PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stefan Van Claus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chael Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stefan Van Claus could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Chael Swanson's chin.

Van Claus
vs
Swanson

190 cm
19
221 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

189 cm
26
221 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

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 Amsterdam, Stefan Van Claus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Chael Swanson!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Wagner Zegers and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice combination there by Swanson.
Van Claus shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Swanson but Swanson pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Van Claus closes the distance and clinches.
Van Claus looking for a takedown.
Swanson tries to circle away but Van Claus has him pinned against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Swanson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Swanson letting Van Claus take a breather here.
Van Claus tries to score a body lock takedown but Swanson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stefan Van Claus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swanson is looking to break free of the clinch but Van Claus has double underhooks.
Van Claus tries to pull guard but Swanson won't allow it.
Van Claus tries to pull guard but Swanson holds him up against the cage and eventually Van Claus drops back down to his feet.
Swanson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Van Claus.
Swanson is trying to break free.
Swanson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Swanson is trying to break free.

Van Claus manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Van Claus is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Claus is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Swanson is looking to stand up but Van Claus won't let him.
Swanson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Van Claus is trying to keep Swanson in close.
Swanson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Van Claus. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Swanson wants to stand but Van Claus is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Van Claus has Swanson pulled in close to control his posture.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A punch combination from Swanson misses.
Van Claus fails with the takedown.
Swanson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Van Claus fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Van Claus shoots in for a takedown but Swanson shows good takedown defense.
Van Claus shoots in for a takedown but Swanson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Swanson stuffs the takedown attempt from Van Claus. Van Claus gets slowly back to his feet.
Van Claus is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Claus fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Swanson closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A left and a right from Swanson both land. Nice combination.
Swanson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Van Claus is defended easily by Swanson.
Stefan Van Claus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Claus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Van Claus fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Swanson avoids it really well and circles away.

Van Claus shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van Claus is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Swanson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Van Claus.
Swanson wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Swanson dominated that round.
That's time! Van Claus's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Van Claus shoots in looking for a takedown. Swanson tries to sprawl out of it but Van Claus keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Swanson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Swanson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Van Claus misses with a wild body shot.
Swanson throws a nice looking combination but Van Claus bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Van Claus takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Van Claus falls off balance throwing a combination
and Swanson counters with a good low kick that Van Claus was not able to check.
The crowd cheers as Swanson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Van Claus doesn't seem phased though.
A good leg kick by Swanson.
Van Claus shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Swanson jabs at Van Claus's body.
Swanson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Van Claus wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Swanson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Sloppy strikes from Swanson. Those never looked like landing.
Van Claus shoots in but Swanson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stefan Van Claus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Claus is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Van Claus tries to close the distance and clinch up but Swanson swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Van Claus bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Van Claus is trying to move to mount but Swanson reverses beautifully and ends up in Van Claus's guard.
Swanson tries to stand but Van Claus is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Claus wants to sweep but no luck.
Swanson tries to stand but Van Claus is controlling from the bottom.
Van Claus trying to keep a closed guard but Swanson is proving a slippery customer.
Swanson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Van Claus striking off his back but it's not causing Swanson any problems.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Claus has a closed guard, preventing Swanson from standing up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Swanson throws a nice looking combination but Van Claus bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Van Claus shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Swanson as he jumps to the side.
Swanson throws a head kick but Van Claus moves out of range.
Swanson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Van Claus avoids the head kick by Swanson.
Van Claus fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Swanson avoids it really well and circles away.
Swanson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Swanson wants it to stay on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nice sprawl there from Swanson as Van Claus shoots in.
Swanson throws a series of punches but Van Claus moves out of range.
Swanson throws a sloppy head kick and Van Claus moves out of range easily.
Van Claus tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Swanson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Van Claus doesn't manage to clinch there - Swanson circles away.
Van Claus has a takedown stuffed.
Van Claus avoids the head kick by Swanson.
Swanson throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Van Claus has taken the fight to the clinch.
Van Claus tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Swanson smiles and moves away.
Van Claus shoots in looking for a takedown. Swanson tries to sprawl out of it but Van Claus keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Swanson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Swanson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Swanson misses with a head kick.
Swanson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Van Claus closes the distance and clinches up with Swanson, looking for a takedown. Van Claus pushes Swanson against the cage but Swanson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Van Claus is defended easily by Swanson.
Swanson stuffs the takedown attempt from Van Claus. Van Claus gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stefan Van Claus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Claus blocks a head kick by Swanson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swanson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Van Claus changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Swanson tries to avoid it but Van Claus manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Swanson to the ground. Swanson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Swanson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Van Claus takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Claus doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Swanson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Swanson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Swanson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Swanson tries a head kick but it misses.
Swanson lands a leg kick that knocks Van Claus off balance momentarily.
Swanson keeps the fight on the outside.
Van Claus misses with a takedown attempt
and Swanson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Swanson lands a head kick. Van Claus smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A head kick from Swanson lands but Van Claus takes it in his stride.
Swanson throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Van Claus has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Swanson's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Swanson duly obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swanson scores with a head kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Swanson throws a head kick but Van Claus moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Swanson.
Swanson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Van Claus's head.
Van Claus falls off balance throwing a combination
and Swanson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Danga de danga de dang - Swanson scores with a four punch combination!
Van Claus shoots in for a takedown but Swanson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Swanson stuffs the takedown attempt from Van Claus. Van Claus gets slowly back to his feet.
Van Claus chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Swanson can pounce on him.
Swanson dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Van Claus. That did some damage!
Chael Swanson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Van Claus fails with a takedown attempt.
Van Claus takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Van Claus is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Van Claus fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stefan Van Claus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Swanson scores with a head kick.
Swanson stalks Van Claus and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Van Claus's face. Van Claus staggers backwards, shaken.
Swanson works the jab nicely.
Swanson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Swanson stuffs the takedown attempt from Van Claus. Van Claus gets slowly back to his feet.
Left hook, right uppercut from Swanson.
A nice inside leg kick there by Swanson. That's going to slow Van Claus down.
Chael Swanson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Swanson misses with a few strikes there.
Van Claus stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Swanson.
Swanson lands a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson lands with a slapping head kick.
Swanson explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Van Claus takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Van Claus gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Swanson counters with a head kick. That will keep Van Claus thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Van Claus misses with a takedown attempt - Swanson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stefan Van Claus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Swanson feints a jab promting Van Claus to slip. Swanson then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Van Claus slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Swanson connects with a leg kick. Van Claus looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Swanson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Left hook, right uppercut from Swanson.
Swanson works over Van Claus's head and body with a nice combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chael Swanson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Swanson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 26:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chael Swanson!