PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gilbert Lalliberte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and john Him (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Lalliberte
vs
Him

175 cm
22
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

155 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gilbert Lalliberte!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, john Him!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Eliza Hachem and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Him throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lalliberte misses with a body kick.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Him has eaten all the pies!

Him scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Him seems to be looking for submissions.
Lalliberte wants to get back to full guard.
Him wants to control but Lalliberte is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Him prevents Lalliberte from improving his position.
Him throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Him wants to take a breather but Lalliberte is having none of it.
Lalliberte won't allow Him to pass to mount.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Him ducks under a wild hook from Lalliberte.

Him closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Lalliberte to the mat! Lalliberte manages to get full guard.
Him passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.

Him is looking for a kimura but Lalliberte is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Him to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Him is keen to just control but Lalliberte is a slippery customer.
Lalliberte is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lalliberte punching from the bottom.
Him is keen to just control but Lalliberte is a slippery customer.
Lalliberte is trying to control but can't.
Lalliberte makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Lalliberte.
Lalliberte working a defensive guard here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lalliberte misses with a takedown

and Him decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lalliberte's guard.
Lalliberte throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Lalliberte manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Lalliberte is breathing heavily.
Him takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Him can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lalliberte is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Him can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Him tries to hold on but Lalliberte postures up.
Lalliberte will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Him bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Lalliberte trying to keep a closed guard but Him is proving a slippery customer.
Lalliberte looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lalliberte trying to strike off his back.
Lalliberte has a closed guard, preventing Him from standing up.
Lalliberte being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lalliberte avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lalliberte working a defensive guard here.
Him tries to free his leg and advance position but Lalliberte is retaining full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Him is looking to clinch.
Lalliberte throws a combination that misses

and Him counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Him trying to control the position from guard on top but Lalliberte is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lalliberte looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lalliberte wants to hit a switch here but Him passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Lalliberte there!
Lalliberte is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lalliberte manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Lalliberte is trying to get back to full guard.
Him not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lalliberte wants to improve his position but Him is controlling well.
Lalliberte has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Him is working away from the top position though.
Lalliberte gets back to full guard.
Him pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lalliberte is keeping the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lalliberte working a defensive guard here.
Lalliberte is really struggling to control Him but he's trying to hold on to the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

john Him dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lalliberte tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Him counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Lalliberte throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Lalliberte throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Him stands and steps away. Lalliberte gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Lalliberte wants to clinch

and Him counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Him.

Him breaks from the clinch.
Lalliberte misses the shot to the body.
Lalliberte throws a sloppy head kick and Him moves out of range easily.
Lalliberte pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lalliberte throws a low kick but it's checked well by Him.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Lalliberte - that will leave a mark!
Lalliberte throws a big shot that misses.
Him misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lalliberte.
Him tries a head kick but it misses.
Lalliberte throws a sloppy head kick and Him moves out of range easily.
Gilbert Lalliberte seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Him rushes Lalliberte and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lalliberte tries to land knees in the clinch but Him avoids the damage to the body.
Lalliberte tries to land knees in the clinch but Him avoids the damage to the body.

Him manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lalliberte throws a quick inside leg kick.
Him tries to clinch there but Lalliberte circles away.

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

Him gets to his feet - Lalliberte follows without any prompting.

Him changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lalliberte looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Lalliberte manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Him is refusing to be controlled, as Lalliberte sits in half guard.
Him keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lalliberte throwing shots but Him is blocking nicely.
Lalliberte throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Him on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Lalliberte looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Lalliberte is looking for a kimura but Him is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lalliberte to get the leverage.
Lalliberte not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lalliberte looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Him with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Him is trying to stand back up but Lalliberte is controlling him
Lalliberte works his way into full mount!
Him wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Him working to try and regain half guard.
Him tries to hold on but Lalliberte postures up.
Lalliberte looking to ground and pound but Him is blocking nicely.
Him is trying to stand.
Lalliberte looking to ground and pound but Him is blocking nicely.
Him is trying to escape the mount.
Lalliberte thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Him sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Him is trying to stand back up but Lalliberte is controlling him
Him gets back to full guard.

Him looking for a guillotine here but Lalliberte defends easily.
Him is trying to keep Lalliberte in close.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lalliberte accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Him preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Him controlling Lalliberte's posture.
Him not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Him is pulling down on Lalliberte's head. It's preventing any offense from Lalliberte, at least for the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lalliberte throws a head kick that misses
and Him counters with a stiff right hand.

Him clinches up against the cage.
Him misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lalliberte.

Him breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lalliberte tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lalliberte closes the distance but Him moves to the side

and Him counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Him.

Him is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Lalliberte is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lalliberte is striking but Him is not phased and passes to half guard.
Him is tying to control. Lalliberte wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

john Him showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Him takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like john Him has been cut.
Lalliberte tries to land knees in the clinch but Him avoids the damage to the body.
Him tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lalliberte smiles and moves away.
Him misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Him throws a quick inside leg kick.
Lalliberte misses with a double jab.
Lalliberte misses with a takedown

and Him counters by clinching up.
Lalliberte is looking to control Him's arms but Him gets an underhook and turns him. Now Lalliberte has his back to the cage.
Him lands a body shot.
Him managing to block the knees to the body from Lalliberte.
Lalliberte misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Him.
Lalliberte misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Him.
Lalliberte misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Him.

Him breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Him wants to clinch.
Him takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lalliberte tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Lalliberte misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Him scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Him is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lalliberte doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Him.
Lalliberte works his way to full guard. Good work.
Lalliberte bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Him's guard.
Him keeping moving, preventing Lalliberte from controlling successfully.
Lalliberte won't allow Him to get back to his feet.
Lalliberte throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lalliberte working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Him is looking for a triangle but Lalliberte pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Him keeping moving, preventing Lalliberte from controlling successfully.
Lalliberte is looking to work some ground and pound but Him has wrist control.

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

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Him avoids the head kick by Lalliberte.
Lalliberte misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Him instigates a clinch.
Him drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gilbert Lalliberte has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of john Him.
Him cracks Lalliberte with a nice body shot.

Him escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Him showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lalliberte.
Lalliberte misses with a wild body shot.
Lalliberte throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lalliberte gets caught flat footed, as Him shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Lalliberte wants to sweep here but Him controlling him for the moment.
Him trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Lalliberte manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Lalliberte throwing strikes from guard but Him blocks nicely.

Lalliberte drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Him manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Lalliberte has Him in his guard.
john Him has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lalliberte is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Him wants to stand but Lalliberte is controlling his posture from full guard.
Lalliberte trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Him stopping the sweep attempt from Lalliberte.
Lalliberte throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Lalliberte trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Him distracts Lalliberte with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Him trying to control but Lalliberte is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lalliberte darts in trying to clinch

and Him counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lalliberte's guard now.
Gilbert Lalliberte has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Him tries to stand but Lalliberte is controlling from the bottom.
Lalliberte trying to control the position.
Him wants to control from the top but Lalliberte keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
john Him comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Him 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... john Him!