PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Issac Wise (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arvin Van Damme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Wise
vs
Van Damme

188 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
245 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Issac Wise!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Arvin Van Damme!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Seu Braga and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Van Damme misses its intended target.
Wise is looking to counter punch.
Wise keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Van Damme.
Decent striking displayed by Van Damme there.
Van Damme works the jab nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Wise.
Van Damme lands a jab to Wise's midsection.
Van Damme tests Wise's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Van Damme throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wise slips a straight right by Van Damme.
Wise appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Van Damme throws a right hand that misses

and Wise counters by clinching up.

Wise pulls Van Damme into guard.
Wise really is a fat lump.
Wise trying to control the position.
Van Damme tries to stand but Wise is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wise is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Van Damme preventing the sweep.
Wise is trying to keep Van Damme in close.
Van Damme passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.

That's two 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.

Wise looking for submissions off his back.

Van Damme postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Wise to stand up.
Van Damme throws the left hand but Wise avoids the punch easily.
Wise avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Wise doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Van Damme just misses with a punch to the body.
Wise staying out of range there.
Wise tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Van Damme manages to circle out of the way.
Van Damme throws a lazy right hand but Wise sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
As Van Damme tries to get set, Wise tries to push him back and clinch up but Van Damme manages to avoid the attempt.
A swing and a miss from Van Damme.
Wise is looking to counter with head kicks.
Arvin Van Damme is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme misses with a hook. Wise ducked under it nicely.
Arvin Van Damme seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Damme throws a poor cross that misses

and Wise moves into the clinch.

Wise is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Van Damme can't fight it off and eventually Wise manages to take the fight to the floor. Van Damme looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Van Damme wants to get back to his feet but Wise is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wise is in close to Van Damme's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Van Damme is looking to stand up but Wise isn't so interested in that idea.
Van Damme wants to get back to his feet but Wise passes into half guard.
Van Damme is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wise scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Wise prevents Van Damme from standing back up.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Wise looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Van Damme looks like he's trying to stand up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Van Damme has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Wise is on him like a limpet, forcing Van Damme back against the cage.
Wise has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Van Damme avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Wise decides to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Wise blocks a jab.
Wise is looking to counter with head kicks.
Van Damme lands a jab to Wise's midsection.
Van Damme scores with a three punch combo!
Van Damme scores with a crisp jab that stopped Wise in his tracks.
Van Damme lands a jab to Wise's midsection.
Van Damme uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Wise has time to react.
Wise defending well as Van Damme loads up on a big left hand.
Van Damme dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Wise.
Wise moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Van Damme has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Van Damme gets tackled into the cage by Wise. Wise maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wise has clasped his hands together around Van Damme's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Van Damme is trying to get back to his feet.
Van Damme is looking to get back to his feet here but Wise is keeping cool and he's managed to take Van Damme's back.
Van Damme is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wise is looking for the choke from the back position but Van Damme is controlling his hands well.
Van Damme trying to get back to his feet but Wise is in full control for now.

Wise working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Van Damme wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Damme is trying to shake Wise off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Wise won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
Van Damme misses with an uppercut.

Wise clinches up against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Van Damme.

Wise jumps guard and drags Van Damme to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Van Damme. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Wise isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Van Damme stacks Wise on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Van Damme!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Van Damme decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wise slips a jab from Van Damme.
Wise is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Van Damme.
Van Damme misses with a looping left.
Wise takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Van Damme missing with a left hand there. Wise was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wise moves away from the strike by Van Damme.
Wise displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Van Damme throws out the jab.
Wise takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Van Damme misses with a straight right.
Van Damme just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromWise.
Wise moves out of range of the strikes.
Wise looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Wise slips under a jab from Van Damme.
Van Damme lands a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Van Damme. Wise does a little dance to reset his feet.
Wise tries to counter by clinching up but Van Damme breaks away and moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arvin Van Damme showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Van Damme waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Wise.
A jab from Van Damme misses.
Wise is looking to counter the offense by Van Damme and move into the clinch.
Van Damme misses with a right hand
and Wise counters with a head kick.
A big left from Van Damme misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Van Damme misses the target.
Van Damme looks to land a right hand but Wise moved out of range.
It looked like Wise wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Van Damme throws a poor cross that misses

and Wise holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Van Damme has had enough of the clinch but Wise keeps him there for the moment.

Wise breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Damme lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Van Damme lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Wise uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Van Damme.
Van Damme misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wise slips a straight right by Van Damme.
Wise slips a straight right by Van Damme.
As Van Damme tries to get set, Wise tries to push him back and clinch up but Van Damme manages to avoid the attempt.
Nice jab there from Van Damme.
Wise tries to bum rush Van Damme with a series of wild strikes but Van Damme uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Van Damme misses with an uppercut. Wise saw that one coming.
Wise seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Van Damme swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Wise lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Van Damme throws out a loose jab but Wise uses good head movement to avoid it.
Van Damme misses with a double jab

and Wise moves into the clinch.

Wise pulls Van Damme into guard.

Van Damme stands up from guard. Let's bang!

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

Van Damme has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Wise is on him like a limpet, forcing Van Damme back against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Wise tries to pull guard but Van Damme forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Wise breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wise ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A slow jab from Van Damme misses its intended target.
Wise appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Wise staying out of range there.
Van Damme throws a jab but it's blocked by Wise.
Wise blocks a jab.
Van Damme misses the shot to the body.
Wise is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Van Damme.
Van Damme scores with a crisp jab that stopped Wise in his tracks.
Wise slips a straight right by Van Damme.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Damme closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Wise fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Van Damme, pushing him back against the cage.
Van Damme misses with the head strike.

Wise breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Van Damme fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wise manages to avoid it.
Van Damme dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Arvin Van Damme seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Van Damme misses with an uppercut

and Wise counters by clinching up.
Van Damme misses with a punch on the inside.

Wise lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Van Damme kicks Wise off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Damme connects with a single shot there.
Van Damme throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Wise counters by clinching up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Wise.
Wise blocking some punches.

Wise jumps guard.
Van Damme won't allow Wise to get back to his feet.

Van Damme stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Van Damme scores with a shot to the body.
Wise closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Van Damme might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Wise takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
The fighters circling - Van Damme throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
As Van Damme looks to move away, Wise throws a big counter combo but Van Damme just gets out of the way.
Wise ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Issac Wise has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Arvin Van Damme is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Van Damme throws a looping overhand right but Wise ducks down to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arvin Van Damme comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Van Damme winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arvin Van Damme!
Arvin Van Damme spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.