PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ein Stein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean Claude Van Damme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Stein
vs
Claude Van Damme

167 cm
24
145 lbs
11 - 3 - 1

173 cm
21
146 lbs
5 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ein Stein!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Jean Claude Van Damme!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Colin Fray and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stein missing with a left hand there. Van Damme was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jean Claude Van Damme seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stein swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stein dips to his left and cracks Van Damme with an uppercut!
Van Damme misses with a body shot.
Stein punishes Van Damme's body with a nice straight punch.
Van Damme throws a body punch but Stein moves out of range.
Van Damme fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Good shot there by Stein.
Stein scores with a punch to the head.
Van Damme is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stein.
A looping hook to the body misses from Van Damme. Stein does a little dance to reset his feet.
Van Damme fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stein ducks under a wild hook from Van Damme.
Stein keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Van Damme throws a body punch but Stein moves out of range.
Van Damme misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stein.
Van Damme fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stein manages to avoid it.
Van Damme lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stein.

Stein shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Van Damme is trying to defend but Stein finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Stein is looking for a kimura but Van Damme is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Stein to get the leverage.
Stein is thwarting Van Damme's attempts to control the position.
We've been hearing good reports from Stein's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Van Damme keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Stein slows the pace down in half guard.
Van Damme is not content to let Stein control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stein takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Stein is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Van Damme is just riding it out for now. Stein eventually gives up the hold.

Stein is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Van Damme is just riding it out for now. Stein eventually gives up the hold.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Van Damme is in trouble now - Stein has advanced to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stein is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Van Damme is surviving well by controlling Stein's body position as best he can.
Van Damme felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Stein putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Stein lands a heavy elbow.

Stein working for a guillotine from mount but Van Damme is in no mood to give up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stein working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Van Damme is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme taking shots to the head.
Van Damme is still in real trouble! Can Stein finish him?
Stein tries to control but Van Damme wriggling away.
Van Damme seems to have recovered his senses.
Stein is really struggling to control Van Damme but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Stein is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Stein jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Van Damme manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ein Stein dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Stein looks to land a left hand but Van Damme moved out of range nicely.
Van Damme thows a body shot but no joy.
Van Damme looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Van Damme misses the shot to the body.
Stein throws a series of punches but Van Damme avoids them all with ease.
Van Damme throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Ein Stein has been cut.
Van Damme throws a poor cross that misses

and Stein counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Stein.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stein pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Van Damme is keeping the position for now.
Stein not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Stein working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Stein slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Van Damme is being controlled here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Stein is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Stein is trying to get an arm triangle but Van Damme is defending well.
Stein controls the position.
Stein 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stein working away.
Van Damme really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stein. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Van Damme defending against the ground and pound.
Van Damme tries to improve position but can't.
Stein landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Stein taking a breather here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Stein is working to tighten his grip on Van Damme's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Van Damme has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Stein is really squeezing tight and eventually Van Damme passes out! Stein breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Ein Stein!
Ein Stein decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.