kept — simple past tense and past participle of keep.
asserted — resting on a statement or claim unsupported by evidence or proof; alleged: The asserted value of the property was twice the amount anyone offered.
defended — Simple past tense and past participle of defend.
held — simple past tense and a past participle of hold1 .
maintained — to keep in existence or continuance; preserve; retain: to maintain good relations with neighboring countries.