PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tong Van damm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksander Ivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van damm comes to the cage accompanied by Life Goes On. Tong Van damm could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Aleksander Ivanov's chin.

Van damm
vs
Ivanov

198 cm
30
200 lbs
21 - 17 - 0

182 cm
32
199 lbs
21 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
KO power

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Brute

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 21 - 17 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tong Van damm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Aleksander Ivanov!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksandr Martynov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slapping body kick lands there for Ivanov.
Ivanov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Van damm has time to react.
Van damm connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ivanov. Ivanov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ivanov looks to throw the jab but Van damm is out of range.
Van damm throws a sloppy head kick and Ivanov moves out of range easily.
Ivanov swats away the attempt to clinch by Van damm.
A good leg kick by Ivanov.
Van damm shoots for a takedown but Ivanov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ivanov cracks Van damm with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Van damm is looking to slow Ivanov down with leg kicks.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ivanov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Van damm is defended easily by Ivanov.
A low kick from Ivanov misses
and Van damm counters with an outside leg kick.
Van damm goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Van damm tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ivanov throws a leg kick but Van damm checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van damm tries to land a leg kick but Ivanov saw it coming and moves away.

Van damm moves into range and clinches up with Ivanov.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ivanov.
Van damm keeps control of Ivanov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Van damm blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ivanov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Van damm utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Ivanov scores with a shot to the side of Van damm's head.
Van damm drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ivanov gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tong Van damm. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ivanov scores with a shot to the side of Van damm's head.
Ivanov works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van damm blocks a body shot from Ivanov.
Ivanov lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Van damm on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Van damm escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ivanov throws a front kick aimed at Van damm's knee but Van damm avoids it well.
Van damm swings for the body but Ivanov moves out of range.
Van damm throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A clash of legs there as Van damm blocks the low kick.

Ivanov gets caught napping as Van damm dives in and scores a takedown. Ivanov manages to retain guard.
Ivanov keeping moving, preventing Van damm from controlling successfully.
Van damm lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ivanov is trying to keep Van damm in close.
Van damm will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Van damm wants to control from the top but Ivanov keeps moving.
Ivanov controls Van damm momentarily but Van damm frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov is controlling Van damm's posture.
Van damm pushing down on Ivanov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ivanov tries to roll over but Van damm keeps him under control.

Ivanov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ivanov is trying to maintain the position but Van damm is very close to passing his half guard.
Ivanov manages to get to full guard.
Ivanov wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov looking to control but Van damm passes into half guard.
Van damm has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Van damm scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Ivanov can't escape the position.
Van damm wants to control the pace but Ivanov is squirming around nicely.
Van damm sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Van damm is in the full mount, landing strikes.

It looks like Aleksander Ivanov has been cut.
Ivanov is in a horrible position here. Van damm smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tong Van damm will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Aleksander Ivanov's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Van damm thows a body kick. Ivanov tries to catch it but that hurt him.

That has opened up Aleksander Ivanov's cut even more.
Ivanov throws a head kick but Van damm moves out of range.

Van damm cracks Ivanov with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Ivanov looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Van damm finish him?

Ivanov is rocked!

The cut above Aleksander Ivanov's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van damm shakes his hands by his side, trying to relax. Ivanov takes his eyes off the ball for a moment - Van damm sees the opportunity and cracks him with a massive hook! Ivanov bends double and collapses on top of himself - he's out! The crowd are going absolutely nuts! Wow, what a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Tong Van damm!
Tong Van damm decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.