PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zick VanDan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Durant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zick VanDan had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

VanDan
vs
Durant

150 cm
23
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zick VanDan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jack Durant!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Ren Mimura and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
VanDan fails with the takedown.
Durant tries to clinch but VanDan moves away

and VanDan counters with a nice double leg into side control. Durant won't be happy with that.

VanDan stands up.
Sloppy strikes from Durant. Those never looked like landing.
Nice straight punches there by Durant. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Durant.
Durant misses with a two punch combination.

VanDan shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
VanDan is looking to advance position but Durant won't allow it.
VanDan is looking to take a break and control but Durant is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Durant wants to improve his position but VanDan is controlling well.
Durant is trying to maintain the position but VanDan is very close to passing his half guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Zick VanDan wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Sloppy strikes from Durant. Those never looked like landing.

VanDan darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
VanDan passes the guard and advances to mount!
Durant keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durant is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

VanDan has control of Durant's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Durant regains control of the situation pretty easily.
VanDan trying to control but he's not successful this time.
VanDan postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Durant looks a forlorn figure.
Durant bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
VanDan trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
VanDan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
VanDan can't keep his opponent in guard - Durant advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Durant wants to take a breather but VanDan is having none of it.

VanDan kicks off Durant and gets to his feet.
VanDan is breathing heavily.
Durant misses with a double jab.
Durant feints a jab promting VanDan to slip. Durant then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. VanDan slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Durant throws a right and a left that both miss.
Durant darts in trying to clinch

and VanDan counters by clinching up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

VanDan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Durant throws a combination but it was largely blocked by VanDan.
Durant has his takedown stuffed

and VanDan counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
VanDan sitting and controlling from the half guard.
VanDan not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
VanDan wants to free his trapped foot but Durant is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zick VanDan dominated that round.
That's time! VanDan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from VanDan.
VanDan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Durant circles away quickly and effectively.
Durant scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Durant misses with a takedown attempt

and VanDan counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by VanDan.
VanDan wants to control from the top but Durant keeps moving.
VanDan sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Durant's guard.
VanDan thows a huge punch but Durant dodges it nicely.
VanDan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Durant does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
VanDan tries to stand but can't do so whilst Durant controls his leg.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
VanDan trying to control from half guard but Durant is working away.
Zick VanDan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
VanDan is thwarting Durant's attempts to control the position.
Durant wants to get back to his feet.
Durant trying to control here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Durant darts in trying to clinch

and VanDan counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Durant is trying to control the position but VanDan postures up.
VanDan postures up and lands a big shot to Durant's brow.
VanDan throwing strikes but missing.
VanDan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Durant is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
VanDan trying to control but Durant is working from the bottom.
Durant 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.

Durant is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and VanDan defends well.
VanDan throws and elbow that misses. Durant uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in VanDan's guard. Nice move by Durant!
Durant tries to free his leg and advance position but VanDan is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Durant drops back, looking for a kneebar! VanDan looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. VanDan looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from VanDan!
Durant is trying to control VanDan's posture but VanDan avoids it.
Durant defending against the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Durant is trying to buck VanDan off.
VanDan controls the position.
Durant is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

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.
VanDan passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Durant!
Durant keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Durant is squirming around, avoiding VanDan's attempts to control the action.
VanDan has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Durant's face.
VanDan controlling the pace for now.
Durant tries to hold on but VanDan postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zick VanDan dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

VanDan moves into the clinch successfully.

VanDan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sloppy strikes from Durant. Those never looked like landing.
VanDan throws a head kick that misses.
A combination from VanDan does no damage.

Durant darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Durant is taking a breather. VanDan 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.
Durant prevents VanDan from standing back up.
Durant works his way into full mount!
Durant looking to control but VanDan is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
VanDan tries to lock up and control but Durant gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
VanDan is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Durant is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
VanDan can't escape the position.
Durant scoring with strikes but VanDan is staying in there.
VanDan regains half guard.
Durant missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
VanDan is refusing to be controlled, as Durant sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Durant is sneakily working for an arm triangle but VanDan sees it coming and defends easily.
VanDan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

VanDan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Durant pulls his head out easily.

VanDan looking for submissions off his back.

Durant is looking for a kimura here.
VanDan is looking for a sweep. Durant is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
VanDan trying to control here.

Durant stands up out of the half guard.
VanDan keeps the fight on the outside.
VanDan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Durant throws a series of punches but VanDan moves out of range.
Durant tries to close the distance and clinch up but VanDan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A right-left combo lands from Durant.
Durant darts in trying to clinch

and VanDan counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durant is trying to keep VanDan in close.

VanDan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
VanDan trying to control the position from guard on top but Durant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Durant holds on and takes a little breather.
VanDan preventing the sweep.
Jack Durant has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zick VanDan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
VanDan trying to control the position from guard on top but Durant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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 Zick VanDan.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for VanDan, 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zick VanDan!