PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jean Claude Van Damme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Maverick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van Damme comes into the arena with Fabulous-Bad Guy blaring out of the sound system. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Claude Van Damme
vs
Maverick

178 cm
18
180 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

184 cm
18
171 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jean Claude Van Damme!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dan Maverick!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Damme defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Maverick.

Van Damme gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Maverick is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Van Damme preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Van Damme working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maverick doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maverick manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Maverick working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Maverick missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Maverick is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maverick trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maverick stays in close to Van Damme's body and controls the position.
Maverick loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Maverick is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Dan Maverick hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Van Damme tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Maverick manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van Damme gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Maverick throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Maverick really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Van Damme. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Maverick controls from within his opponent's guard.
Van Damme utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Maverick is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Van Damme trying to keep a closed guard but Maverick is proving a slippery customer.
Maverick is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maverick shoots in and drives through. Van Damme sprawls well.
Maverick closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Dan Maverick seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maverick looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jean Claude Van Damme has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Maverick.
Van Damme slaps away a takedown attempt from Maverick, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Van Damme digs a good body shot into Maverick's ribs.

Maverick drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Van Damme is trying to buck Maverick off.
Maverick sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Van Damme is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maverick throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Van Damme works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Maverick with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Van Damme blocking the ground and pound attempt from Maverick.
Van Damme is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Damme blocking the ground and pound attempt from Maverick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Maverick dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Maverick changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Van Damme looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Maverick with the ground and pound but Van Damme regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Maverick is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Van Damme is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Maverick sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maverick is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Maverick sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Van Damme trying to control from the bottom.
Maverick sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Maverick has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Dan Maverick hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Maverick fails with the takedown.
Maverick shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Maverick will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jean Claude Van Damme has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Maverick.
Van Damme connects with an inside leg kick.
Maverick shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Van Damme defends it nicely.
Van Damme pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Maverick. That did some damage!

Van Damme gets caught flat footed, as Maverick shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Maverick sitting in guard here, content to control.

Van Damme is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Maverick defends well.
Maverick with a flurry of punches that miss.
Maverick's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dan Maverick wasn't active enough on the ground.

Maverick shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Van Damme's guard.
Maverick must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maverick stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Van Damme swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Maverick lands a couple of digs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maverick controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Maverick with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Maverick showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Van Damme slaps away a takedown attempt from Maverick, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Maverick closes this distance looking for a takedown but Van Damme circles away.
Van Damme throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Maverick.
Maverick tries to score a power double leg takedown but Van Damme sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Maverick somewhat.
Jean Claude Van Damme has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Maverick.
Maverick throws a low kick but Van Damme moves out of range easily.
Maverick shoots in and drives through. Van Damme sprawls well.
Maverick shoots for a takedown but Van Damme saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Van Damme keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Maverick takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Horrible takedown by Maverick or perhaps it was just good defense by Van Damme which made him look bad.
Maverick fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Van Damme as Maverick shoots in.
Van Damme connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Van Damme bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Maverick takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Maverick throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Van Damme was covering up waiting for the punch and Maverick finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Maverick controls from within his opponent's guard.
Maverick throws a strike but Van Damme rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van Damme drops back, looking for a kneebar! Maverick looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Maverick looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Maverick!
Van Damme being controlled for a moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Van Damme wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Dan Maverick is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme is letting Maverick control him for a moment.
The strikes coming from Maverick are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Maverick remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Dan Maverick hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Van Damme defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Maverick.
Van Damme moves out of range of the leg kick from Maverick.
Maverick has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Van Damme.
Van Damme defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Maverick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Maverick is defended easily by Van Damme.
Maverick keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Van Damme.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Maverick comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Maverick winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Maverick!