PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yossi Avitan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Van Damme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Damme has chosen Fight to Survive as his entrance music. 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.

Avitan
vs
Damme

191 cm
31
203 lbs
24 - 5 - 0

186 cm
36
199 lbs
28 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear
Perkele!

Milwaukee's Best 160
Kemists ↑ 5x160Q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yossi Avitan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Van Damme!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Damme misses with a low kick.
A good leg kick by Damme.
Damme throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A good leg kick by Avitan.
Avitan bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Damme's head.
Avitan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Damme throws out the jab.
Avitan listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Damme throws a head kick but Avitan moves out of range.
Avitan throws a nice inside leg kick.
Avitan looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Avitan connects with the punch.
Damme takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Avitan cracks Damme with an open hand slap.
A low kick from Damme misses
and Avitan counters with a nice body shot.
Avitan checks the leg kick nicely there.
Avitan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Damme.
Damme looks to land a body kick but Avitan moved away.
Damme takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Avitan throws a nice head kick!
Damme pivots, looking for a leg kick but Avitan is out of range and Damme settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Damme takes a swing at Avitan's ribcage but misses.
Damme on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Damme misses with a low kick.
Good work by Damme as he checks the leg kick.
Avitan jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Damme checks the leg kick nicely there.
Avitan 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.
Damme lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Damme's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Avitan connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Damme scrambles back to his feet.
Damme will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Avitan walks into a straight right hand from Damme.
Avitan checks the leg kick.
A clash of legs there as Avitan blocks the low kick.
Avitan misses with a head kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Avitan pivots, looking for a leg kick but Damme is out of range and Avitan settles back down.
Avitan throws a jab but it's blocked by Damme.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Avitan crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Damme - the referee stops the clock and Avitan gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Damme. Avitan manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Damme checks a leg kick.
Damme connects with a leg kick. Avitan looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Good exchange - Damme coming out on top.
Avitan scores with a hook.
Damme misses with a low kick.
Damme misses with a low kick.
Damme scores with a hook.
Avitan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Damme with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Damme throws a sloppy head kick and Avitan moves out of range easily.
Damme tried to score with a low kick but Avitan checks it.
Avitan takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A lazy body kick from Damme
and Avitan counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Damme displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Avitan throws out the jab.
Damme throws a half hearted mid kick.
Damme misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Avitan misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Damme.
Avitan is looking to chop away at Damme's legs.
Avitan swings for the body but Damme moves out of range.
Avitan checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Damme misses with a low kick.
A jab from Avitan does it's job there.
Damme with a jab.
Avitan looks to land a left hand but Damme moved out of range nicely.
Damme blocks a leg kick.
Avitan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Damme scores with a kick to the body.
Avitan walks into a stiff left hand from Damme.
Avitan feints and then cracks Damme's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Damme down.
Damme on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Avitan. Avitan obviously looking to wear him down.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Avitan throws a body punch but Damme moves out of range.
Damme throws a push kick but Avitan slaps the foot to one side.
Avitan is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Avitan.
Damme throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Avitan wants to land a leg kick but Damme is out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Damme lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Avitan has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Avitan and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Avitan misses with a leg kick.
Avitan changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A big left from Damme misses.
Damme misses with a looping left.
Damme looks for the body kick but Avitan saw that one coming.
Damme throws an off balance right hand
letting Avitan counter with a right hand.
Damme thows a leg kick but Avitan checks it
and Avitan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Avitan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Damme manages to avoid it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Avitan tries to land a leg kick but Damme saw it coming and moves away.
Damme throws a head kick that misses.
No joy there for Damme, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A looping hook to the body misses from Avitan. Damme does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yossi Avitan dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Damme lands a leg kick that knocks Avitan off balance momentarily.
Avitan blocks a head kick by Damme.
Avitan blocks the body kick.
Avitan throws a sloppy head kick and Damme moves out of range easily.
Avitan has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Avitan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Damme circles away quickly and effectively.
Avitan looks to land a combination. Damme sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Avitan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Damme avoids the body shot from Avitan.
Avitan misses with a body shot.
Damme tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Damme lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Avitan swings widly with a right hand
and Damme makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Damme throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Damme misses with a hook.
Damme checks the leg kick.
Damme misses with a leg kick
and Avitan counters with an outside leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Damme misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avitan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Damme throws a body kick that misses.
Avitan tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Damme is able to avoid easily.
Damme misses with a head kick.
Damme attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Avitan checks the leg kick nicely there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Avitan.
Avitan checks a low kick from Damme.
Avitan throws a nice outside leg kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Avitan crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Damme - the referee stops the clock and Avitan gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Damme. Avitan manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Damme walks into a stiff left hand from Avitan.
Avitan lands a jab to the head.
Avitan blocks a low kick nicely.
Avitan misses with an uppercut.
Damme dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Avitan. That did some damage!
Damme cracks Avitan with a good jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Damme throws the kick towards the body but Avitan avoids it.
Avitan keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Avitan throws a sloppy head kick and Damme moves out of range easily.
Damme checks a leg kick nicely.
Avitan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Avitan scores with a punch to the head.
Avitan will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Damme misses with a two punch combination.
Avitan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Damme's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Damme uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Avitan.
Avitan checks a low kick from Damme.
Damme lands an overhand right.
An inside leg kick lands from Damme.
Damme takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Damme uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Damme.
Avitan bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Damme's head.
Damme darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Avitan throws a shot from downtown. Damme moves away and avoids it.
A clash of legs there as Damme blocks the low kick.
Avitan feints and then cracks Damme's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Damme down.
Damme takes one to the chin there.
Nice uppercut there from Damme.
Damme throws a leg kick which misses Avitan's front leg but catches the back leg as Avitan tries to avoid it.
Avitan swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Damme feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Avitan's calf.
Damme pivots, looking for a leg kick but Avitan is out of range and Damme settles back down.
Avitan throws a right hand that misses
and Damme counters with a nice body kick.
Damme lands with a kick to the ribs.
Damme misses with an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A good leg kick by Damme.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Damme thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Avitan if he has to take too many more of those.
Nice body punch from Avitan.
Damme does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Damme catches Avitan with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Avitan throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Damme works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Avitan throws a head kick but Damme moves out of range.
Damme scores with a jab. Avitan acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Avitan misses the jab.
A slow jab from Avitan misses its intended target.
Avitan jabs Damme to the body, keeping him at a distance.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Avitan with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Avitan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Avitan feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Damme's calf.
Damme connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Yossi Avitan will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Damme misses with a straight left.
Damme scores with a head kick.
Damme misses with a body shot.
Damme throws a nice outside leg kick.
Avitan has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Avitan there as he acknowledges the shot.
Damme throws a hook to the side of Avitan's head but Avitan sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Avitan turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Damme throws a leg kick that misses.
Avitan thumps Damme with a low kick.
A swing and a miss from Avitan.
Avitan throws a head kick but Damme moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Avitan.
Damme connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Damme misses with a body kick.
Yossi Avitan is winning the standup battle so far.
Damme throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Avitan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Damme misses.
Damme wants to slow Avitan down by chopping away at his legs.
Damme throws a hook to the side of Avitan's head but Avitan sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Avitan moves out of range of the body kick from Damme.
Avitan moves out of range of the body kick.
Damme is looking to land body kicks.
Avitan misses with an uppercut.
Avitan will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Damme throws a low kick, looking for Avitan's leg but Avitan calmly moves out of range.
Avitan misses with a left hand
and Damme counters with an inside leg kick.
Damme with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Avitan has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Damme.
Avitan misses with a head kick.
A slow jab from Avitan misses its intended target.
Avitan checks the leg kick.
Avitan moves out of range of the leg kick from Damme.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Damme throws a lazy body kick
and Avitan counters with a stiff right hand.
Avitan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Damme manages to avoid it.
Damme checks a low kick from Avitan.
No joy there for Damme, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Avitan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Damme.
Damme scores with a leg kick.
Avitan checks a leg kick nicely.
Avitan misses with a two punch combination.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Damme checks a leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Avitan tries a head kick but it misses.
Damme misses with a straight right.
Avitan drops his hands momentarily and Damme takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Damme swings widly with a right hand
and Avitan counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Damme thinking.
Avitan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Damme looks to throw the jab but Avitan is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Damme avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Avitan takes one on the button.
Damme closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Damme shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Van Damme has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Avitan misses with a wild body shot.
Damme throws a nice inside leg kick.
Damme throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice jab there from Damme.
Damme throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Avitan misses with a leg kick
and Damme counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Avitan punishes Damme's body with a nice straight punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Avitan fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Damme checks it well.
Damme throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Avitan scoring well with a low kick there.
Avitan slips a straight right by Damme.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Avitan blocks a head kick by Damme.
Damme fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Avitan takes one on the button.
Damme throws a leg kick
and Avitan counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Avitan scores with a body shot.
Damme misses with a wild body shot.
Damme stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Avitan.
Damme moves out of range as Avitan strikes.
Avitan throws a body punch but Damme moves out of range.
Damme throws a looping overhand right but Avitan ducks down to avoid it.
Damme takes a kick to the side of the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Damme walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Damme throws a leg kick but Avitan sees it coming and moves out of range.
Avitan avoids a kick to the body.
Avitan connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Van Damme comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Avitan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Yossi Avitan!
Our winner, Yossi Avitan, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.