PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jean Claude Van Damme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Patrick Dewaere (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van Damme's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Fabulous-Bad Guy. Dewaere has chosen Mona Mona ! as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Claude Van Damme
vs
Dewaere

178 cm
20
180 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

178 cm
22
183 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 Helsinki, Jean Claude Van Damme!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Patrick Dewaere!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Damme lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Van Damme takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Van Damme gets caught flat footed, as Dewaere shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Van Damme utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Van Damme wants to stand and escape but Dewaere is having none of it.
Dewaere missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dewaere postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Van Damme working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dewaere.

Van Damme has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dewaere can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Dewaere throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Van Damme works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Van Damme escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dewaere gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dewaere working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Van Damme's head.
Dewaere postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Dewaere throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dewaere works over Van Damme with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dewaere slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Van Damme is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Van Damme pushes Dewaere away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Dewaere gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Van Damme taking punishment in the form of punches.
Van Damme is not content to let Dewaere control the position.
Dewaere lands a few punches from side control.
Dewaere creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Van Damme manages to get back to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice strikes from Dewaere there.
Van Damme wants to control but Dewaere is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Dewaere not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Dewaere connects with a nice short shot to Van Damme's temple.
Dewaere lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme works his way to full guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Van Damme had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dewaere defends it easily.
Dewaere is fighting to break Van Damme's control of his arms but Van Damme is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Dewaere stands up over Van Damme, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Dewaere trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Damme is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Van Damme is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Van Damme tries to pass to full mount but Dewaere defends it.
Dewaere really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Van Damme. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Dewaere is trying is best to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dewaere trying to hold on to Van Damme's head to control him but Van Damme postures up.
Dewaere wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Patrick Dewaere has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Dewaere fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Van Damme stuffs the takedown.
Dewaere closes the distance and clinches up with Van Damme, looking for a takedown. Dewaere pushes Van Damme against the cage but Van Damme circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jean Claude Van Damme has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick Dewaere.

Van Damme clinches.
Dewaere is looking to take this one to the mat.

Van Damme breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dewaere has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dewaere fails to land the takedown.
Dewaere looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Van Damme is fending him off so far but Dewaere persists. Nope, Van Damme circles away and we're back to standing.
Dewaere shoots in for a takedown but Van Damme shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Horrible takedown by Dewaere or perhaps it was just good defense by Van Damme which made him look bad.
Van Damme fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Van Damme takes the fight into the clinch.
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 trying to control the position but instead, Dewaere has worked for underhooks and has pushed Van Damme into the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dewaere is looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Dewaere 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.

Dewaere scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Van Damme is pressing down on Dewaere's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Dewaere throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Van Damme is looking for a triangle but Dewaere pushes his legs off easily.
Dewaere keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Van Damme's head.
Van Damme has Dewaere pulled in close to control his posture.
Dewaere keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Van Damme's head.
Dewaere preventing the sweep.

Van Damme has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dewaere can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Patrick Dewaere has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dewaere scoring with some ground and pound.
Dewaere keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Van Damme's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dewaere throwing strikes from guard but Van Damme blocks nicely.
Van Damme controls Dewaere momentarily but Dewaere frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dewaere trying to control but Van Damme is working from the bottom.
Dewaere works over Van Damme with some ground and pound from guard.
Dewaere stands up over Van Damme, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Van Damme looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Dewaere drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dewaere jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Dewaere makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Van Damme working a defensive guard here.
Dewaere throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Van Damme works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Van Damme keeping moving, preventing Dewaere from controlling successfully.
Dewaere distracts Van Damme with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dewaere trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Damme is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dewaere scoring with punches to the head and body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dewaere trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Damme is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Van Damme controls Dewaere momentarily but Dewaere frees himself.
Dewaere looking to sit in guard and control but Van Damme gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Dewaere looking to hit a scissor sweep but Van Damme is one step ahead there.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Dewaere can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dewaere is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Dewaere working Van Damme over with strikes.
Dewaere is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Dewaere is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Van Damme wants to get back to full guard.
Dewaere 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.
Dewaere scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Van Damme actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Damme taking some punishment here, with Dewaere in his half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dewaere prevents Van Damme from standing back up.

Van Damme is defending against the submission attempts here by Dewaere.
Van Damme avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dewaere.
Van Damme tries to kick Dewaere off but Dewaere keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Van Damme wants to control but Dewaere is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Dewaere seems to be working for a kimura but Van Damme defends the submission attempt.
Van Damme taking some punishment here, with Dewaere in his half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dewaere working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Dewaere wants to take a breather but Van Damme is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Dewaere 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 closes the distance and pushes Dewaere back into the cage.
Dewaere prevents the takedown attempt.
Van Damme tries a body shot but Dewaere blocks it.
Van Damme prevents a takedown attempt there.
Dewaere has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Van Damme after a bit of a struggle.
Dewaere drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jean Claude Van Damme has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick Dewaere.
Dewaere has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Van Damme avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Dewaere tries for a takedown but Van Damme manages to get underhooks.
Van Damme prevents a body shot from Dewaere.
Van Damme prevents a takedown attempt there.
Dewaere drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dewaere takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Damme jumps into guard, dragging Dewaere to the mat.

Van Damme working for a triangle but Dewaere defends it easily.
Dewaere trying to control but Van Damme is working from the bottom.
Dewaere postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Van Damme preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dewaere pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Van Damme is keeping the position for now.
Dewaere throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dewaere stopping the sweep attempt from Van Damme.
Dewaere lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Van Damme controls Dewaere momentarily but Dewaere frees himself.
Dewaere working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Dewaere landing with the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dewaere preventing the sweep.
Van Damme is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Van Damme has his foot on Dewaere's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dewaere works his way back into a safe position though.
Dewaere throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dewaere lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dewaere is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Dewaere throwing strikes but missing.
Dewaere postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dewaere throws a big elbow that misses.

Van Damme is looking for a triangle but Dewaere pushes his legs off easily.

Van Damme looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dewaere trying to control but Van Damme is working from the bottom.
Dewaere throwing strikes but missing.
Dewaere keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Van Damme's head.
Dewaere with a nice head shot there.

Van Damme is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dewaere is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dewaere with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Dewaere with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dewaere lands a couple of elbows.
Dewaere throwing strikes from guard but Van Damme blocks nicely.
Dewaere stands up over Van Damme, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Van Damme has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dewaere can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Van Damme escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dewaere gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Dewaere postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Patrick Dewaere is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Damme looking for a sweep. Not yet Van Damme, not yet.
Jean Claude Van Damme has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Van Damme is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Dewaere tries to free his leg and advance position but Van Damme is retaining full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Patrick Dewaere comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Dewaere winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Patrick Dewaere!
During a confident post fight interview, Patrick Dewaere thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.