PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Van Dam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niclas Ekman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Niclas Ekman has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dam
vs
Ekman

188 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

193 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Van Dam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Niclas Ekman!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Ivan Kurochkin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ekman 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.
Ekman looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Dam looking for a sweep. Not yet Dam, not yet.
Ekman wants to control from the top but Dam keeps moving.
Ekman stopping the sweep attempt from Dam.

Dam has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ekman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
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.
Dam working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dam looking for a sweep. Not yet Dam, not yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dam connects with a jab.
Ekman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ekman steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dam.
Dam misses the shot to the body.
Ekman moves out of range as Dam strikes.
Niclas Ekman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horrible takedown by Ekman or perhaps it was just good defense by Dam which made him look bad.
Dam misses the jab.
Ekman takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ekman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dam connects with a body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dam changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Ekman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dam.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekman checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Dam cracks Ekman with an open hand slap.
Nice defenses there by Ekman.
Ekman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dam cracks Ekman with a right hand to the side of the head.

Ekman bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Dam tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dam is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Ekman is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

Ekman is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Dam is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Dam flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Ekman anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Dam and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Ekman slips an arm under Dam chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Ekman has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Ekman is squeezing on Dam like an anaconda would it's prey. Dam fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:02 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Niclas Ekman!