PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shaun Swagger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean Claude Van Damme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Swagger kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Amazing. Jean Claude Van Damme is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Swagger
vs
Claude Van Damme

193 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Attliction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Shaun Swagger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Jean Claude Van Damme!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Paul Tew and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Swagger misses with a two punch combination.
Van Damme keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Swagger closes the distance and clinches.

Van Damme manages to break the clinch.
Van Damme misses with a takedown attempt

and Swagger counters by moving into the clinch.
Van Damme tries to pull guard but Swagger won't allow it.
Van Damme wants to break the clinch but can't.
Van Damme tries to pull guard but Swagger holds him up against the cage and eventually Van Damme drops back down to his feet.
Shaun Swagger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jean Claude Van Damme.
Van Damme tries to pull guard but Swagger won't allow it.

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

and Swagger moves into the clinch.
Van Damme takes an elbow to the forehead.
Van Damme avoiding damage as Swagger throws knees to the body.
Van Damme tries to pull guard but Swagger won't allow it.
Van Damme fails to pull guard.
A short body shot lands from Swagger as the two fighters clinch.
Van Damme is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Van Damme wants to break the clinch but can't.
Swagger has had enough of the clinch but Van Damme keeps him there for the moment.
Swagger lands an elbow that stopped Van Damme in his tracks for a moment.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Swagger.
Swagger taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Swagger breaks the clinch.
Swagger misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Swagger swinging wilding here.

Swagger gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Swagger breaks the clinch.

Swagger scores with a takedown into Van Damme's guard.
Swagger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Van Damme is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Van Damme looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van Damme is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Swagger throwing strikes but missing.
Van Damme looking for a sweep. Not yet Van Damme, not yet.
Swagger throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Swagger loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Swagger darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Swagger is breathing heavily.
Van Damme is looking for a sweep. Swagger is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Swagger is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Swagger has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Swagger sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Van Damme defending well though.
Swagger winds up and cracks Van Damme with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Van Damme wants to improve his position but Swagger is controlling well.
Van Damme manages to get to full guard.
Van Damme is striking from the bottom but Swagger uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Van Damme keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Swagger controlling the action here.
Swagger thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Van Damme looks like he's trying to stand up.
Van Damme wants to control but Swagger is keeping busy.
Swagger is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Swagger preventing the sweep.
Swagger 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.

Shaun Swagger dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice sprawl there from Swagger as Van Damme shoots in.

Swagger pushes Van Damme up against the cage in a clinch.

Swagger breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Van Damme gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Swagger makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Swagger throws a sloppy head kick and Van Damme moves out of range easily.

Swagger drives through and clinches with Van Damme against the cage.
Van Damme is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Swagger is keeping busy.
Knees to the body from Swagger.

Swagger manages to break the clinch.
Swagger tries to bum rush Van Damme with a series of wild strikes but Van Damme uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Van Damme blocks a head kick by Swagger.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Van Damme misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Shaun Swagger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jean Claude Van Damme.
Van Damme wants to clinch

and Swagger counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Van Damme's guard now.
Swagger advances to half guard.
Swagger not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme trying to control from the bottom.
Van Damme is trying to stand.
Swagger is pressing down on Van Damme's thigh, looking to free his foot. Van Damme is holding on for now.
Van Damme regains full guard. Nicely done.
Van Damme keeping moving, preventing Swagger from controlling successfully.
Swagger controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Swagger has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Van Damme looking for a sweep. Not yet Van Damme, not yet.
Swagger is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Swagger distracts Van Damme with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Swagger looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Shaun Swagger just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Swagger moves into range and clinches up with Van Damme.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swagger wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Swagger breaks the clinch.
Van Damme closes the distance but Swagger moves to the side

and Swagger counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Van Damme wants to break free but Swagger has control.
Van Damme trying to land knees to the body.
Swagger controlling the action here for a moment.

Swagger manages to break the clinch.

Van Damme tries to keep at a distance but Swagger has taken the fight into the clinch.

Swagger breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shaun Swagger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Damme slips a jab and a cross from Swagger.

Swagger rushes Van Damme and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Van Damme tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Swagger just stands there and leans against the cage.
Van Damme wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Van Damme drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Swagger leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Van Damme tries to pull guard but Swagger holds him up against the cage and eventually Van Damme drops back down to his feet.

Swagger manages to pull guard.
Van Damme controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Swagger seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Swagger will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Van Damme is looking to stand up but Swagger won't let him.
Swagger wants to sweep but no luck.
Van Damme wants to control from the top but Swagger keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaun Swagger 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. This is the final round!

Van Damme fails with the takedown

and Swagger holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Swagger prevents Van Damme from breaking the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Swagger takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Swagger is trying to break the clinch but Van Damme has him pressed against the cage.
Van Damme tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Van Damme misses with an elbow over the top.
Swagger tries to land knees in the clinch but Van Damme avoids the damage to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Van Damme takes a shot to the head.
Van Damme changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Swagger fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Shaun Swagger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jean Claude Van Damme.
Van Damme blocks a head kick by Swagger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Damme stuffs the takedown attempt from Swagger. Swagger gets slowly back to his feet.
Van Damme throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Van Damme thuds a left hand into Swagger's body.
Both fighters circling a little - Van Damme finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Van Damme shoots in for a takedown but Swagger shows good takedown defense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme closes the distance but Swagger moves to the side

and Swagger decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Van Damme's guard.
Van Damme is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Swagger with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Swagger pushing down on Van Damme's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Swagger takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Shaun Swagger overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Well, if Swagger is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Swagger is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Van Damme defends it well.
Swagger controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swagger prevents Van Damme from improving his position.
Swagger is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme won't allow Swagger to pass to mount.
Van Damme is trying to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Swagger in particular looking to stall.
Van Damme is pressing down on Swagger's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Swagger looking to pass the guard.
Van Damme manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Swagger manages to get himself to full guard.
Van Damme trying to control but Swagger is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Van Damme slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Van Damme trying to control the action but Swagger is working from the bottom.
Swagger is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Swagger is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Van Damme off and has taken his back!

And that's the end of the fight!
Shaun Swagger showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Swagger, 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shaun Swagger!