PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nick Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean Claude Van Damme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van Damme has chosen Fabulous-Bad Guy as his entrance music. The key to victory for Nick Diaz has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Diaz
vs
Claude Van Damme

193 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nick Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jean Claude Van Damme!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Van Damme misses.
Van Damme dodges the punch combination from Diaz.

Van Damme bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Diaz is looking to get back to his feet here but Van Damme is keeping cool and he's managed to take Diaz's back.
Diaz looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Van Damme gets back to his feet - a bit of a stange decision given the position he was in.
Diaz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz throws a combination. Van Damme tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Diaz is breathing heavily.
Diaz throws a hook to the side of Van Damme's head but Van Damme sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Van Damme clinches up against the cage.
Van Damme will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Diaz up against the cage.

Van Damme pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Diaz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Diaz scores with a jab to the head.

Van Damme gets a clinch.

Van Damme manages to break the clinch.
Diaz misses with a body shot.
Some wild striking there from Diaz.
Van Damme buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Diaz misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme slips a jab and a cross from Diaz.

Van Damme shoots in and bounces Diaz off the cage to secure the takedown into 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!

Van Damme stands and steps away. Diaz gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Diaz throws a body punch but Van Damme moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Diaz. Those never looked like landing.
Van Damme misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Van Damme keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Diaz.

Van Damme instigates a clinch.
Van Damme manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Van Damme breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Diaz connects with a body shot that sends Van Damme's belly button to the back.
Diaz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Diaz takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Diaz gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Van Damme decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Diaz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Van Damme drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Van Damme decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Diaz, up you get!
A punch combination from Diaz misses.
Van Damme ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Diaz moves away.
Van Damme slips a jab and a cross from Diaz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Van Damme throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Diaz throws a jab but it's blocked by Van Damme.
Diaz looks to land a combination but Van Damme avoids it well.
Van Damme lands a nice leg kick that just misses Diaz's sensitive parts.
Van Damme loads up on a big right hand but Diaz slips the punch.

Van Damme takes the fight into the clinch.

Van Damme pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Van Damme rushes Diaz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Van Damme breaks from the clinch.
Van Damme pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A combination from Van Damme does no damage.

Van Damme clinches up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Claude Van Damme dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Diaz misses with a wild combination.
Diaz lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Van Damme slips a jab and a cross from Diaz.
Van Damme takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Van Damme moves into range and clinches up with Diaz.

Van Damme breaks from the clinch.
Diaz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Diaz ducks under a wild hook from Van Damme.
Diaz misses with a double jab
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Diaz fails to land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from Diaz misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Van Damme shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Diaz napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Van Damme decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz lands with a shot to the body.
Diaz misses with a double jab.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Van Damme misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Diaz throws a right and a left that Van Damme avoids nicely.
Diaz scores with a one two! Van Damme had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A chopping leg kick lands by Van Damme.
Nick Diaz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Diaz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Van Damme counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Diaz!

Van Damme decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Van Damme will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Diaz on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Van Damme. Van Damme obviously looking to wear him down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Van Damme scores with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diaz manages to avoid it.
No joy there for Diaz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Van Damme will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Diaz falls off balance throwing a combination

and Van Damme counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Van Damme stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Van Damme moves into the clinch.
Van Damme has Diaz pressed against the cage, preventing Diaz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Van Damme slows down the pace here.

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

Van Damme closes the distance and clinches.
A hook to the body from Van Damme.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Van Damme bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Diaz tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Diaz has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.

Van Damme has decided that he can't make progress quickly enough from the back position and has rather unusually decided to stand up from the dominant position. Obviously he's going to be looking for the knockout on the feet here!
A decent looking cross lands there for Van Damme.
Jean Claude Van Damme seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Van Damme wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Diaz misses with a double jab.
Van Damme throws a head kick that half lands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Van Damme shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Van Damme stands up from Diaz's guard - Van Damme perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Van Damme scores with a head kick.
Van Damme pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Van Damme feints and as Diaz raises his hands in defense, Van Damme changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Van Damme gets to his feet. Diaz looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Van Damme looking to score a takedown here. Diaz is defending well but Van Damme drives through and ends up in Diaz's guard.
Diaz is wriggling around but Van Damme manages to pass to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Diaz pushes Van Damme off but Van Damme dives into side control.

Van Damme decides to stand back up.
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 fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Van Damme lands with a nice body kick.
Van Damme takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Sloppy strikes from Diaz. Those never looked like landing.
Diaz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Van Damme.
Diaz jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
No joy there for Diaz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Diaz misses with a combination
and Van Damme counters with a head kick.
Diaz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Van Damme.
Diaz lands a nice hook to Van Damme's body. Van Damme takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Diaz gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Van Damme to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Diaz is working an open guard so Van Damme takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Diaz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Van Damme instigates a clinch.
Diaz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Van Damme has him pressed against the cage.

Van Damme's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Van Damme has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Diaz misses with a series of wild punches.
Danga de danga de dang - Van Damme scores with a four punch combination!
Diaz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nick Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Diaz takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Van Damme drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Van Damme gets to his feet. Diaz looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Diaz takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Nick Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Diaz crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Van Damme - the referee stops the clock and Diaz gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Van Damme. Diaz manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Van Damme shoots in and gets a takedown into Diaz's guard.
Van Damme is standing up over Diaz. Diaz looks to escape but Van Damme dives into side control.

Van Damme decides to stand back up. Van Damme steps back and let's Diaz get back to his feet.

Van Damme forces Diaz back against the cage and clinches.
Van Damme scores with a hook to the body.

Van Damme manages to break the clinch.
Diaz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Van Damme.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A left hand lands to the body for Van Damme.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Damme manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Diaz trying to stand up but can't free himself from Van Damme's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Van Damme uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Van Damme throws a big shot that misses.
Diaz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Diaz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Van Damme moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Diaz misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Van Damme counters with a good low kick that Diaz was not able to check.

Van Damme closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Van Damme lands in his opponent's guard.

Van Damme gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Diaz. Those never looked like landing.
Diaz takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Van Damme connects with a high kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Van Damme drives through with a takedown into Diaz's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Van Damme slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Diaz.

Van Damme decides to stand and escape the position.
Van Damme scores with a head kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Van Damme looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Diaz!
Van Damme slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Diaz.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jean Claude Van Damme comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Van Damme has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jean Claude Van Damme!
Jean Claude Van Damme very nearly forgot to thank Hardcore Nutrition amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.