PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dado Damba (ranked 1614 p4p, 1468 weight class) and Valtteri Badass (ranked 207 p4p, 187 weight class). Damba kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Electricity. Dado Damba has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Damba
vs
Badass

182 cm
32
170
9 - 8 - 0

176 cm
31
156
17 - 9 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dado Damba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 2, fighting out of New York, Valtteri Badass!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Andrew Berry and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Damba slips a straight right by Badass.

Badass moves into the clinch.
Badass swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Damba fails to land.
Badass lands a hook that snaps the head of Damba backwards.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Damba holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Badass breaks the clinch.
That kick from Badass tenderised Damba's leg. Damba is trying to keep his angry face on.
Badass tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Badass getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Damba throws a leg kick which misses Badass's front leg but catches the back leg as Badass tries to avoid it.
A punch combination from Badass misses.
A quick step to the side and Damba tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Damba scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Badass clinches up with Damba and pushes him back against the cage.
Damba stalling against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Badass fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Damba tries to work over Badass's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Damba is trying to stall.
Badass lands a shoulder strike.
A hook to the body from Badass.
A head punch on the inside from Damba fails to land.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Badass.
Damba misses with a short punch on the inside.
Damba tries to throw a body punch but Badass avoids it by throwing Damba back against the cage.
Badass trying to land knees to the body.
Damba lands with a light punch inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Damba.
A short right from Damba on the inside.
Damba tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Badass's elbow.
Damba misses with the head strike.
Badass throws a head punch that misses.
Damba working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Damba lands a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Badass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Damba escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A low kick from Damba is predictable there
and Badass counters with a left and a right that stings Damba.
Badass misses with a lunging right hand
and Damba counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Damba shoots in for a takedown but Badass shows good takedown defense.

Badass drives through and clinches with Damba against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Damba.
Damba misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Badass escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Damba misses with a low kick.
A little jabbing left from Badass on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Valtteri Badass is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Damba. Badass does a little dance to reset his feet.

Damba scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Damba working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Badass wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Damba misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Badass regains half guard, as Damba was trying to land strikes.
Damba looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Damba missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Damba wants to pass the guard but Badass is defending well.
Damba throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Damba trying to mount his opponent but Badass defends it.
Badass is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Damba scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Damba is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Badass has managed to free his arm - good work.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Damba seems to be working for a kimura but Badass defends the submission attempt.
Damba trying to pass the guard but Badass defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Damba not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Damba throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Badass missing with punches from the bottom.
Badass wants to get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Valtteri Badass will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Damba uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Badass.
Damba looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Valtteri Badass seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Damba moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Damba throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Badass is looking for the big counter here.
Badass misses with a few strikes there.
Damba changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Damba avoids the head kick by Badass.
Badass scores with a nice head shot.
Damba blocks a jab.
Damba shoots in and drives through. Badass sprawls well.
Badass waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Damba.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Damba gets the takedown into side control.
Damba throws a strike aimed at the side of Badass's head but Badass avoids it well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Damba throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Badass works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Damba not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Damba thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Damba throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Damba is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Badass has managed to free his arm - good work.
Damba throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Damba is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Badass defends it well.
Damba looks to land a strike but Badass avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Damba looking to sit in guard and control but Badass gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Damba looking to control.
Damba keeping moving, preventing Badass from controlling successfully.
Dado Damba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Damba is trying to control the position but Badass postures up.

Damba looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Damba is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Damba looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Badass passes into half guard.
Damba is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Damba looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Badass pushes past his half guard into mount!
Damba has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Damba is squirming around, avoiding Badass's attempts to control the action.
Damba gets back to half guard.

Damba is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Badass pulls his head out easily.
Badass trying to control the pace.

Damba looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Damba is pressing down on Badass's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Damba has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Badass is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Damba.
Damba tries to improve position but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Damba manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Badass tries to kick Damba off but Damba keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Damba looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Valtteri Badass will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Damba throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Badass.
Valtteri Badass seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Badass moves away from the strike by Damba.
Badass throws a hook but Damba avoids it easily.
Badass attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Damba was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Badass swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Damba appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Damba drops his hands momentarily and Badass takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Damba lands a slapping body shot.
Badass rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Damba counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Badass throws out a loose jab but Damba uses good head movement to avoid it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Damba.
Badass misses with a looping left.
Badass turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Damba throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Badass misses with a few strikes there.

Badass rushes Damba and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Damba leaning his opponent against the cage.
Damba tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Badass scores with a nice short uppercut.
A short right from Damba.
Badass has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Damba seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Badass can turn it around.
A nice left hand lands by Badass.
Badass misses with a hook from the clinch.
Damba fails to pull guard.
Badass is trying to force a seperation but Damba has the dominant position.
Badass tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Badass misses with a punch on the inside.
Badass is trying to break the clinch but Damba is controlling him.
Badass struggles to land a body shot inside as Damba controls his hands.
Dado Damba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Badass misses with some punches.

Badass breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Badass misses with a hook.
Damba takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that 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!
Badass fails to land with a series of punches.

Damba shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Badass's guard.
Damba is looking to work some ground and pound but Badass has wrist control.
Damba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Badass is keeping the position for now.
Damba preventing the sweep.
Damba loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Badass not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Damba won't allow Badass to get back to his feet.
Damba works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Damba looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Badass with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Damba trying to control from half guard but Badass is working away.
Damba is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Badass makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Badass.
Damba throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Damba postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Damba tries to free his leg and advance position but Badass is retaining full guard.
Damba lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Badass wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Damba manages to pass to side control.
Damba is thwarting Badass's attempts to control the position.
Valtteri Badass is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Damba sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Badass defending well though.
Damba prevents Badass from standing back up.
Badass regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Damba.
Badass is looking to stand up but Damba isn't so interested in that idea.
Damba lands a couple of elbows.

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 Dado Damba.
I think Badass 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valtteri Badass!
A relieved looking Valtteri Badass thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.