PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jack Higgins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fred Van Damme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jack Higgins has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Higgins
vs
Van Damme

215 cm
18
161 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jack Higgins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Fred Van Damme!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Sam Margolis and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Van Damme moves into range and clinches up with Higgins.
Van Damme is trying to break the clinch but Higgins is controlling him.

Van Damme pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Van Damme lands with a kick to the temple. Higgins shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Van Damme tries to close the distance and clinch up but Higgins swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Higgins throws a sloppy head kick and Van Damme moves out of range easily.
Higgins throws a series of punches but Van Damme moves out of range.
Van Damme moves in looking to clinch but Higgins pushes him off.
Higgins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Van Damme misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Higgins throws a combination that misses
and Van Damme counters with a left and a right that stings Higgins.

Van Damme moves into the clinch.

Van Damme pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Higgins really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Higgins throws a sloppy head kick and Van Damme moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme tries to clinch there but Higgins circles away.

Higgins rushes Van Damme and presses him up against the cage.
Higgins has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Van Damme after a bit of a struggle.

Van Damme breaks the clinch.
Van Damme is looking to clinch but Higgins is avoiding it.
Higgins throws a head kick that misses.
Van Damme tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Higgins blocks a head kick by Van Damme.
Van Damme blocks a head kick by Higgins.
Van Damme throws a head kick that Higgins semi-blocks.
Fred Van Damme seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Damme is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Damme looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Higgins misses with a double jab.
Higgins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Higgins blocks a head kick by Van Damme.

Higgins tries to keep at a distance but Van Damme has taken the fight into the clinch.

Van Damme breaks from the clinch.
Van Damme tries to clinch up but Higgins circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Van Damme throws a head kick but Higgins moves out of range.
Van Damme fails in his attempt to clinch.
Higgins throws a head kick that misses.
Higgins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Higgins tries a head kick but it misses.
Van Damme misses with a head kick.

Van Damme gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Van Damme breaks the clinch.
Higgins misses with a head kick.

Higgins rushes Van Damme and presses him up against the cage.
Higgins tries to pull guard but Van Damme forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van Damme pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Higgins keeps the fight on the outside.
Van Damme lands a head kick. Higgins smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Higgins tries to keep at a distance but Van Damme has taken the fight into the clinch.
Higgins tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Van Damme smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Higgins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Damme is looking to clinch but Higgins is avoiding it.
Van Damme throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Damme throws a head kick that misses
and Higgins counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Van Damme dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Higgins dodges the punch combination from Van Damme.
Higgins throws a big counter combination but Van Damme scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Van Damme is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Higgins moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Higgins misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Van Damme.
Higgins throws a series of strikes that have Van Damme backpedaling.
Van Damme tries to clinch but Higgins moves out of range.
It looked like Higgins was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Jack Higgins is winning the standup battle so far.
Van Damme throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Damme blocks the body kick.

Van Damme clinches.

Van Damme breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higgins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jack Higgins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Van Damme slips a jab and a cross from Higgins.

Van Damme clinches up against the cage.
Van Damme lands a good knee to the midsection. Higgins won't want to take too many of those.
Higgins tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Van Damme smiles and moves away.
Higgins goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Van Damme throws a head kick that misses.
As Van Damme looks to move away, Higgins throws a big counter combo but Van Damme just gets out of the way.

Van Damme darts in and clinches Higgins up against the cage.
Higgins is trying to pull guard but Van Damme turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higgins is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Higgins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Damme looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Higgins 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.

Van Damme's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Higgins swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Damme.
Van Damme takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Higgins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Damme looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Van Damme tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Damme looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Damme looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Van Damme lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
A nice inside leg kick there by Higgins. That's going to slow Van Damme down.
Higgins stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Van Damme pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Higgins thinks about countering with a head kick.
Van Damme fails in his attempt to clinch.
Higgins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Van Damme tries to clinch but Higgins is having none of it.
Higgins throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme lands a two punch combo.
Higgins throws a head kick that misses
and Van Damme counters with a head kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Damme throws a head kick that misses.
As Van Damme looks to move away, Higgins throws a big counter combo but Van Damme just gets out of the way.
Van Damme is breathing heavily.
Van Damme avoids the head kick by Higgins.
Higgins throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Van Damme throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Van Damme rushes Higgins and presses him up against the cage.
Higgins has Van Damme pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Van Damme manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Higgins tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Van Damme just stands there and leans against the cage.

Higgins escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Fred Van Damme will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Van Damme tries to clinch but Higgins is having none of it.
Van Damme wants to clinch up but Higgins keeps it at a distance.
Higgins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Van Damme.
Higgins lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Van Damme circles away quickly and effectively.

Van Damme has Higgins up against the cage in a clinch.

Van Damme pulls guard effortlessly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Van Damme pushes Higgins off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Higgins looks to land a combination but Van Damme avoids it well.
Higgins misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Higgins takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higgins tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Van Damme smiles and moves away.
Higgins takes a kick to the side of the head.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Van Damme manages to break the clinch.
Good standup being displayed there by Higgins as he connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higgins tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Van Damme bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Van Damme throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Higgins's head.
Van Damme throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Higgins is rocked!
Higgins throws a head kick that misses.
Oh Higgins is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Higgins throws a head kick but Van Damme moves out of range.
Higgins pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Higgins seems to have got his legs back now.
Van Damme throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Damme checks a leg kick.

Van Damme has taken the fight to the clinch.
Higgins has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Van Damme after a bit of a struggle.
Higgins tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Higgins. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Van Damme gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Higgins is looking to stand back up but Van Damme counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Higgins.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Damme is thwarting Higgins's attempts to control the position.

Van Damme stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Higgins to get to his feet.
Van Damme has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Van Damme throws a sloppy head kick and Higgins moves out of range easily.
A slow jab from Higgins misses its intended target.
Van Damme lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Van Damme tries to clinch but Higgins is having none of it.

Van Damme drives through and clinches with Higgins against the cage.

Van Damme breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme wants to clinch.
Van Damme throws a head kick but Higgins moves out of range.

Van Damme darts in and clinches Higgins up against the cage.
Higgins tries to pull guard but Van Damme won't allow it.

Higgins jumps guard.

Van Damme stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Van Damme throws a head kick that Higgins semi-blocks.
Jack Higgins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fred Van Damme is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Van Damme wants to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fred Van Damme comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Van Damme has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30

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