PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Keyes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean Claude Van Damme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Keyes
vs
Claude Van Damme

172 cm
23
162 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

172 cm
25
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

The Perfect Bloodline Laboratories
The Perfect Bloodline Laboratories

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Stephen Keyes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jean Claude Van Damme!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paulsen Ambrosius and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Damme is looking to clinch but Keyes is avoiding it.
Van Damme is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Van Damme is looking to clinch.

Keyes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Van Damme avoiding damage as Keyes throws knees to the body.
Keyes prevents Van Damme from breaking the clinch.
Van Damme is struggling to control the position.
Keyes slows down the pace here.
Keyes on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Van Damme tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Keyes comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Jean Claude Van Damme has been cut.

Keyes breaks from the clinch.

Van Damme tries to keep at a distance but Keyes has taken the fight into the clinch.
Van Damme wants to break the clinch but can't.
Keyes is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Van Damme pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Van Damme trying to land knees to the body.
Van Damme with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Van Damme with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Keyes managing to block the knees to the body from Van Damme.
Keyes jumps guard but Van Damme stands there with Keyes around his waist. Keyes gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Van Damme takes an elbow to the temple.
Van Damme throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Keyes blocks it with crossed arms.
Van Damme takes a knee to the side of the body.
Keyes unloads a knee to the mid-section. Van Damme lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Keyes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Van Damme is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Keyes is defending well for now.

Keyes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Van Damme takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Keyes turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Keyes moves into the clinch successfully.
Keyes is trying to break the clinch but Van Damme is controlling him.
Keyes misses with a knee strike.
Van Damme wants to stall.
Van Damme tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Keyes with a knee to the head.
Van Damme is trying to force a seperation but Keyes has the dominant position.
Van Damme is trying to force a seperation but Keyes has the dominant position.
Keyes lands a knee to the body.
Keyes lands a knee to the head.
Keyes is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Van Damme scores with a knee to the head.
Keyes on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Van Damme throws a knee to the head but misses.
Van Damme looks gassed!
Keyes utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Keyes tries to land a knee to the head but Van Damme blocks with his arms.
Keyes utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Keyes has Van Damme pushed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Van Damme.
Keyes has Van Damme pressed against the cage, preventing Van Damme from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Van Damme avoiding damage as Keyes throws knees to the body.
Van Damme unloads a knee to the mid-section. Keyes lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Keyes lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Van Damme or not.
Keyes putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Van Damme in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Van Damme misses with a knee strike.
Keyes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Van Damme.
Van Damme stalling in the clinch but Keyes improves position.
Van Damme tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Keyes avoids it.
A short right from Keyes on the inside.
Keyes wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephen Keyes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Damme looking to throw knees to the head but Keyes is blocking nicely.
Keyes avoiding damage as Van Damme throws knees to the body.
Keyes lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Van Damme has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Van Damme manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A short right from Keyes on the inside.
Keyes tries to stall but Van Damme uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A nice left hand lands by Keyes.
Van Damme connects with a nasty looking knee right to Keyes's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme takes a knee right on the jaw!
Keyes tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Van Damme is looking to control Keyes's arms but Keyes gets an underhook and turns him. Now Van Damme has his back to the cage.
Van Damme looking to throw knees to the head but Keyes is blocking nicely.
Van Damme is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Van Damme crunches a lovely knee into Keyes's ribcage.
Keyes landing knees to the body.
Van Damme misses with a knee strike.
Van Damme throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Keyes blocks it with crossed arms.
Van Damme misses with a knee strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Van Damme tries to land a knee to the head but Keyes blocks with his arms.
Keyes will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Van Damme up against the cage.
A knee to the head by Van Damme.
Van Damme using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Keyes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Van Damme lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Van Damme with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Keyes using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Keyes.
Van Damme landing knees to the head.
Keyes scores with a knee to the head.

That's four 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.
Van Damme blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Van Damme misses with a knee strike.
Van Damme misses with a knee strike.
Keyes managing to block the knees to the body from Van Damme.

Keyes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jean Claude Van Damme is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A nice leg kick lands there from Van Damme.
Van Damme tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Van Damme wants to clinch but Keyes slips to the side
and Keyes makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Van Damme throws a leg kick that is checked
and Keyes counters with a nice uppercut.
Keyes scores with a one two! Van Damme had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Keyes takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Keyes fails in his attempt to clinch.

Van Damme has closed the distance and engaged Keyes in a clinch.
Keyes on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Van Damme misses with a knee to the head.
Van Damme misses with a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Keyes obliges.
Keyes connects with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Keyes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jean Claude Van Damme's cut.
That's time! Keyes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Van Damme closes the distance looking to clinch
and Keyes counters with a thumping low kick.
Van Damme moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Van Damme fails with an attempt to clinch.
Van Damme circles away from the clinch attempt.
A shot to the liver by Keyes. Beautiful body shot.
Van Damme tries to close the distance and clinch up but Keyes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Van Damme throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Van Damme pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Keyes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Van Damme manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Van Damme trying to stall but Keyes improves his position.
Van Damme blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Van Damme avoids a wild elbow strike from Keyes.
Van Damme avoiding damage as Keyes throws knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A bit of stalling here from Van Damme.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme lands a knee to the head.
Van Damme landing knees to the head.
Van Damme takes a knee right on the jaw!
Van Damme trying to land knees to the body.
Van Damme avoiding damage as Keyes throws knees to the body.
Van Damme throws a knee to the head but misses.
Keyes looking to throw knees to the head but Van Damme is blocking nicely.
Van Damme tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Van Damme tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Van Damme takes a knee right on the jaw!
Van Damme putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Keyes in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Van Damme is trying to maintain a safe position but Keyes gets an underhook and turns Van Damme into the cage.
Van Damme tries a knee to the head but Keyes blocks it.
Van Damme tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Keyes is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Van Damme lands a knee to the head.
Keyes tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Van Damme with a knee to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Keyes - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Van Damme breaks the clinch.
Keyes takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Keyes cracks Van Damme with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

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.
Keyes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Van Damme as he avoids it easily.
Keyes circles away from the clinch attempt

and Keyes counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Van Damme with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Van Damme escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Van Damme wants to clinch.
Van Damme tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Keyes throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Keyes ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Van Damme tries to close the distance and clinch up but Keyes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Keyes misses with a head kick.
Van Damme throws a sloppy head kick
and Keyes counters with a stiff right hand.
Keyes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Van Damme sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Van Damme doesn't manage to clinch there - Keyes circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Van Damme fails in his attempt to clinch.
Keyes moves in looking to clinch but Van Damme pushes him off.
Van Damme wants to clinch but Keyes slips to the side
and Keyes counters with a stiff right hand.
Van Damme tries to clinch up but Keyes circles away and keeps his distance.
Van Damme is looking to clinch but Keyes is avoiding it.
Van Damme throws a head kick but Keyes moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Van Damme.
A leg kick checked by Keyes.
Van Damme wants to clinch but Keyes slips to the side

and Keyes holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Van Damme landing knees to the body.
Keyes missing with knees to the body.
Van Damme with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Van Damme scores a nice knee to the body.
Van Damme lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Keyes taking a breather.
Keyes looking to throw knees to the head but Van Damme is blocking nicely.
Keyes takes a knee right on the jaw!
Van Damme looking to throw knees to the head but Keyes is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keyes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Van Damme tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Keyes slowing the pace effectively.
Keyes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Keyes prevents Van Damme from breaking the clinch.
Van Damme with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nice elbow from Keyes.
Van Damme is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Keyes is trying to stall.
Keyes 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 with a knee to the head.
Van Damme misses with a knee to the head.
Van Damme tries to land a knee to the head but Keyes blocks with his arms.
Keyes 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 misses with a knee strike.

Keyes breaks the clinch.
Van Damme fails with an attempt to clinch.

Keyes rushes Van Damme and presses him up against the cage.
Van Damme throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Keyes blocks it with crossed arms.
Keyes has Van Damme pressed against the cage, preventing Van Damme from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Claude Van Damme showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jean Claude Van Damme's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Keyes clinches up with Van Damme and pushes him back against the cage.
Keyes lands with a left to the head.
Van Damme connects with a knee to the head.
Keyes landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Keyes throws an elbow but it misses.
Van Damme is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Keyes is defending well for now.
Van Damme trying to control the position but instead, Keyes has worked for underhooks and has pushed Van Damme into the cage.
Keyes tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Van Damme just stands there and leans against the cage.
Keyes jumps guard but Van Damme stands there with Keyes around his waist. Keyes gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Van Damme's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Van Damme tries to clinch
and Keyes counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Keyes takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Keyes closes the distance and pushes Van Damme back into the cage.
Van Damme looking to throw knees to the head but Keyes is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Van Damme is trying to break the clinch but Keyes has him pressed against the cage.
Van Damme connects with a knee to the head.
Van Damme has had enough of the clinch but Keyes keeps him there for the moment.
Keyes pushes Van Damme back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Van Damme tries to break free but Keyes pushes him back against the cage.
Keyes with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keyes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Van Damme using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Keyes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Van Damme breaks the clinch.
Van Damme throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Keyes.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Keyes is defended easily by Van Damme.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephen Keyes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Damme is looking to clinch but Keyes is avoiding it.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Van Damme.
Van Damme closes the distance looking to clinch
and Keyes counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Van Damme fails in his attempt to clinch.
Van Damme tries a head kick but it misses.
Van Damme is looking to clinch.
Van Damme slaps away a takedown attempt from Keyes, before circling back to the center of the mat.
An inside leg kick from Van Damme misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Van Damme tries to clinch up but Keyes circles away and keeps his distance.
Jean Claude Van Damme seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Keyes looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Van Damme is looking to clinch.
Van Damme scores with a leg kick.
Van Damme tries to close the distance and clinch up but Keyes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Van Damme is looking to clinch.
Keyes thows a body shot but no joy.
Keyes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Van Damme throws a lazy head kick
and Keyes counters with a one-two to the body.
Van Damme closes the distance but Keyes moves to the side

and Keyes counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Keyes.
A knee to the head by Van Damme.
Van Damme lands a knee to the head.
Van Damme using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Van Damme.
Keyes on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Keyes working Van Damme over with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Keyes blocks it with crossed arms.
Stephen Keyes has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Keyes working Van Damme over with knees to the body.
Keyes working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A nice right hand lands inside from Keyes.
Van Damme looking to throw knees to the head but Keyes is blocking nicely.
Keyes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Van Damme avoids it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The referee calls for Keyes to work.
Van Damme misses with a knee strike.

Van Damme manages to break the clinch.
Keyes 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.
Van Damme moves in looking to clinch but Keyes pushes him off.
Van Damme throws a head kick that Keyes semi-blocks.

Keyes rushes Van Damme and presses him up against the cage.
Van Damme with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Knees in the clinch landing for Keyes.
Keyes stalling in the clinch but Van Damme improves position.
Van Damme looking to throw knees to the head but Keyes is blocking nicely.
Keyes working Van Damme over with knees to the body.
Van Damme looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Keyes looking to throw knees to the head but Van Damme is blocking nicely.
Van Damme utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Van Damme throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Keyes blocks it with crossed arms.
Van Damme takes a knee right on the jaw!
Van Damme tries to land knees in the clinch but Keyes avoids the damage to the body.
Van Damme blocks an elbow strike.
Keyes taking a breather.
Van Damme taking a breather.
Van Damme with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Keyes landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Van Damme blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Van Damme throws a knee to the head but misses.
Keyes takes a knee to the side of the body.
Van Damme throws a knee to the head but misses.
Keyes pressing his opponent against the cage.
Van Damme misses with a knee strike.
Van Damme is trying to stall.
Keyes prevents Van Damme from breaking the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Keyes takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jean Claude Van Damme.
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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jean Claude Van Damme!