PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hatsu Hioki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean Claude Van Damme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hioki comes into the arena with Heart of Asia blaring out of the sound system. 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.

Hioki
vs
Claude Van Damme

170 cm
26
157 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

172 cm
32
162 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

Wolfpack Threadz

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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hatsu Hioki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jean Claude Van Damme!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Aafke Stam and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Van Damme.

Hioki looking to score a takedown here. Van Damme is defending well but Hioki drives through and ends up in Van Damme's guard.
Van Damme is looking to stand up but Hioki isn't so interested in that idea.
Hioki trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Damme is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hioki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Van Damme swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hioki wants to control from the top but Van Damme keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

We're going to have a standup here because Hatsu Hioki wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Van Damme tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jean Claude Van Damme seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme tries to clinch

so Hioki counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hioki wants to control from the top but Van Damme keeps moving.
Hioki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Van Damme swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hioki won't allow Van Damme to get back to his feet.
Hioki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Van Damme is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Van Damme looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hioki is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme wants to stand up but Hioki is controlling him.
Hioki trying to control but Van Damme is working from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hioki lunges at Van Damme with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Van Damme's hand.
Van Damme tries to clinch but Hioki moves out of range.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Van Damme tries to work over Hioki's front leg with a kick but Hioki checks it.
Hioki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Van Damme as he avoids it easily.
Van Damme tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hioki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hioki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Van Damme displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hioki.
Van Damme moves in looking to clinch but Hioki pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme wants to clinch up but Hioki keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Damme looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hioki avoids the head kick by Van Damme.
Van Damme fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hioki fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hatsu Hioki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Damme leaves Hioki with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jean Claude Van Damme is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hioki shoots in looking for a takedown. Van Damme tries to sprawl out of it but Hioki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Van Damme manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Van Damme throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hioki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Van Damme tries to clinch

and Hioki counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Van Damme's guard now.
Van Damme looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hioki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Van Damme is keeping the position for now.
Van Damme looking to control.
Hioki passes Van Damme's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hioki content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Hioki wants to pass the guard but Van Damme is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The fighters circling - Hioki throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hioki is looking to score with low kicks.
Hioki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Van Damme tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hioki manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Van Damme fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hioki shoots in for a takedown but Van Damme shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hioki keeps the fight on the outside.
Hioki shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Van Damme as he jumps to the side.
Van Damme tries to clinch up.
Hioki keeps the fight on the outside.
Hioki closes the distance and clinches up with Van Damme, looking for a takedown. Hioki pushes Van Damme against the cage but Van Damme circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hatsu Hioki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hioki closes this distance looking for a takedown but Van Damme circles away.
Van Damme defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hioki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hioki manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Van Damme pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Van Damme fails with an attempt to clinch.
Van Damme doesn't manage to clinch there - Hioki circles away.
Hioki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hioki swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Damme.
Van Damme tries to clinch there but Hioki circles away.
Hioki with a lazy takedown attempt
and Van Damme finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Van Damme tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hioki manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hioki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Van Damme tries to clinch but Hioki is having none of it.
Van Damme tries to clinch but Hioki moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hioki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Van Damme closes the distance but Hioki moves to the side

and Hioki counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hioki perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hioki uses his free foot to push down on Van Damme's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Van Damme.
Van Damme is trying to escape the mount.
Hioki looking to control and managing it successfully.
Van Damme is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Damme somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!

Van Damme has closed the distance and engaged Hioki in a clinch.
Van Damme looking to throw knees to the head but Hioki is blocking nicely.
Hioki is looking to take this one to the mat.
Van Damme scores a nice knee to the body.
Hioki 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.
Van Damme tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Van Damme tries to land a knee to the head but Hioki blocks with his arms.
Van Damme looking to throw knees to the head but Hioki is blocking nicely.
Van Damme trying to land knees to the body.
Van Damme lands an elbow inside.
Hioki takes an elbow to the forehead.
Van Damme tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hioki avoids it.
Hioki avoiding damage as Van Damme throws knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hioki is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Van Damme to keep the fight standing.
Hioki blocks an elbow strike from Van Damme.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Damme throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hioki tries to pull guard but Van Damme holds him up against the cage and eventually Hioki drops back down to his feet.
Van Damme misses with a knee strike.
Van Damme lands a nice elbow.
Van Damme lands an elbow that stopped Hioki in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Hatsu Hioki has been cut.
Hioki takes a knee right on the jaw!
Van Damme stalling in the clinch but Hioki improves position.
Van Damme throws an elbow but it misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hioki is trying to pull guard but Van Damme turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Hioki lands a takedown into guard.
Hioki trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Damme is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Van Damme looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Claude Van Damme showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hatsu Hioki's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hioki tries to score a power double leg takedown but Van Damme sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hioki somewhat.
Van Damme fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hioki blocks a head kick by Van Damme.
Hioki swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Damme.
Van Damme throws out a loose jab but Hioki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Van Damme tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hioki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hioki blocks a head kick by Van Damme.
Hioki closes the distance and clinches up with Van Damme, looking for a takedown. Hioki pushes Van Damme against the cage but Van Damme circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Van Damme tries to clinch up
and Hioki makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hioki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Van Damme closes the distance but Hioki moves to the side

and Hioki counters with a nice double leg into side control. Van Damme won't be happy with that.
Van Damme is being controlled here.
Van Damme is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Hioki asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Hioki wants to control for a moment but Van Damme uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme tries to kick Hioki off but Hioki keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hioki is trying to control the action in half guard but Van Damme is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Van Damme wants to get back to his feet.
Hioki missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hioki is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Hioki is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Van Damme defends it well.
Hioki thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hioki seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Van Damme does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hioki sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Hioki's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Van Damme is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hioki stops Van Damme from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hioki working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Van Damme's thigh. Van Damme counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Van Damme wants to stand and escape but Hioki is having none of it.
Hioki with a flurry of punches that miss.
Van Damme keeping full guard, as Hioki tries to pass.
Hioki throwing strikes from guard but Van Damme blocks nicely.
Van Damme keeping moving, preventing Hioki from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hioki tries to free his leg and advance position but Van Damme is retaining full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hatsu Hioki showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hioki has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hatsu Hioki!
Hatsu Hioki looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Word to Big Bird'.