PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tracey Gamble (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luc Van Der Vaart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gamble
vs
Van Der Vaart

197 cm
20
161 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

182 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tracey Gamble!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Luc Van Der Vaart!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Radbod Blank and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Der Vaart tries a head kick but it misses.

Van Der Vaart moves into the clinch successfully.
Gamble tries to pull guard but Van Der Vaart holds him up against the cage and eventually Gamble drops back down to his feet.
The referee is keeping an eye on Van Der Vaart - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Gamble really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Van Der Vaart is trying to pull guard but Gamble turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Van Der Vaart is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gamble gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Van Der Vaart's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Van Der Vaart gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gamble tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Van Der Vaart smiles and moves away.
Gamble shoots for a takedown but Van Der Vaart saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tracey Gamble. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Der Vaart throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Gamble counters with a solid body kick.
Van Der Vaart throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gamble delivers a nice body kick.

Van Der Vaart closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Van Der Vaart - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Gamble is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Van Der Vaart to keep the fight standing.
Gamble fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gamble fails to pull guard.
Gamble digs a right hand into Van Der Vaart's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Van Der Vaart's gas tank.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gamble blocks an elbow strike from Van Der Vaart.
Van Der Vaart takes an elbow to the temple.
Van Der Vaart avoids a wild elbow strike from Gamble.

Van Der Vaart gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Van Der Vaart drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gamble looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gamble looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gamble!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Der Vaart tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gamble wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gamble in side control, throwing shots but Van Der Vaart defends.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Vaart pushes Gamble away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Gamble gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Gamble is looking to take a break and control but Van Der Vaart is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Gamble tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Van Der Vaart tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gamble wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gamble working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Der Vaart is not content to let Gamble control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Vaart tries to buck Gamble off but Gamble is having none of it.
Van Der Vaart isn't going anywhere.
Gamble taking a break here but Van Der Vaart is having none of it and regains half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Van Der Vaart can do anything to dispel that myth.
Van Der Vaart controlling the position well.
Van Der Vaart looks winded!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gamble is trying to control the action in half guard but Van Der Vaart is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Van Der Vaart makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Van Der Vaart.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luc Van Der Vaart dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Van Der Vaart misses with a kick to the body
and Gamble counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Van Der Vaart is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Luc Van Der Vaart seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Der Vaart shoots in but Gamble avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gamble shoots and misses

and Van Der Vaart holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Van Der Vaart breaks from the clinch.
Van Der Vaart slaps away a takedown attempt from Gamble, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Van Der Vaart has Gamble up against the cage in a clinch.

Van Der Vaart gets control of Gamble's arms and successfully pulls guard. Van Der Vaart will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Gamble trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Der Vaart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Van Der Vaart wants to sweep here but Gamble controlling him for the moment.
Gamble will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gamble wants to control from the top but Van Der Vaart keeps moving.
Van Der Vaart looking to control.
Van Der Vaart is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Van Der Vaart moves into the clinch.
Van Der Vaart is trying to break the clinch but Gamble has him pressed against the cage.

Van Der Vaart breaks the clinch.
Gamble throws a front kick that sends Van Der Vaart stumbling back into the cage.
Gamble shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tracey Gamble. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van Der Vaart forces Gamble back against the cage and clinches.
Gamble is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Van Der Vaart gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Van Der Vaart fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Van Der Vaart gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Gamble regains guard.
Van Der Vaart is breathing heavily.
Van Der Vaart is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Der Vaart won't allow Gamble to get back to his feet.
Luc Van Der Vaart has got the better of the ground game so far.
Van Der Vaart controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Vaart tries to stand but Gamble is controlling from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Luc Van Der Vaart hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Van Der Vaart throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gamble counters with a head kick. That will keep Van Der Vaart thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Van Der Vaart fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gamble, pushing him back against the cage.
Gamble lands an elbow that stopped Van Der Vaart in his tracks for a moment.
A right hand to the body from Gamble.
Van Der Vaart dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Gamble keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Van Der Vaart's efforts to push away.
Nice body punch from Gamble - that landed with a thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Vaart stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Gamble tries to pull guard but Van Der Vaart forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Gamble gets through Van Der Vaart's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Gamble throws an elbow but it misses.
Gamble is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Van Der Vaart is defending well for now.
Van Der Vaart is trying to break the clinch but Gamble is controlling him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gamble looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Van Der Vaart is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gamble is keeping busy.
Van Der Vaart blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luc Van Der Vaart showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Gamble shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gamble shoots and misses
and Van Der Vaart counters with a two punch combo.
Gamble shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Van Der Vaart defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tracey Gamble. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gamble misses with a takedown

and Van Der Vaart counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Van Der Vaart.
Van Der Vaart pushes down on Gamble's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Van Der Vaart connects with a nice short shot to Gamble's temple.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Der Vaart is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Van Der Vaart takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Der Vaart is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Gamble to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Gamble shrugs it off.
Van Der Vaart controlling from mount.
Gamble has given up his back. Will we see Van Der Vaart going for some submissions?

Van Der Vaart tightening his grip on Gamble, looking for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gamble is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Van Der Vaart.
Gamble looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gamble trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Van Der Vaart working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Vaart controls the action.
Van Der Vaart lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Van Der Vaart sinks in the hooks and is looking for the choke. He's got it! Gamble taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Luc Van Der Vaart!