PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Lambert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Backman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lambert comes to the cage accompanied by Disturbed - Stricken. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Lambert
vs
Backman

178 cm
19
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

184 cm
21
220 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joe Lambert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ben Backman!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Robert Douchet and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Backman leaves Lambert with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A big left from Lambert misses.
Backman throws a shot from downtown. Lambert moves away and avoids it.
Joe Lambert seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lambert uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Backman.
Backman takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Backman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lambert lands with an overhand left.
Lambert loads up on a big right hand but Backman slips the punch.
Backman misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Backman ducks right into an uppercut from Lambert.
Lambert slips a straight right by Backman.
Lambert pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lambert lands with a right hand.
Lambert thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lambert lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Backman takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Backman misses with a head kick.
Backman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lambert ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lambert just misses with a punch to the body.
Lambert blocks a jab.
Backman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lambert swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Backman defending well as Lambert loads up on a big left hand.
Lambert throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Backman stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Backman takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lambert throws a left and a right that both miss
and Backman counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Backman throws a sloppy head kick and Lambert moves out of range easily.
Backman misses with a wild combination.

Lambert feints and as Backman raises his hands in defense, Lambert changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lambert pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Backman is keeping the position for now.
Lambert has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lambert is looking to work some ground and pound but Backman has wrist control.
Lambert trying to control but Backman is working from the bottom.
Backman wants to stand but Lambert is controlling the position.
Lambert throwing strikes from guard but Backman blocks nicely.
Backman wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backman trying to keep a closed guard but Lambert is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Lambert sitting in guard here, content to control.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ben Backman hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Backman throws a sloppy head kick and Lambert moves out of range easily.
The fighters circling - Lambert throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Backman tries to clinch but Lambert is having none of it.
Backman slips under a jab.
Backman misses with an uppercut.
Backman moves out of range of the strikes.
Some wild striking there from Lambert.
Backman takes a jab right on the kisser.

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.
Backman avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A big right from Lambert misses.
Lambert takes a swing at Backman's ribcage but misses.
Lambert misses with a body shot.
Lambert scores with a three punch combo!
Lambert misses with a double jab
and Backman cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Lambert scores a takedown into full mount!
Backman holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Lambert tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Lambert with good strikes from the mount here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Lambert dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lambert lands a slapping body shot.
Lambert swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ben Backman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lambert throws the left hand but Backman avoids the punch easily.
Lambert misses with a hook. Backman ducked under it nicely.
Lambert scores with a hook to the body. Backman takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Lambert throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Backman sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Backman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Backman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Backman moves out of range as Lambert strikes.
The crowd cheers as Lambert lands an impressive looking overhand right. Backman doesn't seem phased though.
Backman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lambert.
Lambert ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backman wants to clinch up but Lambert keeps it at a distance.
Backman tries to clinch up but Lambert circles away and keeps his distance.
Backman scores with a nice head shot.
Backman avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lambert throws a looping overhand right but Backman ducks down to avoid it.
Lambert throws a hook to the side of Backman's head but Backman sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lambert takes a swing at Backman's ribcage but misses.
Backman wants to clinch up but Lambert keeps it at a distance.
Backman misses with a double jab
and Lambert counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Backman blocks a jab.
Lambert looks to land a left hand but Backman moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lambert cracks Backman with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Lambert shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Backman as he jumps to the side.
Backman wants to clinch.
Backman lands a nice shot to the body.
Lambert misses with an uppercut. Backman saw that one coming.
Backman misses with a double jab
letting Lambert counter with a right hand.
Backman tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Lambert manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Joe Lambert is winning the standup battle so far.
Backman works over Lambert's head and body with a nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lambert throws a nice looking combination but Backman bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lambert misses the shot to the body.
Backman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lambert.
Lambert misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Backman.
Lambert stalks Backman and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Backman's face. Backman staggers backwards, shaken.
Lambert misses with a body shot
and Backman counters with a series of strikes. Lambert will be more careful next time no doubt.
Backman misses with a jab, cross combination.
Backman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lambert misses with a series of wild punches.
Lambert misses with a combination
and Backman counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lambert misses with a two punch combination.
Backman throws a series of strikes that have Lambert backpedaling.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lambert shoots in but no luck this time.
Lambert swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Backman to counter with a crisp jab.
Lambert digs a good hook to Backman's body.
Backman misses with a head kick.
Backman moves in looking to clinch but Lambert pushes him off.
Lambert shoots in for a takedown but Backman shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Lambert. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lambert will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Backman is looking to clinch but Lambert is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Backman 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!

A swing and a miss from Lambert.
Lambert moves away from the strike by Backman.
Backman stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Backman is looking to clinch but Lambert is avoiding it.
Backman is looking to clinch but Lambert is avoiding it.
Lambert throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lambert getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Backman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lambert throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Backman holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Backman lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lambert has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Backman is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Backman gets underhooks to prevent Lambert's takedown attempt.

Backman manages to break the clinch.
Lambert misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backman tests Lambert's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lambert throws a left and a right that both miss
and Backman cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Backman takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Backman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Backman looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Lambert misses with a double jab
and Backman counters with a left and a right that stings Lambert.

It looks like Joe Lambert has been cut.
Backman throws a sloppy head kick and Lambert moves out of range easily.
Lambert misses with a double jab
and Backman counters with a stiff right hand.
Lambert misses with a jab to the body

and Backman counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Backman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ben Backman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A jab from Lambert misses.
Lambert throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Backman sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Backman misses with a jab, cross combination.
Backman gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Lambert.
Backman gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Backman darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Lambert missing with a left hand there. Backman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A shot to the body from Backman misses
and Lambert counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Lambert loads up on a big right hand but Backman slips the punch.
Backman avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lambert throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Backman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lambert throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Backman.
A head kick misses from Backman.
Lambert takes a swing at Backman's ribcage but misses.
A big right from Lambert misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Lambert misses the target.
Lambert throws the left hand but Backman avoids the punch easily.
Lambert misses with a body shot.
Backman looks to land a left hand but Lambert moved out of range nicely.
Lambert takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Lambert closes the distance and clinches up with Backman, looking for a takedown. Lambert pushes Backman against the cage but Backman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Lambert. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Backman.
Lambert lands a nice shot to the body.
Backman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lambert.
Backman moves out of range as Lambert strikes.
Backman lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Lambert connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Lambert steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Backman.
Backman works over Lambert's head and body with a nice combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lambert misses with a straight left.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Backman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lambert, pushing him back against the cage.
Lambert tries for a takedown. No joy.

Backman manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Backman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Backman has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Backman!