PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jean Claude Van Damm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcellous Nikoteen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van Damm comes to the cage accompanied by Sorry 4 the wait. Marcellous Nikoteen is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Claude Van Damm
vs
Nikoteen

198 cm
21
240 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

185 cm
28
266 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Prefers standup

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jean Claude Van Damm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Marcellous Nikoteen!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Skip Squint and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Damm tries to close the distance and clinch but Nikoteen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Marcellous Nikoteen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nikoteen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Nikoteen drops Van Damm with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Van Damm looks back up at him and smiles so Nikoteen waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

It looks like Jean Claude Van Damm has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nikoteen throws a nice looking combination but Van Damm bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nikoteen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Van Damm closes the distance and clinches.
Van Damm with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Van Damm.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Van Damm gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Van Damm lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nikoteen wants to stall.
A frustrated look appears on Nikoteen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Van Damm lands a nice elbow.
Van Damm lands an elbow inside that Nikoteen shrugs off.

It looks like Marcellous Nikoteen has been cut.
Van Damm lands an elbow inside that Nikoteen shrugs off.
Van Damm utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Nikoteen looks gassed!
Still in the clinch, Van Damm scores with a nice short uppercut.

Van Damm manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Damm fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nikoteen, pushing him back against the cage.
Nikoteen wants to break free but Van Damm has control.
Nikoteen takes a knee to the side of the body.
Van Damm connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nikoteen's face.
Nikoteen goes for a takedown attempt but Van Damm pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Van Damm instigates a clinch.
Van Damm with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Van Damm pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Van Damm lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Van Damm closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Van Damm lands with a short shot to the head.
Nikoteen is looking to take this one to the mat.

Van Damm escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Van Damm takes the fight into the clinch.
Van Damm lands a nice knee to the body.
Nikoteen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Damm with a knee to the head.

Van Damm's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nikoteen misses with the combination.

Van Damm moves into the clinch.

Van Damm breaks from the clinch.

Nikoteen tries to keep at a distance but Van Damm has taken the fight into the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Van Damm.
Van Damm unloads a knee to the mid-section. Nikoteen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A short uppercut from Van Damm.
Van Damm lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Van Damm connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nikoteen's face.
Van Damm lands an elbow inside that Nikoteen shrugs off.
Van Damm lands with a left to the head.
Van Damm connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nikoteen's face.
Van Damm lands a big knee! That's hurt Nikoteen! Oh, he's all over the place! Van Damm lands another knee that sends Nikoteen to the floor and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jean Claude Van Damm!
After the fight, Jean Claude Van Damm 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.