PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marcelo Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fred Van Damme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fred Van Damme will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hughes
vs
Van Damme

195 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcelo Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Fred Van Damme!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Phil Schofield and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hughes throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Van Damme's waist but Van Damme gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hughes off to one side.
Van Damme moves in looking to clinch but Hughes pushes him off.

Van Damme closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Van Damme's coach down at Quick Fingers BEST BANG FOR BUCK Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Van Damme's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
A frustrated look appears on Van Damme's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Van Damme keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hughes's efforts to push away.
Hughes is looking to break free of the clinch but Van Damme has double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Van Damme obliges.
Hughes is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Van Damme to keep the fight standing.
Hughes is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Van Damme to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcelo Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme misses with a hook to the ribs.

Van Damme breaks the clinch.

Van Damme moves into the clinch.

Van Damme breaks from the clinch.
Hughes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Van Damme wants to clinch.
Van Damme throws a head kick that misses

and Hughes counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Van Damme working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hughes.
Hughes throwing strikes from guard but Van Damme blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hughes has gone for a leg lock! Van Damme slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hughes's guard.

Van Damme trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hughes's guard.

Hughes has his feet on Van Damme's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Van Damme misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Van Damme darts in and clinches Hughes up against the cage.

Van Damme pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Van Damme is looking to clinch but Hughes is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Van Damme defends it nicely.
Van Damme is looking for the big counter here.

Van Damme has managed to clinch.
Hughes has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Van Damme avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Van Damme manages to break the clinch.

Van Damme gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hughes shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Van Damme is trying to defend but Hughes finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Van Damme really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hughes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hughes looks to land a strike but Van Damme avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hughes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hughes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Van Damme is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hughes is controlling him.
Van Damme working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hughes.
Van Damme wants to stand and escape but Hughes is having none of it.

Van Damme has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Hughes is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
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!

Van Damme throws a head kick but Hughes moves out of range.

Van Damme instigates a clinch.

Van Damme's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Van Damme closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Hughes pulls Van Damme into guard.

Hughes is working an open guard so Van Damme takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Van Damme tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Van Damme pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Van Damme swivels and escapes.
Hughes with a lazy takedown attempt
and Van Damme counters with a series of strikes. Hughes will be more careful next time no doubt.

Hughes manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Van Damme on his heels. He'll look to pass Van Damme's guard now, I'm sure.
Van Damme has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hughes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hughes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hughes content to stall in guard here.
Van Damme preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hughes throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van Damme keeping moving, preventing Hughes from controlling successfully.
Van Damme is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hughes is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hughes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hughes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hughes working some strikes from top position.
Hughes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Van Damme is breathing heavily.
Hughes prevents Van Damme from getting back to his feet.
Van Damme working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hughes.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hughes has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcelo Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Damme throws a sloppy head kick

and Hughes counters by clinching up.
Hughes tries to pull guard but Van Damme won't allow it.
Hughes tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Knees to the body from Van Damme.

Hughes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Van Damme is looking to clinch but Hughes is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hughes tries to counter with a takedown but Van Damme is quick to defend against it.
Van Damme goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Van Damme tries to clinch up but Hughes circles away and keeps his distance.
Hughes shoots in but no luck this time.
Hughes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Van Damme defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hughes.

Van Damme darts in and clinches Hughes up against the cage.
Hughes fails to pull guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Van Damme pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Van Damme is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hughes appears to be looking for a big counter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Van Damme showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hughes swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Damme.
Hughes was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hughes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hughes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Van Damme paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Van Damme throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hughes.
Van Damme throws a nice head kick!
Van Damme moves in looking to clinch but Hughes pushes him off.

Van Damme rushes Hughes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hughes tries to break the clinch but Van Damme is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Van Damme escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hughes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Van Damme doesn't manage to clinch there - Hughes circles away.
As Van Damme tries to get set, Hughes tries to push him back and clinch up but Van Damme manages to avoid the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Damme has managed to clinch.

Hughes tightens his grip and picks Van Damme up, before dumping him to the ground. Van Damme manages to land in guard.

Van Damme is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Hughes presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Van Damme breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Van Damme closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Van Damme working hard to break the clinch.
Hughes working hard to break the clinch.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes misses with a series of wild punches.

Van Damme gets caught flat footed, as Hughes shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hughes throws a big right hand that misses.
Van Damme wants to stand up but Hughes is controlling him.
Hughes has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Van Damme avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Van Damme takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Van Damme avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hughes slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Hughes stops Van Damme from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Van Damme tries to clinch up but Hughes circles away and keeps his distance.
Van Damme fails with an attempt to clinch.

Van Damme forces Hughes back against the cage and clinches.
Hughes is trying to pull guard but Van Damme turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Van Damme pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hughes keeps the fight on the outside.
Van Damme fails with an attempt to clinch.
Van Damme throws a head kick but Hughes moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van Damme gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Van Damme breaks from the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Van Damme as Hughes shoots in.
Van Damme unleashes a big counter combination but Hughes bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcelo Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Damme throws a head kick that misses

and Hughes holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Van Damme pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hughes.
Van Damme tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hughes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Van Damme fails with an attempt to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fred Van Damme comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Van Damme 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30

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