PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Axel Van Dam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pas Squini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van Dam kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Beatdown - Gunman Joe. Axel Van Dam has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Van Dam
vs
Squini

186 cm
21
212 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
19
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Axel Van Dam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pas Squini!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Dillan Fox and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Squini uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Van Dam.
Squini with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Van Dam to score with a decent uppercut.

It looks like Pas Squini has been cut.
Van Dam closes the distance and clinches up with Squini, looking for a takedown. Van Dam pushes Squini against the cage but Squini circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Van Dam scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Van Dam is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Squini has escaped the position, nice work there.
Van Dam wants to control but Squini is keeping him busy.
Van Dam slows the pace down.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Squini stops Van Dam from passing to mount.
Squini tries to escape but Van Dam is in control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Squini can do anything to dispel that myth.
Van Dam controlling the position from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Dam prevents Squini from escaping the position.
Van Dam wants to control but Squini is keeping him busy.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Van Dam gets a takedown into half guard.

Van Dam is looking for a kimura but Squini is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Van Dam to get the leverage.
Van Dam trying to pass the guard but Squini defending well.
Squini really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Van Dam. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Dam stops Squini from getting back to his feet.
Van Dam has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Van Dam is going olschool here, as he tries to force Squini to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Squini shrugs it off.
Squini has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Van Dam tries to get the hooks in deep but Squini pushed the leg off.

Van Dam is persistently looking for the submission but Squini is defending it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Squini is trying to stand back up.
Will Van Dam go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Van Dam throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

Squini is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Van Dam gets his way!
Van Dam missing with strikes from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Dam trying to control momentarily.
Van Dam missing with strikes from the back.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

Squini defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Squini is trying to defend against the choke here but Van Dam has an arm under his chin. This one might not last much longer. Van Dam Tightens the hold and Squini taps out furiously! Van Dam displays superior BJJ to win the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Axel Van Dam!