PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Juan Lopez (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.

Lopez
vs
Claude Van Damme

179 cm
23
173 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

185 cm
27
174 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Juan Lopez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jean Claude Van Damme!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Damme avoids the body shot from Lopez.
Some wild striking there from Lopez.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Lopez throws a right hand that Van Damme ducks under and follows up with a left that Van Damme also avoids with ease.
Lopez stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Van Damme.
Van Damme misses with a shot to the body
and Lopez counters with a two punch combo.
Lopez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Van Damme.
Lopez punishes Van Damme's body with a nice straight punch.
Van Damme jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Juan Lopez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme misses with a wild body shot.
Lopez misses with a body punch
and Van Damme counters with a right hand to the body.
Van Damme slips under a jab from Lopez.
Van Damme shoots in for a takedown but Lopez shows good takedown defense.
Van Damme fails with the takedown.
Van Damme connects with the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Lopez swings for the body but Van Damme moves out of range.
Lopez looks to throw the jab but Van Damme is out of range.
Van Damme avoids the body shot from Lopez.
Lopez misses with a double jab

and Van Damme counters with a shoot takedown. Lopez fights it but they end up in guard.
Van Damme trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Damme working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Van Damme looking to sit in guard and control but Lopez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Lopez wants to stand but Van Damme has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Van Damme has his hands on Lopez's head, controlling the position.
Lopez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Van Damme is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Van Damme fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lopez manages to avoid it.
Lopez misses the body punch

and Van Damme holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Lopez is trying to break free.
Van Damme can't get the takedown.
Juan Lopez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jean Claude Van Damme.
Van Damme has Lopez pressed against the cage, preventing Lopez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Van Damme drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lopez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Lopez prevents the takedown attempt.
Van Damme tries for a takedown. No joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Juan Lopez will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Van Damme scores with a jab to the body.
A jab lands there for Lopez.
Lopez connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Van Damme ducks under a wild hook from Lopez.
Van Damme thows a body shot but no joy.
Van Damme shoots for a double leg takedown but Lopez sprawls well. He's pushed Van Damme's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Van Damme looks to score with a jab to the body but Lopez is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez looks to throw the jab but Van Damme is out of range.
Van Damme looks to score with a jab to the body but Lopez is just out of range.
No joy there for Van Damme, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Van Damme.
Lopez manages to work his way to half guard, despite Van Damme's best efforts.
Van Damme missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lopez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Van Damme.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lopez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Van Damme.
Van Damme misses with a head shot. Lopez uses the momentum to regain guard.
Van Damme postures up in Lopez's guard and throws a big left but Lopez blocks it.
Van Damme throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Van Damme controls the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lopez throws out a loose jab but Van Damme uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lopez slaps away a takedown attempt from Van Damme, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Van Damme swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lopez swinging wildly here.
Van Damme fails with a takedown attempt.
Juan Lopez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jean Claude Van Damme.

Van Damme scores with a takedown into Lopez's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lopez keeping full guard, as Van Damme tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jean Claude Van Damme will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Lopez misses with a double jab
and Van Damme makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Van Damme misses with a wild body shot.
Van Damme dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Van Damme throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Damme shoots in for a double leg but Lopez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Van Damme shoots in for a double leg but Lopez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Damme misses with a takedown attempt
and Lopez counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Juan Lopez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jean Claude Van Damme.
Van Damme tries to clinch up.
Lopez throws the left hand but Van Damme avoids the punch easily.
Juan Lopez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Van Damme gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Lopez blocks the body kick.
Lopez throws a left and a right that both miss
and Van Damme counters with a straight right hand.
Lopez misses with a double jab
and Van Damme counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Van Damme counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Van Damme not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lopez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Van Damme on the ground.
Lopez tries to get to full guard but Van Damme has control of the leg.
Van Damme not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Van Damme not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme trying to control from Lopez's half guard. Lopez has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Van Damme postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lopez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Van Damme working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Van Damme stuns Lopez with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Van Damme listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lopez scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Jean Claude Van Damme has been cut.
Van Damme needs to keep his hands up - Lopez had a free shot at his head there.
Lopez swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Damme.
Lopez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Van Damme makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Lopez swings for the body but Van Damme moves out of range.
Van Damme throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Van Damme is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Lopez rather than just go for the knockout.
A shot to de liver by Lopez. Beautiful body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jean Claude Van Damme.
I think Van Damme has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jean Claude Van Damme!