PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Valentijn Van Damme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fernando Barbedo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barbedo has chosen Can Your Pussy Do The Dog as his entrance music. Fernando Barbedo is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Van Damme
vs
Barbedo

178 cm
22
164 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
22
155 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Valentijn Van Damme!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Fernando Barbedo!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paulsen Ambrosius and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barbedo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Van Damme.
Barbedo is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Barbedo tries to bum rush Van Damme with a series of wild strikes but Van Damme uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Barbedo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Van Damme, pushing him back against the cage.

Barbedo jumps guard.

Barbedo has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Van Damme off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Barbedo is looking to clinch but Van Damme is avoiding it.

Van Damme takes the fight into the clinch.
Nice elbow from Barbedo.
Van Damme avoids a wild elbow strike from Barbedo.
Barbedo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Van Damme is looking to control Barbedo's arms but Barbedo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Van Damme has his back to the cage.
Barbedo keeps control of Van Damme as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Van Damme lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Barbedo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Van Damme gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Van Damme.
Van Damme has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Barbedo tries to stall but Van Damme uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Barbedo dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Barbedo throws an elbow but misses.
A frustrated look appears on Barbedo's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Van Damme has picked Barbedo up - he's going for a ride! Van Damme dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
It looks like Van Damme is going to stand back up.

Van Damme stands up out of the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme punishes Barbedo's body with a nice straight punch.

Barbedo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Van Damme wants to stand up but Barbedo is controlling him.
Van Damme controlling the position.
Van Damme knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Barbedo on the ground.
Barbedo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Barbedo won't allow Van Damme to get back to his feet.

Barbedo stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Barbedo is looking to clinch.

Barbedo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Van Damme breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Van Damme closes the distance and pushes Barbedo back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Barbedo.
Van Damme managing to block the knees to the body from Barbedo.
Barbedo taking a breather.
Barbedo looks gassed!

Van Damme drags the fight down to the ground.
Barbedo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Van Damme controlling Barbedo's posture.
Barbedo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barbedo postures up in Van Damme's guard and throws a big left but Van Damme blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barbedo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Barbedo stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Barbedo tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Damme rushes Barbedo and presses him up against the cage.
Van Damme lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Barbedo misses with a body punch.
Van Damme managing to block the knees to the body from Barbedo.
Barbedo tries to pull guard but Van Damme holds him up against the cage and eventually Barbedo drops back down to his feet.

Van Damme drags the fight down to the ground.

Van Damme manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Barbedo tries to keep at a distance but Van Damme has taken the fight into the clinch.
Van Damme jumps guard but Barbedo stands there with Van Damme around his waist. Van Damme gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Barbedo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Barbedo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Van Damme as Barbedo tries to tie him up.
Van Damme gets through Barbedo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Van Damme scores with a nice hook to the head.
Van Damme stalling the fight.
Barbedo cracks Van Damme with a nice body shot.

Barbedo drags the fight down to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbedo trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Barbedo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Van Damme tries to stand but Barbedo is controlling from the bottom.

Barbedo has his feet on Van Damme's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Van Damme circles away from the clinch attempt.
Barbedo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Van Damme but Van Damme pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Valentijn Van Damme has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fernando Barbedo.
Barbedo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Van Damme swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Van Damme fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Van Damme lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Barbedo at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Damme tries to bum rush Barbedo with a series of wild strikes but Barbedo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barbedo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Barbedo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Van Damme but Van Damme pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Van Damme lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentijn Van Damme dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Van Damme closes the distance and pushes Barbedo back into the cage.
Van Damme has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Van Damme.
Barbedo missing with knees to the body.
Barbedo has Van Damme pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Van Damme manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Van Damme blocking some punches.

Van Damme breaks from the clinch.
Barbedo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Van Damme is fending him off so far but Barbedo persists. Nope, Van Damme circles away and we're back to standing.
Barbedo tries to clinch there but Van Damme circles away.
Barbedo tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Van Damme counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Barbedo!
Van Damme tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barbedo is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme controlling the pace for now.
Van Damme looking to control but Barbedo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Damme tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Barbedo swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Barbedo regains half guard.
Van Damme wants to pass the guard but Barbedo is defending well.
Van Damme frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Van Damme controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbedo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Barbedo somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Barbedo swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Damme.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Van Damme lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Barbedo moves into the clinch successfully.

Van Damme pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Barbedo has a takedown stuffed.
Valentijn Van Damme has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fernando Barbedo.
Barbedo has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Barbedo is rocked!
Van Damme lands a head shot.
Barbedo is still on wobbly legs! Can Van Damme finish him?
Barbedo tries to clinch up

and Van Damme counters by clinching up.
Barbedo seems to have recovered his senses.
Van Damme stops a takedown attempt from Barbedo.
A short right from Van Damme on the inside.
A short uppercut from Van Damme.
Van Damme tries to land a knee to the head but Barbedo blocks with his arms.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Van Damme.
Barbedo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Van Damme's elbow.
Van Damme digs a right hand underneath Barbedo's ribcage. Barbedo let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Barbedo fails to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentijn Van Damme dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Van Damme closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Barbedo tries to pull guard but Van Damme holds him up against the cage and eventually Barbedo drops back down to his feet.
Barbedo wants to get back to striking at distance but Van Damme won't allow it.
Barbedo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Van Damme is defending well for now.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Nice body punch from Van Damme.
Van Damme lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short right from Van Damme.
Van Damme has Barbedo pressed against the cage.
Van Damme lands a body punch in the clinch.

Van Damme pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Barbedo wants to clinch
and Van Damme counters with a three punch combo that has Barbedo backing up. Barbedo nods at Van Damme to acknowledge the strikes.
Van Damme throws a good cross that connects.
Barbedo dodges the punch combination from Van Damme.
Barbedo shoots for a double leg takedown but Van Damme sprawls well. He's pushed Barbedo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Van Damme lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Van Damme.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barbedo tries to clinch but Van Damme is having none of it.
Van Damme bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Barbedo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Barbedo wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Valentijn Van Damme is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Van Damme goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A combination from Van Damme does no damage.

Barbedo drives through and clinches with Van Damme against the cage.

Barbedo manages to break the clinch.
Fernando Barbedo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barbedo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Van Damme throws a shot from downtown. Barbedo moves away and avoids it.

Barbedo rushes Van Damme and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Barbedo is working for takedown but Van Damme is calmly controlling the position for now.
Valentijn Van Damme has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fernando Barbedo.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Van Damme.
Barbedo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Van Damme lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Van Damme's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Van Damme closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Valentijn Van Damme is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Van Damme.
Barbedo tries to clinch but Van Damme moves away
and Van Damme counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Barbedo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Barbedo tries to clinch there but Van Damme circles away.
Barbedo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Van Damme paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Barbedo forces Van Damme back against the cage and clinches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Barbedo fails to pull guard.
Van Damme lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Barbedo or not.

Van Damme pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Van Damme instigates a clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Van Damme.
Van Damme has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Barbedo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Van Damme is looking to break free of the clinch but Barbedo has double underhooks.
A short body shot lands from Barbedo as the two fighters clinch.

Barbedo gets control of Van Damme's arms and successfully pulls guard. Barbedo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Barbedo controls Van Damme momentarily but Van Damme frees himself.
Barbedo throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Barbedo pushes Van Damme off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Barbedo tries to clinch up
and Van Damme finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

Van Damme clinches with his opponent.
Van Damme lands an uppercut.

Barbedo jumps guard and drags Van Damme to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Van Damme controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Barbedo wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbedo keeping full guard, as Van Damme tries to pass.

Barbedo is looking for a triangle but Van Damme pushes his legs off easily.

Barbedo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Van Damme defends it easily.
Barbedo wants to sweep here but Van Damme controlling him for the moment.
Fernando Barbedo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Valentijn Van Damme is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Valentijn Van Damme showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Van Damme has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27

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