PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jean Lucroy (ranked 2933 p4p, 21457 weight class) and Paul Rabbitte (ranked 413 p4p, 599 weight class). Paul Rabbitte struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 207.4lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Paul Rabbitte looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Lucroy
vs
Rabbitte

182 cm
37
206
17 - 10 - 1

189 cm
36
220
7 - 19 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jean Lucroy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 19 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Rabbitte!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Albert Achterberg and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lucroy decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rabbitte is trying to control but can't.
We've been hearing good reports from Lucroy's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Lucroy seems to be working for a kimura but Rabbitte defends the submission attempt.
Rabbitte is trying to stand back up but Lucroy is controlling him
Rabbitte trying to control from the bottom.
Lucroy is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Ground and pound from Lucroy.

Rabbitte pushes Lucroy off and gets back to his feet.
Rabbitte pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lucroy is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Rabbitte.
Lucroy will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rabbitte stuffs the takedown attempt from Lucroy. Lucroy gets slowly back to his feet.
A low kick from Rabbitte is predictable there

so Lucroy counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabbitte wants to sweep here but Lucroy controlling him for the moment.

Lucroy drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rabbitte manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Lucroy has Rabbitte in his guard.

Lucroy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rabbitte is one step ahead there.
Rabbitte throwing strikes from guard but Lucroy blocks nicely.
Lucroy wants to control the position but Rabbitte says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucroy manages to get to full guard.
Rabbitte chips away with some ground and pound.
My spies in Tycoon Gym inform me that Rabbitte has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Rabbitte got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lucroy has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rabbitte has managed to get both his arms back between Lucroy's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rabbitte stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rabbitte throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Lucroy stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rabbitte misses with a straight left.
Lucroy fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jean Lucroy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lucroy takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Jean Lucroy has been cut.
A lazy body kick from Rabbitte

and Lucroy counters with a takedown into side control.
Rabbitte is looking to get back to his feet here but Lucroy is keeping cool and he's managed to take Rabbitte's back.
Rabbitte looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabbitte rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Rabbitte wants to improve his position but Lucroy is controlling well.
Lucroy trying to control the action but Rabbitte is working from the bottom.
Rabbitte missing with punches from the bottom.
Lucroy working the head and body with strikes.

Lucroy is trying for a kimura here. Rabbitte looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Lucroy wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jean Lucroy!
During a confident post fight interview, Jean Lucroy thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.