PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lucian Bute (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Le Bard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bute
vs
Bard

175 cm
25
163 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

177 cm
20
165 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lucian Bute!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Le Bard!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Dillan Fox and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bute changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bard looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Bute thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bute throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The ground and pound from Bute seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Bute taking a breather here.
Bard managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Bute.

Bute tries for a kimura but Bard is defending well.
Bard managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Bute.
Bard dodges the ground and pound from Bute.
Bard takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
What's Bard going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.

Bute wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bard, who protects the arm well.
Bard is looking to regain half guard here but Bute keeps moving and retains side control.
Bard takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Bute is looking to take a break and control but Bard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bute is really struggling to control Bard but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Bute looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bard tries to improve position but can't.

Bute swings around for an armbar but Bard sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Bute's guard.

Bard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bard postures up.
Bute keeping moving, preventing Bard from controlling successfully.

Bard decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Bute checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bute staying out of range there.
Bard is looking to land body kicks.
Bute bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bard cracks Bute with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Bard misses with a looping right.
Bute misses with a straight left.
Bard misses with a body kick.
Bute ducks under a wild hook from Bard.
Bute blocks a jab.
Bard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Le Bard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bard swings for the body but Bute moves out of range.
Bard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bard misses with a head kick.
Bard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bard throws a body punch but Bute moves out of range.
Bute cracks a nice hook into Bard's ribs.
Bute looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bute takes a swing at Bard's ribcage but misses.
Bard swings away with a body shot that misses

and Bute counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bute stops Bard from getting back to his feet.
Bute is pressing down on Bard's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bard is holding on for now.

Bute is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bard is just riding it out for now. Bute eventually gives up the hold.
Bard won't allow Bute to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucian Bute dominated that round.
That's time! Bute's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bard misses with a kick to the body.
Bard takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Bard throws a jab but it's blocked by Bute.

Bute gets the takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Bard's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Bute looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Bute is looking to take a break and control but Bard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bute landing strikes.
Bard is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bute misses with the ground and pound.
The ground and pound from Bute seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Bute fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Bute swings around for an armbar but Bard sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Bute's guard.

Bute looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bute works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Bute working for submissions but it's allowed Bard to get to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bard uses his free foot to push down on Bute's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Bute.
Bard landing punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bard swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Bute is now in Bard's guard. A big mistake from Bard there, giving up the dominant position!

Bute postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Bard is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Bute, into his guard.
Bute is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Bard wants to pass the guard but Bute is keeping the position.
Bute bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bard's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buteis looking to pass into half guard but Bard pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Bard is in guard.
Bute is looking to sweep but instead, Bard has passed into half guard.
Bard wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bute keeps working.
Bard wants to pass to mount but Bute is defending the position.
Bard is stalling here. Bute is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Bard seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Bute has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Lucian Bute overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bard is trying to improve his position.
Bard regains half guard, as Bute was trying to land strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Bute is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bard defends it well.

Bute is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bard doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bute.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bard is defending against the submission attempts here by Bute.
Bard on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucian Bute dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bute defending well as Bard loads up on a big left hand.
Bute scores with a hook to the body. Bard takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Bard keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bute checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Bute scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Bard is not content to let Bute control the position.
Bute working away.
Bute wants to control but Bard is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bute misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Bute wants to control but Bard is keeping him busy.
Bard wants to control but Bute postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bard misses with a low kick.
Bard swings away with a body shot that misses

so Bute counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Bard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bute trying to control but Bard is working from the bottom.
Bute throws a big right hand that misses.
Bute preventing the sweep.
Bute throwing strikes from guard but Bard blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bard keeping moving, preventing Bute from controlling successfully.
Bute has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Bute throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bute throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bute slips under a jab.
Bute checks a low kick from Bard.
Bard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bard drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A swing and a miss from Bard.
Horrible takedown by Bute or perhaps it was just good defense by Bard which made him look bad.
A bone on bone clash there as Bute blocks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bute looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bute wants to take a breather but Bard is having none of it.
Bute prevents Bard from standing back up.
Bard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Bute is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bard is controlling Bute's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Bute stops Bard from getting back to his feet.
Bute missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Bute is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bard keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bard is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
The fighters circling - Bute throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bard on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Bard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bute fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bard manages to avoid it.
Bard throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Bard displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bute throws out the jab.
A leg kick checked by Bute.
Bute connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bard momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucian Bute clearly takes that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bard keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bute thows a body shot but no joy.
Bard slips under a jab.
Bard misses the body punch
and Bute counters with a nice uppercut.
Bute uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bard.
Bard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Good exchange - Bute coming out on top.
Bute cracks Bard with an open hand slap.
Bute tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bard swivels and escapes.
Bute tests Bard's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bute lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Bard backs up against the cage.
The crowd cheers as Bard lands an impressive looking overhand right. Bute doesn't seem phased though.
Bute throws a series of punches but Bard avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bard misses with a looping left.
Bard thows a left - swing and a miss!
A clash of legs there as Bute blocks the low kick.
Bute ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Bute connects with a good right hand that stumbles Bard. Bard circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Bard throws a predictable looking body shot
and Bute makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Bard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bard throws a leg kick

and Bute counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bard's guard now.
Bard is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Bute trying to control but Bard is working from the bottom.
Bute being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bute trying to control the position from guard on top but Bard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bute pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bard is keeping the position for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bard is on top in guard.
Bard postures up.
Bard trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bute's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bard stopping the sweep attempt from Bute.

Bute is looking for a triangle but Bard pushes his legs off easily.

Bard gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Jab, jab by Bute - just one landing.
Bard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bute.
A head kick misses from Bard.
Bute scores with a jab. Bard acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bute misses with a shot to the body
and Bard counters with a straight right hand.
Bard throws a looping overhand right but Bute ducks down to avoid it.
Bard needs to keep his hands up - Bute had a free shot at his head there.
Bard throws a head kick but Bute moves out of range.
Bute misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bard.
Bard throws a leg kick which misses Bute's front leg but catches the back leg as Bute tries to avoid it.
Bard goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Bard delivers a nice body kick.

Bute closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bard did well to prevent Bute getting side control.

Bute is looking for a kimura here.
Bute trying to control from Bard's half guard. Bard has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucian Bute had his way with Le Bard in that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Bard throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Bute on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Bard misses with a straight left.
Bard tests Bute's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bard takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Bute lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Bard throws a sloppy body shot

and Bute counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bard won't be happy with that.
An elbow from Bute crashes against the mat.
Bute wants to control but Bard is keeping him busy.

Bute goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Bard has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Bute but great work by Bard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

Bard tries for a kimura but Bute is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bute manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Bard seems to be looking for submissions.
Bard prevents Bute from improving his position.
Bard is thwarting Bute's attempts to control the position.
Bute tries to roll over but Bard keeps him under control.

Bute looking for submissions off his back.
Lucian Bute is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bute is looking to control Bard's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bute avoid being mounted?

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bute throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bard throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bard tries to land a front kick but Bute steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Lucian Bute is winning the standup battle so far.
Bute avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bard throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Bute shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Bute with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bute with a couple of short strikes.
Bute controlling the position easily from mount.
Bute thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Bard is controlling an arm, preventing Bute from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Le Bard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bard gets back to half guard.
Bute trying to control the action but Bard is working from the bottom.

Bute is looking for a kimura but Bard is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bute to get the leverage.
Bute missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bute is trying to control the action in half guard but Bard is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bard regains full guard. Nicely done.
Bard wants to get back to his feet but Bute is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bute with a nice head shot there.
Bard controls Bute momentarily but Bute frees himself.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bute accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bute misses the jab.
Bard gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Bute counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Bute trying to control the position from guard on top but Bard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lucian Bute showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bute, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge William Peck scores the fight 50:45
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 50:45
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lucian Bute!
Lucian Bute is the new lightweight champion!