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Van Wijnbergen has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Mirage looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Mirage takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Mirage misses with a hook. Van Wijnbergen ducked under it nicely.
Van Wijnbergen takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Van Wijnbergen is looking to land body kicks.
Mirage blocks a head kick by Van Wijnbergen.
Mirage takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Van Wijnbergen takes a swing at Mirage's ribcage but misses.
Van Wijnbergen takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Wijnbergen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Mirage moves out of range of the body kick from Van Wijnbergen.
Mirage throws a nice outside leg kick.
Van Wijnbergen throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Mirage counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Van Wijnbergen blocks a leg kick.
Van Wijnbergen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Van Wijnbergen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A clash of legs there as Mirage blocks the low kick.
Van Wijnbergen throws a low kick, looking for Mirage's leg but Mirage calmly moves out of range.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Van Wijnbergen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mirage. Van Wijnbergen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mirage turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Mirage dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Van Wijnbergen. That did some damage!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Mirage, right into the meat.
Van Wijnbergen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Mirage ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Van Wijnbergen lands with a good body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Wijnbergen walks forward, straight into a front kick from Mirage.
Mirage delivers a nice body kick.
Mirage is looking to land body kicks.
Van Wijnbergen replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Mirage blocks it well.
Van Wijnbergen scores with a jab to the head.
Mirage looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Van Wijnbergen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mirage tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Van Wijnbergen was well out of range. Poor timing from Mirage.
Van Wijnbergen takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Mirage throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Wijnbergen throws a leg kick but Mirage checks it.
Mirage throwing a counter right hand but Van Wijnbergen manages to avoid it.
Mirage defending well as Van Wijnbergen loads up on a big left hand.
Mirage throws a nice outside leg kick.
Mirage looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Van Wijnbergen avoids a kick to the body.
Good leg kick by Van Wijnbergen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Van Wijnbergen takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Mirage connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Van Wijnbergen's hands.
Van Wijnbergen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Van Wijnbergen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Wijnbergen tries to work over Mirage's front leg with a kick but Mirage checks it.
Mirage is looking to counter with a body kick.
Mirage lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Van Wijnbergen throws a shot from downtown. Mirage moves away and avoids it.
Mirage misses with a looping left.
And Van Wijnbergen responds with a good body kick, but Mirage manages to step out the way in time.
Van Wijnbergen takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Van Wijnbergen throws a wild body kick that Mirage sees coming a mile off.
Van Wijnbergen moves away from the strike by Mirage.
Mirage throws a leg kick but Van Wijnbergen sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Van Wijnbergen misses the jab.
Van Wijnbergen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Mirage tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Van Wijnbergen is able to avoid easily.
Mirage showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Van Wijnbergen.
Alphonzo Mirage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Wijnbergen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mirage looks to land a body kick but Van Wijnbergen moved away.
A jab lands there for Van Wijnbergen.
Mirage misses with a hook
and Van Wijnbergen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A shot to the liver by Van Wijnbergen. Beautiful body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mirage throws an off balance right hand
and Mirage takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mirage throws a hook but Van Wijnbergen blocks it.
Mirage misses the jab.
Van Wijnbergen walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Mirage lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Van Wijnbergen backs up against the cage.
Mirage throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Van Wijnbergen on the side of the head.
Mirage looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a hook. Mirage ducked under it nicely.
Mirage looks to score with a jab to the body but Van Wijnbergen is just out of range.
Van Wijnbergen throws a leg kick but Mirage checks it.
Mirage tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Van Wijnbergen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Van Wijnbergen throws a hook to the side of Mirage's head but Mirage sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mirage throws the left hand but Van Wijnbergen avoids the punch easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Both fighters circling a little - Mirage finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Mirage cracks Van Wijnbergen with a right hand to the side of the head.
A left lands for Van Wijnbergen.
Mirage swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Mirage checks a leg kick nicely.
Mirage tried to counter with a leg kick but Van Wijnbergen avoided it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alphonzo Mirage dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mirage is looking to score with low kicks.
Van Wijnbergen throws the kick towards the body but Mirage avoids it.
Mirage looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Van Wijnbergen only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Mirage fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Van Wijnbergen manages to avoid it.
Mirage scores with a jab. Van Wijnbergen acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Mirage lands with an uppercut that bounces Van Wijnbergen off the cage and back into range.
Mirage moves out of range of the body kick from Van Wijnbergen.
Van Wijnbergen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Mirage avoids a kick to the body.
Mirage throws a lazy right hand but Van Wijnbergen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mirage is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Van Wijnbergen can do to turn this around?
Van Wijnbergen tries to move into range but Mirage moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a low kick.
A little feinted left hand from Mirage on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Van Wijnbergen throws a push kick but Mirage slaps the foot to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Wijnbergen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Mirage takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Van Wijnbergen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Mirage tried to counter with a leg kick but Van Wijnbergen avoided it.
Van Wijnbergen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The fighters circling - Van Wijnbergen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Wijnbergen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mirage.
Mirage uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Van Wijnbergen.
Mirage takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Van Wijnbergen looks to land a left hand but Mirage moved out of range nicely.
Van Wijnbergen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Van Wijnbergen throws a hook but Mirage blocks it.
Mirage moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Mirage looks to land a body kick but Van Wijnbergen moved away.
Van Wijnbergen cracks Mirage with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Van Wijnbergen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Mirage. That snapped Van Wijnbergen's head back.
Van Wijnbergen ducks right into an uppercut from Mirage.
Van Wijnbergen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mirage manages to avoid it.
Van Wijnbergen misses the shot to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Mirage on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Mirage checks the leg kick nicely there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Van Wijnbergen misses with an attempted mid kick.
Van Wijnbergen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Mirage throws a wild body kick that Van Wijnbergen sees coming a mile off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Wijnbergen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Van Wijnbergen tries a head kick but it misses.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a looping right.
Van Wijnbergen cracks a nice hook into Mirage's ribs.
Van Wijnbergen bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Mirage's head.
Mirage uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Van Wijnbergen has time to react.
Mirage goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mirage blocks a low kick nicely.
Van Wijnbergen throws an overhand right that lands on Mirage's shoulder, as Mirage tries to avoid the shot.
Mirage misses with a kick to the body.
Van Wijnbergen follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Mirage blocks a head kick by Van Wijnbergen.
Mirage is looking to counter punch.
Van Wijnbergen scores with a jab.
Van Wijnbergen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mirage was well out of range. Poor timing from Van Wijnbergen.
Good standup being displayed there by Mirage as he connects with a hook.
Mirage connects with a nice looking jab.
Good standup being displayed there by Mirage as he connects with a hook.
Mirage feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Van Wijnbergen's calf.
Mirage takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mirage throws out a leg kick but Van Wijnbergen moves out of range and Mirage only half commits.
Van Wijnbergen has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Mirage lands a jab to the nose.
Mirage attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Alphonzo Mirage is winning the standup battle so far.
Mirage lands a jab.
Mirage bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Van Wijnbergen's head backwards.
Van Wijnbergen tries to land a front kick but Mirage steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mirage throws a nice outside leg kick.
Van Wijnbergen moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Mirage.
Mirage lands with a good body shot.
Mirage throws a right and a left that Van Wijnbergen avoids nicely.
Mirage throws a jab but it's blocked by Van Wijnbergen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mirage misses with a leg kick.
Mirage thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mirage pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Van Wijnbergen lands a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Wijnbergen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mirage.
Van Wijnbergen takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Mirage slips a jab from Van Wijnbergen.
Mirage is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Van Wijnbergen.
Mirage tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Van Wijnbergen was well out of range. Poor timing from Mirage.
Van Wijnbergen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Mirage finds it's way round the side to connect with Van Wijnbergen's head.
Mirage on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A lazy body kick from Van Wijnbergen
and Mirage connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mirage with a jab.
Decent striking displayed by Mirage there.
Van Wijnbergen throws a shot from downtown. Mirage moves away and avoids it.
Mirage checks a leg kick.
Mirage appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Mirage scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Van Wijnbergen lands with a nice body punch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Mirage. That's going to slow Van Wijnbergen down.
Mirage throws a leg kick that misses.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a double jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alphonzo Mirage dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Van Wijnbergen misses with a wild body shot.
Mirage misses with a low kick as Van Wijnbergen jumps back.
Mirage cracks Van Wijnbergen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Van Wijnbergen tries to bum rush Mirage with a series of wild strikes but Mirage uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mirage misses with a body shot.
Mirage looks to score with a jab to the body but Van Wijnbergen is just out of range.
Van Wijnbergen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mirage was well out of range. Poor timing from Van Wijnbergen.
Van Wijnbergen getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Van Wijnbergen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Van Wijnbergen lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Mirage throws a push kick but Van Wijnbergen slaps the foot to one side.
Van Wijnbergen does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Wijnbergen feints and then cracks Mirage's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Mirage down.
Good leg kick by Mirage there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nice shot by Mirage.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Mirage checks a leg kick.
Mirage is looking to counter punch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Van Wijnbergen explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
A shot to the body from Mirage misses
and Van Wijnbergen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mirage throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Van Wijnbergen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Mirage misses with a low kick as Van Wijnbergen jumps back.
Mirage motions for Van Wijnbergen to come forward. Mirage throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mirage misses with an attempted mid kick.
Van Wijnbergen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Van Wijnbergen wants to slow Mirage down by chopping away at his legs.
Van Wijnbergen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mirage throwing a counter right hand but Van Wijnbergen manages to avoid it.
Mirage throws a nice inside leg kick.
Van Wijnbergen with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Van Wijnbergen misses the shot to the body.
Van Wijnbergen moves out of range as Mirage throws a body kick.
Mirage misses with an uppercut.
Mirage checks a leg kick.
Mirage chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Van Wijnbergen can pounce on him.
Mirage keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mirage scores with a leg kick.
Joels Van Wijnbergen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mirage scores with a kick to the midsection.
Van Wijnbergen has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Mirage.
Jab, jab by Van Wijnbergen - just one landing.
Mirage scores with a hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Wijnbergen is looking to score with low kicks.
A bone on bone clash there as Van Wijnbergen blocks the leg kick.
Van Wijnbergen takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Mirage throws a low kick, looking for Van Wijnbergen's leg but Van Wijnbergen calmly moves out of range.
Van Wijnbergen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Mirage is looking to counter punch.
Mirage changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Van Wijnbergen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Van Wijnbergen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mirage takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Van Wijnbergen checks a leg kick nicely.
Van Wijnbergen is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Mirage ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Mirage thows a body kick. Van Wijnbergen tries to catch it but that hurt him.
A slow jab from Mirage misses its intended target.
Mirage sizes up Van Wijnbergen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mirage scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Van Wijnbergen connects with a body shot.
Mirage moves out of range as Van Wijnbergen strikes.
Mirage misses with a kick to the body.
Van Wijnbergen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Van Wijnbergen misses with a straight left.
A counter left hand to the body from Mirage misses its target.
Mirage moves into range and connects with a jab.
Mirage avoids the head kick by Van Wijnbergen.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Mirage. Van Wijnbergen shrugs it off though.
The fighters circling - Van Wijnbergen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mirage connects with an inside leg kick.
Mirage throws a quick inside leg kick.
Mirage throws a body shot but no joy.
Van Wijnbergen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Mirage.
Mirage feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Van Wijnbergen's calf.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mirage throws the kick towards the body but Van Wijnbergen avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Wijnbergen punishes Mirage's body with a nice straight punch.
Van Wijnbergen lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A head kick misses from Mirage.
Van Wijnbergen takes one to the side of the head.
Mirage lands a nice shot that snaps Van Wijnbergen's head back.
Van Wijnbergen throws a lazy right hand but Mirage sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mirage slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Van Wijnbergen.
Mirage with a jab.
Mirage scores with a sloppy right hand. Van Wijnbergen should have avoided that one.
Van Wijnbergen tries to land a leg kick but Mirage saw it coming and moves away.
Mirage jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Van Wijnbergen fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Mirage is out of range.
Mirage takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Mirage works the jab nicely.
Alphonzo Mirage is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
An inside leg kick lands from Mirage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alphonzo Mirage showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mirage 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alphonzo Mirage!
An out of breath Alphonzo Mirage thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.