PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean Claudd Van Damn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jean Claudd Van Damn is staring across the ring at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Cruz
vs
Claudd Van Damn

180 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 Amsterdam, Alexander Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jean Claudd Van Damn!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Radbod Blank and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Damn closes the distance and clinches up with Cruz, looking for a takedown. Van Damn pushes Cruz against the ropes but Cruz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A shot to the body from Van Damn misses

and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Van Damn is keeping the position for now.
Cruz trying to control but Van Damn is working from the bottom.
Cruz content to stall in guard here.
Van Damn is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Alexander Cruz has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Cruz closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz blocks an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Van Damn.

Cruz breaks the clinch.

Cruz clinches.
Cruz content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Cruz has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Van Damn uses from the top position.

Van Damn drops back looking for a leg! Cruz is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cruz manages to kick Van Damn off! Van Damn jumps back into Cruz's guard.
Van Damn sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Cruz's guard.
Van Damn thows a huge punch but Cruz dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to stand back up but Van Damn is controlling him
Van Damn seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cruz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
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.
Van Damn throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Van Damn is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Cruz!
Van Damn looking to control but Cruz is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Van Damn tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Damn throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Van Damn working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damn throws some wild stikes that Cruz manages to avoid easily.
Van Damn throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Cruz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Van Damn throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Cruz wants to control but Van Damn is having none of it.
Cruz really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Cruz on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cruz tries to get out of the position.
Van Damn looking to control but Cruz is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damn unloads with some shots from mount but Cruz bucks and avoids them well.
Van Damn can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cruz is looking to escape.
Cruz is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Cruz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Van Damn on the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Damn takes Cruz's back.
Will Van Damn go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jean Claudd Van Damn will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Van Damn throws a combination that misses

and Cruz decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Van Damn's guard.
Jean Claudd Van Damn has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Damn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Van Damn keeps moving.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Van Damn is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

We're going to have a standup here because Alexander Cruz wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Van Damn gets tackled into the ropes by Cruz. Cruz maintains the clinch.

Cruz manages to break the clinch.
Cruz misses with a wild combination.

Cruz looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Damn has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cruz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cruz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cruz is working hard here to advance position.

Cruz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Van Damn has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cruz has managed to get both his arms back between Van Damn's legs - danger averted.
Cruz has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Van Damn trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Damn looking for a sweep. Not yet Van Damn, not yet.
Van Damn is trying to keep Cruz in close.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Damn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Van Damn looking for a sweep. Not yet Van Damn, not yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alexander Cruz wasn't doing enough on the ground.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Van Damn.
Van Damn wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz takes the fight into the clinch.

Cruz gets control of Van Damn's arms and successfully pulls guard. Cruz will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Cruz throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Cruz is looking to sweep but instead, Van Damn has passed into half guard.
Cruz pushes Van Damn off looking to stand but Van Damn dives back in and keeps control.
Cruz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Van Damn.
Cruz is looking for a sweep. Van Damn is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Van Damn prevents Cruz from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damn passes the guard and advances to mount!
Van Damn moves to take his opponent's back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Van Damn is cranking Cruz's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Cruz! He's tightened the choke and Cruz is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Jean Claudd Van Damn!