PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jamie Rooney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean Claude Van Damme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Rooney
vs
Claude Van Damme

180 cm
18
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Prefers standup

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jamie Rooney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jean Claude Van Damme!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Damme tries to clinch but Rooney moves out of range.

Rooney looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rooney preventing the sweep.
Rooney tries to free his leg and advance position but Van Damme is retaining full guard.

Van Damme has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rooney can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rooney trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Damme is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Van Damme tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Van Damme keeping full guard, as Rooney tries to pass.
Rooney looking to sit in guard and control but Van Damme gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Damme drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rooney looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rooney looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rooney!
Rooney wants to lay and pray for a moment but Van Damme keeps working.

Rooney is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Van Damme has escaped the position, nice work there.

Rooney goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Van Damme has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Rooney but great work by Van Damme.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Van Damme tries for a kimura but Rooney is defending well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rooney tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Van Damme is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rooney has escaped the position, nice work there.
Van Damme looks gassed!
Van Damme looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Rooney is avoiding damage well.

Van Damme wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rooney, who protects the arm well.
Rooney regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rooney makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rooney.

Rooney is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Rooney wants the takedown. Van Damme is fighting it off but Rooney persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Van Damme's guard against the cage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rooney sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Van Damme's guard.
Rooney trying to control the action but Van Damme is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rooney is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Van Damme is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rooney has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rooney fails to advance to Van Damme's back.
Van Damme is squirming around, avoiding Rooney's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamie Rooney dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A looping hook to the body misses from Rooney. Van Damme does a little dance to reset his feet.

Rooney throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Van Damme was covering up waiting for the punch and Rooney finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rooney stands and throws Van Damme's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Van Damme is trying to work for a sweep but Rooney has mounted him!
Rooney looking to control but Van Damme is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Rooney goes for an armbar but Van Damme turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Van Damme.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Damme postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rooney is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Van Damme, into his guard.
Rooney stands and throws Van Damme's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Van Damme tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rooney wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

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.
Rooney works to advance to full mount. Van Damme defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Rooney is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Van Damme can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Rooney takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Rooney goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Van Damme is on top in guard.
Rooney wants to sweep here but Van Damme controlling him for the moment.
Van Damme must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rooney keeping moving, preventing Van Damme from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rooney is on top in guard.
Rooney trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rooney wants to stand but Van Damme has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rooney with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rooney trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Damme is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rooney wants to pass the guard but Van Damme is keeping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rooney is pushing down on Van Damme's leg trying to pass to half guard. Van Damme is fighting to maintain full guard but Rooney has managed to sneak the leg through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamie Rooney dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Van Damme gets caught flat footed, as Rooney shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rooney trying to control but Van Damme is working from the bottom.

Van Damme has his foot on Rooney's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rooney works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rooney pushing down on Van Damme's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Van Damme wants to control but Rooney is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rooney is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Van Damme!
Rooney controlling from mount.
Van Damme tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rooney landing strikes from the mount and Van Damme is in trouble!

Rooney looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Rooney wants to control the pace but Van Damme is squirming around nicely.

Rooney moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Van Damme has worked his arm free - good work by Van Damme!

Rooney is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Van Damme has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rooney grinds an elbow into Van Damme's temple.
Jamie Rooney is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rooney taking a breather here.

Rooney thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rooney remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jamie Rooney showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rooney has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jamie Rooney!