PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jean Claude Van Damme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Castilano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Luke Castilano enters the cage!

Claude Van Damme
vs
Castilano

175 cm
24
178 lbs
15 - 6 - 1

180 cm
27
180 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 15 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Jean Claude Van Damme!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Luke Castilano!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Eddie Farnsworth and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to the body from Van Damme misses

and Castilano counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Castilano loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Van Damme is pulling down on Castilano's head. It's preventing any offense from Castilano, at least for the moment.
Castilano throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Van Damme works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Castilano is in close to Van Damme's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Van Damme wants to sweep but no luck.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Castilano accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Castilano throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Van Damme works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Castilano loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Castilano has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Castilano stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Van Damme swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Castilano is pushing down on Van Damme's leg trying to pass to half guard. Van Damme is fighting to maintain full guard but Castilano has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castilano prevents Van Damme from standing back up.
Castilano is trying to control. Van Damme wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Castilano throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Castilano thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Van Damme's head.
Van Damme trying to control but Castilano postures up.
Castilano thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Van Damme to regain full guard.
Van Damme keeping full guard, as Castilano tries to pass.
Castilano pushes down on Van Damme's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Castilano is looking to stall here but Van Damme recovers full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castilano trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Damme is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Castilano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Van Damme is keeping the position for now.
Castilano postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Castilano working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Castilano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Van Damme is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castilano is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Castilano forces his way into half guard.
Van Damme is not content to let Castilano control the position.
Castilano lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castilano thows a huge punch but Van Damme dodges it nicely.
Castilano throwing shots but Van Damme is blocking nicely.

Castilano seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Van Damme has recovered full guard.
Van Damme can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Castilano controls the pace.
Van Damme manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Castilano manages to get himself to full guard.
Van Damme knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Castilano on the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Castilano has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Van Damme is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Castilano.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Castilano is not content to let Van Damme control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Castilano dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Castilano looks to score with a jab to the body but Van Damme is just out of range.
Van Damme on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A jab from Van Damme does it's job there.
Van Damme moves away from the strike by Castilano.
Castilano throws a body punch but Van Damme moves out of range.
Castilano ducks under a wild hook from Van Damme.
A big left from Castilano misses.
Castilano throws the left hand but Van Damme avoids the punch easily.
Van Damme with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Van Damme pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Luke Castilano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Damme displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Castilano throws out the jab.
Good shot there by Castilano.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Castilano misses its intended target.
Van Damme connects with a looping right hand.
Castilano misses with a hook.
Van Damme bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Castilano dodges the punch combination from Van Damme.
Van Damme uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Castilano.
Van Damme walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Castilano checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Castilano throws an off balance right hand
and Van Damme counters with a low kick, right behind Castilano 's knee.
Castilano takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Van Damme uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Castilano.
Van Damme lands a jab to Castilano's midsection.
Castilano throws a poor cross that misses
letting Van Damme counter with a right hand.
Castilano misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castilano scores with a decent looking hook.
A big right from Castilano misses.
Castilano might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Castilano misses with an uppercut. Van Damme saw that one coming.
Van Damme moves away from the strike by Castilano.
Jean Claude Van Damme is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Good leg kick by Van Damme there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Van Damme cracks Castilano with a good jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Castilano is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Van Damme.
Van Damme throws the left hand but Castilano avoids the punch easily.
Castilano throws a jab when Van Damme was well out of range.
Castilano throws out a powerful jab.
Van Damme staying out of range there.
Van Damme looks to score with a jab to the body but Castilano is just out of range.
Van Damme with a nice cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme misses with a hook.
Castilano throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Van Damme slips under a jab.
Van Damme gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Van Damme thuds his right hand into Castilano's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Castilano throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Castilano throws a looping overhand right but Van Damme ducks down to avoid it.
Van Damme scores with a body shot.
Castilano misses with a left hand
and Van Damme connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Castilano throws the left hand but Van Damme avoids the punch easily.
Jean Claude Van Damme is winning the standup battle so far.
Van Damme scores with a jab to the jaw.
Castilano scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Castilano throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Castilano gets the takedown into side control.
Castilano working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Castilano tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The strikes coming from Castilano are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Castilano goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Van Damme rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Castilano's guard! Nice work there by Van Damme!
Van Damme has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Van Damme trying to stand up but can't free himself from Castilano's guard.
Van Damme postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Castilano looking for a guillotine here but Van Damme defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Castilano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Van Damme lands an overhand right.
Castilano throws a looping overhand right but Van Damme ducks down to avoid it.
Castilano tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Van Damme was well out of range. Poor timing from Castilano.
The fighters circling - Castilano throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Castilano connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Castilano throws an off balance right hand
and Van Damme counters with a low kick, right behind Castilano 's knee.
Castilano takes one to the side of the head.
Van Damme looks to land a right hand but Castilano moved out of range.
Van Damme uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Castilano.
Van Damme lands a jab-cross combination.
Castilano throws a hook but Van Damme avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castilano shoots in and drives through. Van Damme sprawls well.
Nice uppercut lands for Van Damme. That snapped Castilano's head back.
Nice jab there from Castilano.
Van Damme fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Van Damme swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Castilano to counter with a crisp jab.
Castilano misses the shot to the body.
Van Damme defending well as Castilano loads up on a big left hand.
Castilano misses with an uppercut.
Castilano loads up on a big right hand but Van Damme slips the punch.
Van Damme misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Van Damme takes a swing at Castilano's ribcage but misses.
Castilano misses with a straight left.
Van Damme uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Castilano.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme thows a body shot but no joy.
Van Damme swings for the body but Castilano moves out of range.
Castilano misses with a hook.
Van Damme ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Van Damme misses with a straight right.
Van Damme throws a series of punches but Castilano moves out of range.
Castilano misses with a left hand
and Van Damme counters with an outside leg kick.
Van Damme thumps Castilano with a low kick.
A big right from Castilano misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice takedown defense from Van Damme. No joy for Castilano on that attempt.
Castilano misses with a straight left.
Van Damme scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Castilano throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castilano gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Van Damme.
Van Damme misses with an attempted mid kick.
Castilano throws a lazy right hand but Van Damme sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Castilano throws a big shot that misses.
Van Damme ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Van Damme throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Luke Castilano is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Castilano ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Van Damme moves away.
Van Damme slips a jab from Castilano.
Van Damme jabs Castilano to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A slapping leg kick lands for Van Damme.
Van Damme keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Castilano closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme blocks a jab.
Castilano misses with a right hand
and Van Damme counters with a right hand to the body.
Van Damme looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Van Damme feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Castilano's calf.
Van Damme slaps away a takedown attempt from Castilano, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jean Claude Van Damme has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke Castilano.
Castilano takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Van Damme digs a good hook to Castilano's body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A jab lands there for Van Damme.
Van Damme defending well as Castilano loads up on a big left hand.
Castilano misses with a lunging right hand
and Van Damme counters with a low kick, right behind Castilano 's knee.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Castilano misses with a left hand
and Van Damme counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Jean Claude Van Damme has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Van Damme misses with the combination.
Van Damme stuffs the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jean Claude Van Damme showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Castilano 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke Castilano!