PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jean Claude Van Damme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Thomson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Claude Van Damme
vs
Thomson

172 cm
27
162 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

172 cm
20
166 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Powerful

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jean Claude Van Damme!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ricky Thomson!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Daniel Blasius and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomson scores with a takedown into Van Damme's guard.
Van Damme keeping moving, preventing Thomson from controlling successfully.

Thomson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Van Damme is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Thomson, into his guard.

Thomson is looking for a triangle here but Van Damme uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Thomson tries to bench press Van Damme off him but Van Damme keeps the position.
Van Damme tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Thomson is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Thomson manages to work his way to half guard, despite Van Damme's best efforts.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van Damme tries to stand but can't do so whilst Thomson controls his leg.
Thomson trying to control from the bottom.

Thomson actively working from the bottom here.
Thomson controlling the position well.
Van Damme is thwarting Thomson's attempts to control the position.

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.
Thomson is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Van Damme is staying active.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ricky Thomson was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Thomson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Ricky Thomson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Van Damme fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Thomson, pushing him back against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Van Damme.
Thomson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Thomson fails to pull guard.
Van Damme looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Thomson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Van Damme smiles and moves away.

Van Damme has closed the distance and engaged Thomson in a clinch.
Van Damme with a knee to the head.
A short left from Thomson.
Van Damme looking to throw knees to the head but Thomson is blocking nicely.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Thomson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Van Damme throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomson fails to pull guard.
Jean Claude Van Damme has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Thomson.

Thomson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Thomson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Van Damme wants to get up but he can't break Thomson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Van Damme got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thomson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Van Damme has managed to get both his arms back between Thomson's legs - danger averted.
Van Damme has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Thomson is proving hard to escape from.

Thomson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Van Damme defends it easily.
Van Damme has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Thomson is proving hard to escape from.

That's four 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.
Thomson trying to keep a closed guard but Van Damme is proving a slippery customer.
Van Damme trying to stand up but can't free himself from Thomson's guard.
Van Damme preventing the sweep.
Thomson is looking to sweep but instead, Van Damme has passed into half guard.
Van Damme wants to stand up but Thomson is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Damme prevents Thomson from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jean Claude Van Damme will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Van Damme moves into the clinch.
Thomson tries to break free but Van Damme pushes him back against the cage.
Van Damme landing knees to the head.
Thomson can't get the takedown.
Van Damme connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Ricky Thomson has been cut.

Thomson pulls guard successfully.
Thomson has a closed guard, preventing Van Damme from standing up.

Thomson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Van Damme defends well.
Thomson wants to hit a switch here but Van Damme passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Thomson there!
Thomson is desperately trying to improve his position but Van Damme has a good base and remains in mount.

Van Damme get's back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Damme gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Thomson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Van Dammes head.
Van Damme avoiding damage as Thomson throws knees to the body.
Van Damme with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Thomson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Van Damme throws an elbow but misses.

Thomson pulls guard effortlessly.
Van Damme tries to stand but Thomson is controlling from the bottom.

Van Damme stands up from Thomson's guard - Van Damme perhaps looking for a knockout.

Van Damme gets a clinch.
Van Damme prevents the takedown attempt.
Thomson is trying to stall.
Thomson wants a takedown.
Jean Claude Van Damme has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Thomson.
Thomson is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Van Damme with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Van Damme lands a knee to the head.
Van Damme tries a knee to the head but Thomson blocks it.
Van Damme is pressed up against the cage. Thomson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Van Damme down to the mat. Van Damme avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Van Damme fakes the leg kick and cracks Thomson in the body.

Van Damme fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Thomson, pushing him back against the cage.
Van Damme tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Van Damme obliges.
Van Damme with a knee to the head.
Thomson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Van Damme throws a knee to the head but misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Van Damme throws an elbow but misses.
Thomson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Van Damme unloads a knee to the mid-section. Thomson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Van Damme working Thomson over with knees to the body.

Van Damme pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thomson tries to pull guard but Van Damme won't allow it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knees to the body from Van Damme.
Van Damme using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Thomson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thomson has had enough of the clinch but Van Damme keeps him there for the moment.
A knee to the head by Van Damme.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Thomson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Van Damme scores a nice knee to the body.
Van Damme trying to control the position but instead, Thomson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Van Damme into the cage.
Thomson looking to slow down the pace here.
Van Damme scores with a knee to the head.
Van Damme is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Thomson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Van Damme just stands there and leans against the cage.
Thomson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Van Damme tries to land a knee to the head but Thomson blocks with his arms.
Thomson tries to pull guard but Van Damme won't allow it.
Van Damme tries to land a knee to the head but Thomson blocks with his arms.
Thomson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Van Damme prevents it.
Van Damme stops a takedown attempt from Thomson.
Van Damme landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Van Damme landing knees to the head.
Van Damme slows down the pace here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Van Damme landing knees to the head.
Van Damme lands a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme scores with a knee to the head.
Van Damme with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Thomson crunches a lovely knee into Van Damme's ribcage.
Van Damme with a knee to the head.
Thomson lands a nice elbow.
Van Damme landing knees to the head.

Thomson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Thomson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

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

Thomson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Van Damme passes into half guard.
Van Damme tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Thomson.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomson is looking to escape.
Thomson tries to get to full guard but Van Damme has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Claude Van Damme dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ricky Thomson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Thomson rushes Van Damme and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Van Damme misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thomson.
Van Damme lands a knee to the head.
Van Damme looking to slow down the pace here.
Van Damme throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thomson trying to land knees to the body.
Van Damme using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Thomson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Van Damme connects with a knee to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Van Damme tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Thomson avoids it.
Van Damme controlling the action here for a moment.
Van Damme trying to control the position but instead, Thomson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Van Damme into the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Van Damme walks away with a smile on his face. Thomson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Thomson gets a clinch.
Thomson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Thomson misses with an elbow strike.

Thomson gets control of Van Damme's arms and successfully pulls guard. Thomson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Van Damme tries to stand but Thomson is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomson trying to control the position.

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

Thomson is looking for a triangle here but Van Damme uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Thomson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

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 has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Thomson blocks a head kick by Van Damme.

Thomson gets the takedown into side control.

Thomson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Van Damme is pushing Thomson's head away, looking to escape. Thomson manages to hold on to the position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Van Damme is trying to buck Thomson off.
Van Damme 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.

Thomson decides to stand back up. Thomson steps back and let's Van Damme get back to his feet.
Thomson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Van Damme clinches up with Thomson and pushes him back against the cage.
Van Damme unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Van Damme misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme unloads a knee to the mid-section. Thomson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Van Damme landing knees to the body.
Van Damme working hard to break the clinch.
Jean Claude Van Damme has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Van Damme landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Thomson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Van Damme walks away with a smile on his face. Thomson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Jean Claude Van Damme has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Thomson.

Van Damme darts in and clinches Thomson up against the cage.
Van Damme putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Thomson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Thomson takes an elbow to the forehead.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Thomson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Van Damme landing knees to the head.
Jean Claude Van Damme is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thomson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Thomson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Van Damme walks away with a smile on his face. Thomson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Van Damme has closed the distance and engaged Thomson in a clinch.
Thomson fails to pull guard.
Ricky Thomson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thomson tries to score a body lock takedown but Van Damme shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Knees in the clinch landing for Van Damme.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jean Claude Van Damme showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Van Damme, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 30:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27

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