PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tong Van damm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean Du Pont (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jean Du Pont is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Van damm
vs
Du Pont

198 cm
19
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
215 lbs
4 - 9 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tong Van damm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Jean Du Pont!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Du Pont wants to clinch.
Du Pont is looking to clinch but Van damm is avoiding it.
Du Pont doesn't manage to clinch there - Van damm circles away.
Du Pont will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Van damm avoids the head kick by Du Pont.
Van damm lands with a kick to the temple. Du Pont shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Van damm throws a body punch but Du Pont moves out of range.
Du Pont fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van damm scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Du Pont shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Van damm throws a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Du Pont lands with an uppercut that bounces Van damm off the cage and back into rage.
Du Pont closes the distance and clinches up with Van damm, looking for a takedown. Du Pont pushes Van damm against the cage but Van damm circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tong Van damm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jean Du Pont.

Du Pont gets caught flat footed, as Van damm shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Van damm cracks Du Pont with a solid left hand.
Van damm trying to stand up but can't free himself from Du Pont's guard.
Van damm postures up in Du Pont's guard and throws a big left but Du Pont blocks it.
Van damm content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Van damm throwing strikes from guard but Du Pont blocks nicely.
Van damm has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Du Pont is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Van damm is looking to stand up but Du Pont won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van damm stands and steps away. Du Pont gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Van damm decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Van damm is pressing down on Du Pont's thigh, looking to free his foot. Du Pont is holding on for now.
It looks like Van damm is going to stand back up.
Van damm will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Van damm sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Du Pont defending well though.
Van damm is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Du Pont manages to get to full guard.

Du Pont is working an open guard so Van damm takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Van damm is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Du Pont gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Van damm counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Du Pont tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Van damm counters with a head kick.
Du Pont shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Van damm counters with a nice body shot.
Du Pont doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Van damm counters with a straight right hand.
A chopping leg kick lands by Van damm.
Du Pont ducks right into an uppercut from Van damm.
Van damm ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Van damm.

Du Pont has taken the fight to the clinch.
Van damm missing with knees to the body.
Du Pont throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Van damm blocks it with crossed arms.
Du Pont drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Van damm gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Van damm tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Du Pont misses with a knee strike.
Van damm landing knees to the head.

Van damm has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Du Pont uses from the top position.
Du Pont not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tong Van damm dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Van damm lands a nice looking body shot.
Du Pont tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Van damm counters with a head kick. That will keep Du Pont thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Van damm closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Du Pont to the mat! Du Pont manages to get full guard.

Van damm gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Van damm lands with a kick to the temple. Du Pont shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Du Pont darts in trying to clinch
and Van damm counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Du Pont is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Du Pont misses with a takedown
and Du Pont takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Du Pont takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Van damm ducks under a wild hook from Du Pont.
Du Pont shoots and misses
and Van damm counters with a head kick. That will keep Du Pont thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Du Pont is breathing heavily.
Van damm throws a body punch but Du Pont moves out of range.
Du Pont throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Van damm dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Van damm works Du Pont's body with a nice hook.
Du Pont tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Van damm makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Van damm shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Van damm was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Van damm wants to control the pace but Du Pont is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Du Pont is looking to get to half guard.

Van damm stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Du Pont shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Van damm counter with a right hand.
Tong Van damm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jean Du Pont.
Van damm scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Du Pont tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Van damm to counter with a crisp jab.
Van damm throws a head kick but Du Pont moves out of range.

Van damm scores with a takedown into Du Pont's guard.
Van damm postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van damm stands and steps away. Du Pont gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Du Pont tries for a takedown but Van damm circles away easily
and Van damm counters with a right hand to the body.
Du Pont misses with a combination
and Van damm counters with a nice uppercut.
Du Pont with a poor takedown
and Van damm counters with a stiff right hand.
Van damm throws a nice inside leg kick.
Du Pont on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Van damm throws a nice head kick!
Jean Du Pont seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van damm scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tong Van damm dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A punch lands to the side of Du Pont 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Van damm pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Van damm is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Du Pont closes the distance looking to clinch
and Van damm counters with a nice body shot.
Van damm lands a head kick. Du Pont smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Du Pont tries to clinch up

and Van damm decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Du Pont's guard.

Van damm stands up and waves to Du Pont to follow him.
A head kick misses from Van damm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Du Pont fails with the takedown
and Van damm cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Du Pont takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nice body punch from Van damm.
Van damm is looking to wear down Du Pont with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Van damm closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Du Pont to the mat! Du Pont manages to get full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Van damm gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Du Pont is trying desperately to land a takedown but Van damm is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Du Pont.
Du Pont doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Van damm counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Du Pont wants to clinch
and Van damm counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Du Pont thows a leg kick but Van damm checks it
and Van damm makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Van damm plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Du Pont takes a jab right on the kisser.
Van damm ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Du Pont shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Van damm counters with a stiff right hand.
Tong Van damm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jean Du Pont.
Van damm connects with a high kick.
Du Pont doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Du Pont takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van damm lands with a slapping head kick.
The crowd cheers as Van damm lands an impressive looking overhand right. Du Pont doesn't seem phased though.
Du Pont avoids the head kick by Van damm.
Du Pont doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Du Pont takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Du Pont with a poor takedown
and Van damm counters with a nice low kick that buckles Du Pont's knee momentarily.
Van damm connects with a looping right hand.
Van damm scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Du Pont takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Van damm wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Jean Du Pont has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van damm fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Van damm scores with a head kick.
Van damm scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Jean Du Pont is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Van damm dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Du Pont throws a nice inside leg kick.
Van damm pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Van damm drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Van damm stands up and waves to Du Pont to follow him.
Van damm slips a straight right by Du Pont.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tong Van damm showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Van damm, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:25
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:25
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tong Van damm!