PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paolo Nutnini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valentijn Van Damme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Nutnini
vs
Van Damme

170 cm
24
160 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

178 cm
23
164 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paolo Nutnini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Valentijn Van Damme!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Paul Aken and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Damme lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Nutnini shoots in but Van Damme avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Van Damme turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Van Damme clinches with his opponent.
Van Damme is stalling here.
Van Damme pushes Nutnini back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Van Damme prevents a takedown attempt there.
Van Damme lands a left hand that snaps the head of Nutnini backwards.

Van Damme escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Van Damme lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Van Damme lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nutnini circles away quickly and effectively.
Van Damme moves in looking to clinch but Nutnini pushes him off.
Nutnini shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Van Damme as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paolo Nutnini. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nutnini tries for a takedown but Van Damme sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Nutnini closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Nutnini lands in his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nutnini sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Nutnini is refusing to be controlled, as Van Damme sits in half guard.
Van Damme tries to stand and escape but Nutnini is controlling the position.
Van Damme wants to control but Nutnini is keeping him busy.
Nutnini is looking to improve his position.

Nutnini looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nutnini is breathing heavily.

Nutnini looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

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.
Van Damme performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Nutnini looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Van Damme moves into the clinch.
Van Damme lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Nutnini backwards.

Van Damme's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Van Damme scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nutnini takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Nice shot lands for Van Damme.
Van Damme stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Van Damme wants it to stay on the feet.
Van Damme lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Van Damme throws a head kick but Nutnini moves out of range.
Nice shot by Van Damme.
Van Damme lands a with a good body shot.
Van Damme keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Van Damme moves into the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Van Damme.
Van Damme scores with a hook to the body.
Van Damme lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Van Damme lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Van Damme pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Van Damme throws a right and a left that Nutnini avoids nicely.
Van Damme dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Nutnini. That did some damage!

Van Damme moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Van Damme as the two fighters clinch.
Nutnini takes a shot to the head.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
A right handed body shot lands from Van Damme.
Van Damme misses with an elbow strike.

Van Damme turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Van Damme manages to end up in side control.
Nutnini manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Nutnini looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Nutnini actively working from the bottom here.
Van Damme thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Nutnini looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Nutnini looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentijn Van Damme dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Van Damme lunges at Nutnini with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Nutnini's hand.
Van Damme dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Nutnini. That did some damage!
Van Damme clobbers Nutnini with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Van Damme moves into the clinch.
Nutnini drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Van Damme gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nutnini stops a takedown attempt from Van Damme.
Van Damme misses with a knee strike.
Van Damme lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Nutnini backwards.

Van Damme breaks the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nutnini is defended easily by Van Damme.
Nutnini avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Damme drives through and clinches with Nutnini against the cage.
Nutnini takes a shot to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Van Damme.
Nutnini is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paolo Nutnini. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Damme softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Van Damme has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Nutnini uses from the top position.

Nutnini drops back, looking for a kneebar! Van Damme looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Van Damme looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Van Damme!
Van Damme trying to control the position but Nutnini is working away.
Nutnini tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Van Damme wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Van Damme decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Van Damme scores with a nice strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nutnini has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Van Damme throws a nice outside leg kick.
Van Damme clobbers Nutnini with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Van Damme rushes Nutnini and presses him up against the cage.
Van Damme lands a body shot.
Van Damme has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Nice body punch from Van Damme - that landed with a thud.
Van Damme throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Van Damme throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Nutnini's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Nutnini goes for a takedown in the clinch but Van Damme prevents it.
Van Damme lands a shot to the body.
Van Damme misses with an elbow over the top.
Van Damme scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Nutnini drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Van Damme gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Damme tightens his grip and picks Nutnini up, before dumping him to the ground. Nutnini manages to land in guard.

Nutnini has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Van Damme can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Nutnini is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nutnini keeping moving, preventing Van Damme from controlling successfully.

Nutnini looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Nutnini had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Van Damme defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme is looking to stand up but Nutnini won't let him.

Van Damme avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Van Damme controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Nutnini working for a triangle but Van Damme defends it easily.

Nutnini is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Van Damme defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentijn Van Damme showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Van Damme cracks Nutnini with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Nutnini moves away from the strike by Van Damme.
Van Damme punishes Nutnini's body with a nice straight punch.
Van Damme is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Nutnini looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Van Damme!

Nutnini working for a guillotine from mount but Van Damme is in no mood to give up.
Van Damme working to try and regain half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Van Damme somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nutnini shoots for a double leg takedown but Van Damme sprawls well. He's pushed Nutnini's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Van Damme lands with an overhand left.
Van Damme lands a jab to Nutnini's midsection.
Van Damme throws a right and a left that Nutnini avoids nicely.
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.
Nutnini shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Van Damme as he avoids it easily.
Danga de danga de dang - Van Damme scores with a four punch combination!
A shot to de liver by Van Damme. Beautiful body shot.
Valentijn Van Damme seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Van Damme lands with an overhand left.

Nutnini closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nutnini tries to pass to full mount but Van Damme defends it.

Nutnini seems to be working for a kimura but Van Damme defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nutnini prevents Van Damme from improving his position.

Nutnini is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Van Damme doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nutnini.

Van Damme is defending against the submission attempts here by Nutnini.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nutnini is looking for a kimura but Van Damme is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nutnini to get the leverage.
Van Damme is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Nutnini is trying to work for a kimura but Van Damme is defending well.

Nutnini is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nutnini prevents Van Damme from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Nutnini is looking for a kimura but Van Damme is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nutnini to get the leverage.

Nutnini 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.

Nutnini is trying to work for a kimura but Van Damme is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paolo Nutnini showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Van Damme has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29

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