PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yodsanklai Fairtex (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valentijn Van Damme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Fairtex
vs
Van Damme

175 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yodsanklai Fairtex!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Valentijn Van Damme!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Nard Betker and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Damme lands an overhand right.
Fairtex lands a two punch combo.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Van Damme.

Van Damme decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Van Damme throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Fairtex was covering up waiting for the punch and Van Damme finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Damme would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Van Damme won't allow Fairtex to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme sitting in guard here, content to control.
Fairtex looking to hit a scissor sweep but Van Damme is one step ahead there.
Van Damme sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fairtex keeping full guard, as Van Damme tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Fairtex is trying to keep Van Damme in close.

Fairtex is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Van Damme is aware though and is defending well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Van Damme has closed the distance and engaged Fairtex in a clinch.
Van Damme lands with a right to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme misses with a knee to the head.

Van Damme's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Van Damme connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Van Damme connects with a good right hand that stumbles Fairtex. Fairtex circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Van Damme moves into the clinch.

Van Damme breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fairtex tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Van Damme counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fairtex is breathing heavily.
Van Damme wants to get up but he can't break Fairtex's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Van Damme's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Fairtex working a defensive guard here.
Fairtex wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Van Damme gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head kick misses from Fairtex.
Van Damme misses with a series of wild punches.
Van Damme lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentijn Van Damme dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Van Damme clinches with his opponent.
Van Damme lands a body shot in the clinch.
Van Damme stalling.
Van Damme working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Fairtex jumps guard but Van Damme stands there with Fairtex around his waist. Fairtex gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Van Damme's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice shot lands for Van Damme.

Van Damme scores with a takedown into Fairtex's guard.
Van Damme content to stall in guard here.
Fairtex controls Van Damme momentarily but Van Damme frees himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Fairtex's guard.
Van Damme is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fairtex is looking for a sweep. Van Damme is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Van Damme keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Damme stands up from half guard.
Fairtex fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Van Damme manages to avoid it.

Van Damme clinches up against the cage.
Van Damme lands a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme slowing the pace effectively.

Van Damme breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yodsanklai Fairtex is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Van Damme has taken the fight to the clinch.
Van Damme controlling the action here for a moment.

Van Damme's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fighters circle momentarily. Van Damme darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Van Damme cracks Fairtex with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Van Damme closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Fairtex did well to prevent Van Damme getting side control.
Van Damme thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Van Damme is taking a breather. Fairtex says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentijn Van Damme showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Van Damme moves into range and connects with a jab.
Fairtex wants to clinch but Van Damme slips to the side
and Fairtex takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fairtex slips a jab from Van Damme.

Van Damme gets a clinch.
Van Damme lands an uppercut.

Van Damme gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Fairtex regains guard.
Van Damme tries to stand but Fairtex is controlling from the bottom.
Van Damme trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Van Damme stands up and waves to Fairtex to follow him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Van Damme scores with a takedown into Fairtex's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fairtex works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Van Damme would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Fairtex not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Van Damme trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Van Damme controls from within his opponent's guard.
Fairtex keeping full guard, as Van Damme tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Fairtex is working an open guard so Van Damme takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nice cross by Van Damme.
Fairtex on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Yodsanklai Fairtex is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Van Damme misses with the combination.

Van Damme gets a clinch.
Van Damme softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Van Damme lands with a left to the head.
Fairtex's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Van Damme breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Van Damme missing with a left hand there. Fairtex was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Fairtex motions for Van Damme to come forward. Fairtex throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Yodsanklai Fairtex has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Van Damme has managed to clinch.
Fairtex letting Van Damme take a breather here.
A right handed body shot lands from Van Damme.
Fairtex is looking to control Van Damme's arms but Van Damme gets an underhook and turns him. Now Fairtex has his back to the cage.
Van Damme gets through Fairtex's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Van Damme lands a right hand that snaps the head of Fairtex backwards.
Fairtex wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Van Damme lands with a short shot to the head.
Valentijn Van Damme is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Van Damme gets control of Fairtex's arms and successfully pulls guard. Van Damme will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Van Damme wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valentijn Van Damme comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Van Damme has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 26:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valentijn Van Damme!