PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mervin Cobb (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fred Van Damme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cobb
vs
Van Damme

203 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

190 cm
18
165 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Mervin Cobb!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Fred Van Damme!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Andrew Berry and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Van Damme closes the distance and clinches.
Van Damme told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.

Van Damme breaks from the clinch.

Van Damme clinches.
Cobb with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Van Damme has clasped his hands together around Cobb's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Van Damme decides to stand up, so the ref orders Cobb to his feet.

Van Damme pushes Cobb up against the cage in a clinch.
Cobb misses with a punch on the inside.
Van Damme is trying to push Cobb away but Cobb has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Van Damme is looking to break free of the clinch but Cobb has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Damme breaks the clinch.
Van Damme throws a head kick that misses.
Van Damme just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromCobb.
No luck for Cobb with that takedown attempt.

Van Damme instigates a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Cobb fails to land.

Van Damme pulls guard effortlessly.
Cobb lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cobb slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van Damme kicks Cobb off and gets to his feet.
Van Damme tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cobb swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cobb throws a big counter combination but Van Damme scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Cobb takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Cobb lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Van Damme circles away quickly and effectively.
Fred Van Damme is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Van Damme tries to clinch up
and Cobb counters with a two punch combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Damme is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cobb misses with a leg kick.

Van Damme gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cobb really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cobb misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cobb keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Van Damme's efforts to push away.

Van Damme breaks from the clinch.
Van Damme tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Cobb counters with a thumping low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van Damme moves into the clinch.
Cobb throws a knee to the head but misses.
Cobb stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Van Damme pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cobb avoids the head kick by Van Damme.
Cobb throws a series of punches but Van Damme avoids them all with ease.
Fred Van Damme seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cobb avoids the head kick by Van Damme.

Van Damme has closed the distance and engaged Cobb in a clinch.

Van Damme breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Van Damme dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Van Damme rushes Cobb and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cobb stalling the fight.

Van Damme pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Cobb forces Van Damme back against the cage and clinches.

Cobb successfully pulls guard.
Cobb has control of Van Damme's left arm, preventing Van Damme from doing any damage.
Cobb is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Van Damme has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cobb is working an open guard so Van Damme takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Mervin Cobb is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick misses from Van Damme.
Cobb avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Damme moves into the clinch.
Van Damme working hard to break the clinch.

Van Damme's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Van Damme tries to clinch up but Cobb circles away and keeps his distance.
Cobb avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cobb throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fred Van Damme seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Van Damme closes the distance and clinches.

Van Damme manages to break the clinch.
Cobb lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Cobb blocks a head kick by Van Damme.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme misses with a head kick.

Cobb clinches up against the cage.

Van Damme manages to break the clinch.

Van Damme has Cobb up against the cage in a clinch.
Cobb stalling against the cage.
Cobb misses with a hook to the ribs.
Van Damme blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Van Damme.
Fred Van Damme seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cobb with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cobb is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cobb is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Van Damme is defending well for now.

Van Damme breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Van Damme misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cobb blocks a head kick by Van Damme.
Van Damme moves to clinch but Cobb breaks away
and Cobb counters with an inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cobb is looking for a counter combo.

Van Damme has taken the fight to the clinch.

Van Damme escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Van Damme misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cobb tries to clinch up.
Van Damme tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cobb swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cobb digs a good body shot into Van Damme's ribs.

Van Damme has closed the distance and engaged Cobb in a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cobb has a couple of punches blocked by Van Damme.

Van Damme manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Van Damme showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Van Damme fails with an attempt to clinch.
Van Damme throws a head kick that misses.
Cobb avoids the head kick by Van Damme.
Cobb wants to clinch up but Van Damme keeps it at a distance.

Van Damme closes the distance and clinches.

Van Damme turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Cobb throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Van Damme tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cobb paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Van Damme pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cobb fails with an attempt to clinch.
Van Damme doesn't manage to clinch there - Cobb circles away.
Van Damme tries to close the distance and clinch but Cobb swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cobb went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Van Damme closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cobb slows down the pace here.
Van Damme wants to get back to striking at distance but Cobb won't allow it.

Van Damme's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cobb.
Cobb misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Van Damme takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Cobb has Van Damme up against the cage in a clinch.
Cobb slows down the pace here.
Van Damme tries to circle away but Cobb has him pinned against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Van Damme pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Van Damme plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Van Damme slaps away a takedown attempt from Cobb, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Van Damme takes the fight into the clinch.
Cobb is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Van Damme looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cobb has Van Damme pressed against the cage, preventing Van Damme from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Cobb just misses with a elbow thrown towards Van Damme's brow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Still in the clinch, Cobb scores with a nice short uppercut.
Mervin Cobb has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fred Van Damme is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Van Damme using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cobb has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fred Van Damme comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Van Damme 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fred Van Damme!