PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Pete Eckhart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean Claude Van Damm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Eckhart
vs
Claude Van Damm

190 cm
19
245 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

198 cm
19
240 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Excellent MT
Granite chin

Excellent MT
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Pete Eckhart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jean Claude Van Damm!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Winston Howard and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Eckhart misses with a looping left.
Van Damm tries to land a body kick
and Eckhart counters with a left to the body.
Van Damm on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Eckhart connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Van Damm stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Eckhart.
Eckhart lands with a thumping leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Eckhart throws a shot to the body.
Van Damm looks gassed!
Van Damm misses with a straight right.
A lazy left from Eckhart finds it's target.
Eckhart misses with a jab, cross combination.
Van Damm fails in his attempt to clinch.

Van Damm clinches up against the ropes.
Van Damm stalling the fight.
Eckhart wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Van Damm has him pressed against the ropes.
Eckhart wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Eckhart blocks the elbow strike.
Eckhart wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Van Damm displaying some good clinch control by pressing Eckhart up against the ropes.

Eckhart manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eckhart misses with a looping right.

Van Damm moves into the clinch successfully.
Eckhart is trying to stall.
Van Damm trying to land knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Van Damm as Eckhart tries to tie him up.
Eckhart wants to break free but Van Damm has control.
Van Damm is working Eckhart over against the ropes.
Eckhart is trying to stall.
Eckhart working hard to break the clinch.
Van Damm comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Eckhart wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Van Damm has him pressed against the ropes.
Eckhart managing to block the knees to the body from Van Damm.
Eckhart wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Damm's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Van Damm scores with a knee to the head.
Van Damm lands a nice knee to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Van Damm is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Eckhart is defending well for now.

Van Damm breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Eckhart lands the left hand.

Van Damm clinches up against the ropes.
Eckhart has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Eckhart wants to break the clinch but can't.

Van Damm breaks from the clinch.
Eckhart swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Damm.
Van Damm tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A jab from Eckhart does it's job there.
Eckhart connects with a right hand. Van Damm shakes it off.
Eckhart throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damm throws a jab when Eckhart was well out of range.
Van Damm is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Eckhart.
Jean Claude Van Damm seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jab, jab by Eckhart - just one landing.

Eckhart drops a shoulder and throws a biiiig uppercut that drops Van Damm onto his butt! Van Damm pops straight back to his feet to convince the referee that he's OK to continue.

Van Damm is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Eckhart uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Van Damm.
Van Damm tries to clinch up.

Van Damm fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Eckhart, pushing him back against the ropes.

Eckhart breaks from the clinch.
Van Damm throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Eckhart misses with a looping right.
Van Damm lands a right hook to the body.

Van Damm rushes Eckhart and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

Eckhart breaks from the clinch.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Van Damm.
Van Damm motions for Eckhart to come forward. Van Damm throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Eckhart throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Van Damm comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Van Damm stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Eckhart.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damm throws a head kick that misses.
Eckhart tries a head kick but it misses.
Eckhart catches Van Damm napping and connects with a fantastic 3 punch combination that sends Van Damm crashing to the mat! He's still conscious but he's all over the place - can he beat the count?!? 4,5,6,7,8...9...10! He didn't make it back to his feet! Eckhart raises both arms skywards and takes in the roar from the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:14 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Pete Eckhart!
After the fight, Pete Eckhart was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.