PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Craig Rave (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tong Van damm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Van damm's choice of entrance music: Life Goes On. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rave
vs
Van damm

185 cm
31
193 lbs
20 - 14 - 0

198 cm
31
200 lbs
22 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
World class MT
Heavy handed

Cold Blooded Kemists ↑ 5x160Q

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 20 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Craig Rave!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tong Van damm!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Van damm lands a left and a right that send Rave crashing to the mat, dazed. Van damm thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rave slips a straight right by Van damm.
Van damm shoots and misses
and Rave counters with a head kick.
Rave shoots in for a double leg but Van damm sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rave wants to clinch but Van damm slips to the side
and Van damm counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Van damm scores with a takedown into Rave's guard.

Rave is rocked!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rave has momentary wrist control but Van damm slips an elbow through the middle.
Oh Rave is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rave might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Rave has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Van damm can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Van damm is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Van damm trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rave seems to have got his legs back now.
Rave utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Van damm wants to control from the top but Rave keeps moving.

Rave escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Van damm gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Van damm missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rave is trying to control the position but Van damm postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van damm trying to control the position from guard on top but Rave is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rave wants to sweep here but Van damm controlling him for the moment.

Van damm drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Van damm jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Van damm cracks Rave with a solid left hand.

Rave looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Van damm passes into side control.
Rave takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Van damm creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Rave wants to control but Van damm postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van damm wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rave, who protects the arm well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rave wants to control but Van damm postures up.
Van damm misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Rave tries to buck Van damm off but Van damm is having none of it.

Van damm tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Van damm has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rave can't do much from the bottom here.
Van damm misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Van damm working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Van damm tries to advance to mount but Rave denies him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rave tries to buck Van damm off but Van damm is having none of it.
Rave dodges the ground and pound from Van damm.
Van damm cracks Rave with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Van damm wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rave, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rave can't do much from the bottom here.
Rave tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Van damm wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rave is not content to let Van damm control the position.
Rave is trying to control Van damm's posture but Van damm avoids it.
Van damm trying to control the action but Rave is working from the bottom.
Van damm working away.
Rave parries the strikes from Van damm easily there. Van damm is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Rave to escape.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rave sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Rave actively working from the bottom here.

Van damm is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rave has taken the fight to the clinch.
Van damm stalling in the clinch but Rave improves position.

Rave has hold of one of Van damm's legs. Van damm is fighting the takedown attempt but Rave gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Rave trying to control the position from guard on top but Van damm is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rave throwing strikes but missing.
Rave wants to control from the top but Van damm keeps moving.
Van damm seems keen to control Rave's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rave postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rave throws a big elbow that misses.
Rave throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Van damm controlling the position.
Van damm keeping full guard, as Rave tries to pass.
Rave trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Van damm manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Van damm trying to control but Rave is working from the bottom.
Rave is pulling down on Van damm's head to control his posture.

Rave looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rave is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Van damm wants to pass the guard but Rave is keeping the position.
Rave utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Van damm stopping the sweep attempt from Rave.
Rave has momentary wrist control but Van damm slips an elbow through the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rave throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van damm with a flurry of punches that miss.
Van damm throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Van damm trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rave working a defensive guard here.

Rave working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Van damm doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Van damm manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rave is trying to control the position but Van damm postures up.
Van damm passes Rave's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Van damm wants to take a breather but Rave is having none of it.
Rave tries to roll over but Van damm keeps him under control.
Rave trying to hold on to Van damm's head to control him but Van damm postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rave looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rave is trying to control but can't.
Van damm is controlling the pace.

Van damm is working for a submission of some sort.
Van damm thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rave's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Van damm is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rave sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Craig Rave will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rave takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Van damm throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Van damm on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Van damm leaves Rave with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Rave moves into range and clinches up with Van damm.
A frustrated look appears on Van damm's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Van damm lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Van damm has Rave pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rave manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Van damm tries a body shot but Rave blocks it.
Van damm tries a body shot but Rave blocks it.

Rave breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rave shoots in looking for a takedown. Van damm tries to sprawl out of it but Rave keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Van damm manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rave tries to clinch there but Van damm circles away.
Van damm tried to score with a low kick but Rave checks it.
Nice body punch from Van damm.
Van damm scoring well with a low kick there.
Craig Rave is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Van damm. No joy for Rave on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Rave. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van damm is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rave.
Van damm tries to clinch but Rave moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Van damm.

Van damm gets tackled into the cage by Rave. Rave maintains the clinch.
A short right from Van damm.
Van damm tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rave jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Van damm walks away with a smile on his face. Rave gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Van damm tenderised Rave's leg. Rave is trying to keep his angry face on.
Van damm fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rave.
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!
Van damm lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rave takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Van damm throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Van damm.
Van damm thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Rave if he has to take too many more of those.
Van damm pushes Rave away with a front kick.
Rave shoots in for a double leg but Van damm sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A slapping leg kick lands for Van damm.
Tong Van damm seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rave.
Van damm keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van damm scores with a kick to the midsection.
Van damm attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Rave staying out of range there.
Rave on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Van damm shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rave napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Van damm working the ground and pound.
Rave is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Rave's face as Van damm controls the position.
Rave wants to control but Van damm postures up.
Van damm wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rave keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rave manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Van damm trying to control from half guard but Rave is working away.

Van damm wants to work for an arm triangle but Rave is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Van damm thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Van damm seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rave does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rave wants to control but Van damm passes into side.

Van damm working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Van damm is working Rave over with some ground and pound from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tong Van damm comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Van damm has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tong Van damm!
A relieved looking Tong Van damm thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.