JCVD vs Steven Seagal (incl. interviews)

Even today people are still fascinated by Van Damme vs Steven Seagal. Who would have won, if they got into a fight in their prime? Why does Steven Seagal dislike JCVD? Why did Steven Seagal not accept JCVD's challenge back in 1997 at Stalone's house? Lot's of questions, lets see if we can get some answers.

Over the years there has been some bad blood between JCVD and Steven Seagal. I guess it started with Steven Seagal not acknowledging JCVD as a martial artist. JCVD on the other hand has been very positive about Steven Seagal, with only one exception: JCVD once called Seagal a 'very boring' person.

Let's take a look at what they said about each other.

1991 (Steven Seagal)
Steven Seagal interview The Arsenio Hall Show

Arsenio Hall: "Do you know Van Damme?"
Steven: "No."
Arsenio Hall: "You have heard of him?"
Steven: (nods)
Arsenio Hall: "What do you think of his work as a martial artist person?"
Steven: "Let's change the subject."
Arsenio Hall: "He was like a champion somewhere."
Steven: "I think that's a mater of opinion that he was a champion anywhere. I'm not being catty or anything I wish the guy all the best, but there are an awful lot of people who will say that that's not true."



1994 (JCVD)
Does he not love Seagal, who once offered on Arsenio Hall's show to whip Van Damme's butt?
"Well, he's a good guy, but he's too tense. I saw him in Planet Hollywood and I said, 'Hey, Steven, you speak bad about me on TV. Why?' And he goes--" he breaks off, spewing Cro-Magnonesque mutterings, then continues in his own voice. "I said, 'Come on, look, I'm a nice guy. Am I a bad guy?' I shook his hand, he relaxed. Hey, it's okay if he wants to say things. It's not my problem."
Since he's feeling magnanimous toward Seagal, might he offer any career advice to the competition?
"What's my right to judge them when those three guys are bigger box office than me?" he protests, adding playfully, "Domestic'' Sure, but how does he size them up? "First of all, Seagal is very smart," he observes. "He's not in good physical shape, absolutely not. He came on the screen playing a macho guy who fights in a suit. Women love that. Warner Bros, really promoted him in Above the Law and the movie didn't do that much, but he became a star on video. I believe he's got some charisma. Now he has to change, to find something new. It will be...difficult."
Sourse: movieline.com/1994/08/01/the-8-million-dollar-man/

1995 JCVD on TV show Jo Soares (Brasil)
JCVD: "Steven Seagal is very boring."


2008 (funny Steven Seagal mention in the movie J.C.V.D.)


2010 JCVD talks about the incedent at Stalone's house.


2010 (Steven Seagal)
Season 1, Episode 11 Street Justice Air Date: Jan 20, 2010
Q: "Is it true that he got into a fight with you?"
Steven: "No, it would be like me squashing an ant."
Steven: "He sees me, he runs."

2012 (JCVD)EX2 interview
JCVD: "I would love to see Steven Seagal in part 3. He should loose some weight. No, no you don't understand, so he can be a little more fast. I met the guy a few times, he is a nice guy. Doesn't like me much. I like him a lot, good charisma, he got something special on the screen and I would love to see him there."
Interviewer: "Why doesn't he like you? "
JCVD: "Because maybe I'm good, very good."


2012 (JCVD) EX2 interview
JCVD: "I think Steven Seagal has such a good pressence
He should lose some weight, which is not that difficult. I think he has good lot's of charisme. Eevn though sometimes he speaks bad about me. It's all bullshit I think he is a nice guy. He has got his own type of temper, vision, charachter. But he will be great like an expendable as a bad guy, he will be great."


2012 (JCVD) Howard Stern interview @15:37
JCVD: "That evening I think Steven was kind of tipsy tipsy happy, like I was sometimes and I don't know maybe.. It happened year ago it was a remark or something like that. And I don't know it's like... It all started on the Jay Leno show years ago when Jay asked to Steven Seagal. You know Van Damme? And he said he is not good in martial arts, but he never met me though. And also it's like.. That's when it started I guess."
www.liveleak.com/view?i=129_1337045962

2015 (Steven Seagal)
Interviewer: "Thoughts on Jean-Claude Van Damme?"
Steven: "Can I laugh in your face?"


2015 (JCVD) Interview about Pound Of Flesh
There is another person Van Damme admires. This person has a big audience, for various reasons, and rose to stardom around the same time as the Walloon. “Judo” Gene Lebell doesn’t think too fondly of this man, but the man’s knowledge has been sought out by the likes of former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (we think, anyway). However, this man’s acting abilities and martial arts techniques gave Van Damme competition on the screen, and that was a challenge the Pound of Flesh actor appreciated. It gave him a style to compare to, compete against and learn from. Of course, the man in question is actor Steven Seagal.
“Fighting and inventing or creating new techniques, it’s like Steven Seagal, when he came out with Above the Law. He was kind of new with hapkido,” Van Damme said. “It was great. I like his style. It was very different than my style at the time. So, if you can combine those two styles, plus a new one coming soon, it’s going to be very dangerous.”
combatpress.com/2015/05/jean-claude-van-damme-action-star-sticks-to-his-roots-in-pound-of-flesh/