PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ireneusz Doniecki (ranked 23467 p4p, 693 weight class) and Fred Van Damme (ranked 25322 p4p, 678 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Doniecki
vs
Van Damme

180 cm
26
155 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

190 cm
18
165 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ireneusz Doniecki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Fred Van Damme!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Doniecki. Those never looked like landing.
Van Damme unleashes a big counter combination but Doniecki bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Van Damme tries to clinch up but Doniecki circles away and keeps his distance.

Van Damme darts in and clinches Doniecki up against the cage.

Van Damme breaks the clinch.
Van Damme looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Van Damme moves away from the strike by Doniecki.
A looping hook to the body misses from Doniecki. Van Damme does a little dance to reset his feet.
Van Damme takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Van Damme steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Doniecki.
Doniecki lunges at Van Damme with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Van Damme's hand.
Van Damme misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Van Damme tries to clinch up but Doniecki circles away and keeps his distance.

Van Damme takes the fight into the clinch.
Van Damme is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Doniecki drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Van Damme gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Van Damme is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Damme pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Doniecki takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Doniecki thows a left - swing and a miss!
Doniecki swings for the body but Van Damme moves out of range.
Doniecki swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Damme.
Van Damme wants to clinch.
Van Damme moves out of range of the strikes.
Van Damme throws a sloppy head kick and Doniecki moves out of range easily.
Van Damme moves away from the strike by Doniecki.

Van Damme has managed to clinch.

Van Damme breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme tries to close the distance and clinch but Doniecki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Doniecki is looking to counter punch.
Van Damme uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Doniecki.
Van Damme is looking for the big counter here.
Doniecki throws out a powerful jab.
Doniecki pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Van Damme back to the cage. Doniecki follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
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 Damme darts in and clinches Doniecki up against the cage.

Van Damme breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A slow jab from Doniecki misses its intended target.
Doniecki rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Van Damme counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Van Damme moves away from the strike by Doniecki.

Van Damme clinches with his opponent.
Doniecki wants to get back to striking at distance but Van Damme won't allow it.
Van Damme landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Van Damme manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme slips a jab from Doniecki.

Van Damme has closed the distance and engaged Doniecki in a clinch.
Van Damme is trying to push Doniecki away but Doniecki has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Doniecki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Doniecki connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Van Damme throws a sloppy head kick and Doniecki moves out of range easily.
Doniecki throws a poor cross that misses
and Van Damme counters with a three punch combo that has Doniecki backing up. Doniecki nods at Van Damme to acknowledge the strikes.
Doniecki misses with the combination.
Doniecki avoids the head kick by Van Damme.
Van Damme misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Van Damme lands with a slapping head kick.
Van Damme wants to clinch but Doniecki slips to the side
and Doniecki counters with a left and a right that stings Van Damme.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A punch combination from Doniecki misses.
Van Damme tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Doniecki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Van Damme dodges the punch combination from Doniecki.
Van Damme unleashes a big counter combination but Doniecki bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Doniecki paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Van Damme moves into the clinch.
Van Damme tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Doniecki wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ireneusz Doniecki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Damme landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Van Damme keeps control of Doniecki as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Van Damme pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Doniecki ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Van Damme moves away.

Van Damme closes the distance and pushes Doniecki back into the cage.
Doniecki tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Van Damme just stands there and leans against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fred Van Damme will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Doniecki waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Van Damme.
Van Damme wants to clinch up but Doniecki keeps it at a distance.
No joy there for Doniecki, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Van Damme moves into the clinch successfully.
Doniecki keeps control of Van Damme as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Doniecki fails to pull guard.

Doniecki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Doniecki connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Doniecki misses with a jab, cross combination.
Doniecki throws a right and a left that Van Damme avoids nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Van Damme closes the distance and clinches.
Doniecki tries for a takedown. No joy.

Doniecki jumps guard and drags Van Damme to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Van Damme stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Doniecki throws a series of punches but Van Damme avoids them all with ease.
Van Damme's coach down at Tycoon Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Van Damme's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Van Damme lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Van Damme has taken the fight to the clinch.

Van Damme escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Van Damme throws a nice head kick!
Doniecki throws a left and a right that both miss
and Van Damme counters with a left and a right that stings Doniecki.
Van Damme plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Ireneusz Doniecki is winning the standup battle so far.
Van Damme lands a head kick. Doniecki smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Van Damme tries to clinch up
and Doniecki counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Damme tries to clinch but Doniecki moves out of range.

Doniecki tries to keep at a distance but Van Damme has taken the fight into the clinch.
Doniecki is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Van Damme to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ireneusz Doniecki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van Damme manages to break the clinch.

Doniecki gets tackled into the cage by Van Damme. Van Damme maintains the clinch.
Van Damme wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Van Damme is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Doniecki jumps guard but Van Damme turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Doniecki tries to pull guard but Van Damme forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Van Damme's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Doniecki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Van Damme circles away quickly and effectively.
Some wild striking there from Doniecki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doniecki misses with a series of wild punches.
Van Damme is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Van Damme pushes Doniecki up against the cage in a clinch.

Van Damme pulls guard effortlessly.

Van Damme manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Van Damme landing knees to the body.
Van Damme wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Doniecki has him pressed against the cage.
Van Damme misses with a knee to the head.

Van Damme escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Doniecki is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Doniecki swings widly with a right hand
and Van Damme counters with a left and a right that stings Doniecki.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme misses with a head kick.

Van Damme closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Van Damme has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Damme landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Van Damme gets underhooks to prevent Doniecki's takedown attempt.

Doniecki breaks the clinch.
Van Damme tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Doniecki lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Van Damme backs up against the cage.
Ireneusz Doniecki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Van Damme wants to clinch up but Doniecki keeps it at a distance.
Van Damme tries a head kick but it misses.
Doniecki went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Van Damme lands a head kick. Doniecki smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Doniecki jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Doniecki will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Van Damme showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Van Damme tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd cheers as Doniecki lands an impressive looking overhand right. Van Damme doesn't seem phased though.
Doniecki rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Van Damme moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Doniecki swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Van Damme tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Doniecki is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Van Damme tries a head kick but it misses.
Van Damme is looking to clinch.

Van Damme moves into range and clinches up with Doniecki.
Van Damme prevents Doniecki from breaking the clinch.

Van Damme breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Damme slips a straight right by Doniecki.
Doniecki will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Van Damme throws a fast counter high kick but Doniecki manages to duck under it in time.

Van Damme moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme wants to break free but Doniecki has control.
Doniecki is trying to break free.
Doniecki prevents Van Damme from breaking the clinch.
Van Damme misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Doniecki.

Doniecki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Van Damme moves to clinch but Doniecki breaks away
and Doniecki counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Van Damme tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Van Damme slips under a jab from Doniecki.
Van Damme fails with an attempt to clinch.
Van Damme is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Doniecki misses with a straight left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme scores with a head kick.
Van Damme tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Doniecki throws a looping overhand right but Van Damme ducks down to avoid it.
Van Damme showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Doniecki.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Doniecki throws a series of punches but Van Damme moves out of range.
Doniecki throws a right and a left that Van Damme avoids nicely.
Van Damme is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Van Damme scores with a head kick.
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!
Doniecki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Van Damme counters by moving into the clinch.

Van Damme breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Van Damme fails to land with a series of punches.
Van Damme is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Van Damme is looking to clinch.
Doniecki seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Doniecki throws a right hand that Van Damme ducks under and follows up with a left that Van Damme also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doniecki takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Van Damme is looking to clinch but Doniecki is avoiding it.
Doniecki avoids the head kick by Van Damme.
Doniecki throws a right and a left that both miss.
Doniecki swinging wildly here.
Van Damme fails with an attempt to clinch.
It looked like Doniecki was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Van Damme tries to clinch but Doniecki moves out of range.
Doniecki swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Damme.
Doniecki avoids the head kick by Van Damme.
Doniecki scores with a shot to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Damme looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Van Damme ducks under a wild hook from Doniecki.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme is looking to clinch.
Doniecki is looking for a counter combo.
Doniecki swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Damme.
Doniecki tries to bum rush Van Damme with a series of wild strikes but Van Damme uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Doniecki tries to keep at a distance but Van Damme has taken the fight into the clinch.
Doniecki working hard to break the clinch.

Van Damme escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Doniecki circles away from the clinch attempt.

Van Damme has managed to clinch.
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!
Doniecki is trying to force a seperation but Van Damme has the dominant position.
Ireneusz Doniecki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fred Van Damme is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Doniecki tries to break free but Van Damme pushes him back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ireneusz Doniecki.
I think Van Damme 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Fred Van Damme!