PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Selby Campbell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tong Van damm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van damm has chosen Life Goes On as his entrance music. Selby Campbell has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Campbell
vs
Van damm

186 cm
37
192 lbs
19 - 13 - 0

198 cm
34
200 lbs
29 - 20 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Selby Campbell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tong Van damm!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Van damm shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Campbell looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Van damm seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Van damm not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Campbell is trying to maintain the position but Van damm is very close to passing his half guard.
Campbell is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Campbell wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Van damm is working for a submission of some sort.
Van damm thows a huge punch but Campbell dodges it nicely.
Campbell might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Campbell wants to improve his position but Van damm is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Campbell makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Campbell.
Campbell looking to hit a scissor sweep but Van damm is one step ahead there.

Campbell looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Van damm throwing strikes from guard but Campbell blocks nicely.
We've been hearing good reports from Campbell's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Campbell is controlling Van damm's posture.

Campbell looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Campbell bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Van damm's guard.
Van damm utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van damm is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Campbell defends well.
Campbell throws a big right hand that misses.

Campbell is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Van damm is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Van damm has escaped and now he's on top!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van damm won't allow Campbell to sweep him here.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Campbell working a defensive guard here.
Campbell 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.
Campbell keeping moving, preventing Van damm from controlling successfully.
Campbell trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van damm keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Campbell's head.
Campbell being controlled here, momentarily.
Campbell keeping full guard, as Van damm tries to pass.
Campbell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Campbell misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Van damm counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Campbell's guard now.
Campbell is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Campbell keeping moving, preventing Van damm from controlling successfully.
Van damm loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Campbell had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Van damm defends it easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Van damm wants to control from the top but Campbell keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Campbell is trying to control the position but Van damm postures up.
Van damm wants to control from the top but Campbell keeps moving.
Campbell working a defensive guard here.

Campbell has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Van damm should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Campbell has tightened it up now! Van damm should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:38 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Selby Campbell!
Selby Campbell seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.