PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cassius Slay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Louis St Laurent (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Slay comes to the cage accompanied by Wu-Tang Clan - Triumph. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Slay
vs
St Laurent

180 cm
27
161 lbs
12 - 2 - 2

175 cm
22
168 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
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 12 - 2 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Cassius Slay!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Louis St Laurent!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Steve Smith and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slay avoids the body shot from St Laurent.
Slay keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from St Laurent.
St Laurent lands a jab.
St Laurent tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Slay was well out of range. Poor timing from St Laurent.
Slay tries to clinch but St Laurent is having none of it.
A looping hook to the body misses from St Laurent. Slay does a little dance to reset his feet.
St Laurent throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Slay tries to clinch there but St Laurent circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
St Laurent throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
St Laurent avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Slay lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but St Laurent circles away quickly and effectively.
St Laurent throws the left hand but Slay avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Laurent fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Slay moves in looking to clinch but St Laurent pushes him off.
St Laurent swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Slay lands a jab to the head.

Slay pushes St Laurent up against the cage in a clinch.

St Laurent breaks from the clinch.
Slay tries to clinch there but St Laurent circles away.
Cassius Slay is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Slay avoids the body shot from St Laurent.
St Laurent just misses with a punch to the body.

St Laurent shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

St Laurent is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

St Laurent is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Slay has managed to free his arm - good work.
St Laurent trying to control from half guard but Slay is working away.
Slay is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nice strikes from St Laurent there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slay has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. St Laurent is working away from the top position though.
St Laurent seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Slay does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
St Laurent thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

St Laurent is looking for a kimura but Slay is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for St Laurent to get the leverage.
St Laurent thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Slay is looking to improve his position.
Slay trying to control here.
St Laurent looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
St Laurent throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
St Laurent looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Slay desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
St Laurent is looking to pass Slay's guard but actually Slay recovers to full guard.
St Laurent working some strikes from top position.
Slay is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Louis St Laurent dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Slay tries to clinch up but St Laurent circles away and keeps his distance.
The fighters circle momentarily. St Laurent darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
St Laurent ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Slay moves away.
St Laurent falls off balance throwing a combination

and Slay counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Slay blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Slay scores with an uppercut up the middle.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for St Laurent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slay content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Slay tries to land knees in the clinch but St Laurent avoids the damage to the body.
St Laurent is working for takedown but Slay is calmly controlling the position for now.
St Laurent is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

St Laurent pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Slay tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but St Laurent paws at him with a jab and circles away.
St Laurent swats away the attempt to clinch by Slay.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Laurent throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Slay stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
St Laurent takes a swing at Slay's ribcage but misses.
Slay defending well as St Laurent loads up on a big left hand.
St Laurent lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
St Laurent throws out a loose jab but Slay uses good head movement to avoid it.
St Laurent misses with a body shot.
St Laurent misses with a wild body shot.
Slay fails with an attempt to clinch.
Slay avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
St Laurent looks to land a left hand but Slay moved out of range nicely.
St Laurent takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The fighters circle momentarily. St Laurent darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A big left from St Laurent misses.
St Laurent swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Slay counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Slay on the wrong end of a nice jab.
St Laurent throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Slay.
St Laurent throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Slay tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
St Laurent thuds a left hand into Slay's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Laurent throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Slay drops his hands momentarily and St Laurent takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Slay takes one to the chin there.
Slay keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

St Laurent closes the distance and clinches.
St Laurent scores with a hook to the body.

St Laurent breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
St Laurent thows a body shot but no joy.
St Laurent is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Slay rather than just go for the knockout.
Nice straight punches there by St Laurent. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of St Laurent.
St Laurent misses with a straight left.
Nice defenses there by Slay.

St Laurent shoots in and gets a takedown into Slay's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St Laurent is fighting to break Slay's control of his arms but Slay is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
St Laurent stopping the sweep attempt from Slay.
St Laurent looking to pass the guard.
St Laurent throwing strikes from guard but Slay blocks nicely.
St Laurent postures up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
St Laurent trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Louis St Laurent 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!

St Laurent misses with a wild body shot.
Slay takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
St Laurent throws a shot from downtown. Slay moves away and avoids it.
St Laurent bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Slay's head backwards.
Slay tries to clinch up.
St Laurent ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Slay tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and St Laurent counters with a left to the body.
Slay loads up on a big right hand but St Laurent slips the punch.
Slay ducks under a wild hook from St Laurent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slay wants to clinch but St Laurent slips to the side

and St Laurent counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

St Laurent is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Slay defends it well.
St Laurent has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Slay pushes St Laurent off looking to stand but St Laurent dives back in and keeps control.
St Laurent is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Slay is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst St Laurent is controlling him.
St Laurent pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Slay is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slay avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Slay tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Slay working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from St Laurent.
St Laurent in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
St Laurent trying to control the position from guard on top but Slay is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
St Laurent postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

St Laurent drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Slay manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now St Laurent has Slay in his guard.
Slay trying to control but St Laurent is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

St Laurent throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Slay escapes and throws St Laurent's legs to the side, diving into side control!
St Laurent is trying to get back to half guard.
St Laurent gets back to half guard.
St Laurent is looking to improve his position.
Slay wants to stand up but St Laurent has a hold of him and won't allow it.

St Laurent looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Slay not doing much here.
The fighters are battling for position here. St Laurent manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Slay wants to stand but St Laurent is controlling his posture from full guard.

St Laurent throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Slay accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Slay trying to stand up but can't free himself from St Laurent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Louis St Laurent really dominated that round.
That's time! Slay's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

St Laurent misses with a straight right.
Slay throws a jab when St Laurent was well out of range.
A swing and a miss from Slay.
St Laurent with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Slay clinches but St Laurent breaks the clinch
and St Laurent counters with a nice uppercut.
St Laurent thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
St Laurent throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
St Laurent misses with a shot to the body
and Slay counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Slay takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for St Laurent. That snapped Slay's head back.
St Laurent misses with an uppercut.
A jab from St Laurent misses.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by St Laurent!
Slay tries to clinch up
and St Laurent counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Slay blocks a jab.
St Laurent scores with a body shot.
St Laurent throws an overhand right that lands on Slay's shoulder, as Slay tries to avoid the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Laurent misses with a wild body shot.
St Laurent misses with a hook.
St Laurent ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Slay moves away.
Slay throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
St Laurent with a body punch. A glancing blow.
St Laurent dives in and grabs Slay's left leg, looking for a takedown. Slay pushes down on St Laurent's head and hops out.
St Laurent throws a predictable looking body shot

and Slay moves into the clinch.
A short right from St Laurent.
St Laurent trying to land knees to the body.
St Laurent has a couple of punches blocked by Slay.
Slay swings wildly with an uppercut but St Laurent uses good head movement to avoid it.
St Laurent makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Slay working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Slay - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
St Laurent tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
St Laurent lands a nice uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on St Laurent's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nice body punch from St Laurent - that landed with a thud.
St Laurent scores with a shoulder strike.
Slay blocks a punch to the side of the head.
St Laurent tries to land knees in the clinch but Slay avoids the damage to the body.
Slay blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
St Laurent lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
St Laurent tries to throw a body punch but Slay avoids it by throwing St Laurent back against the cage.
Slay digs a right hand into St Laurent's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on St Laurent's gas tank.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for St Laurent.
Slay is trying to stall.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Slay.
A head punch on the inside from Slay fails to land.
St Laurent is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
St Laurent tries a body shot but Slay blocks it.
St Laurent lands a body shot.
St Laurent blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A hook to the body from St Laurent.
St Laurent tries for a takedown but Slay manages to get underhooks.
St Laurent is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Slay misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slay lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
St Laurent presses Slay against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
St Laurent working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
St Laurent tries a knee to the head but Slay blocks it.
Slay lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of St Laurent backwards.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Slay as St Laurent tries to tie him up.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Slay creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
St Laurent lands a left hand.

St Laurent has clasped his hands together around Slay's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Slay tries to escape but St Laurent is in control.
Slay is trying to control St Laurent's posture but St Laurent avoids it.
St Laurent with the ground and pound but Slay regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
St Laurent not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Louis St Laurent dominated that fourth 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. This is the final round!

Slay closes the distance and clinches.
St Laurent tries a body shot but Slay blocks it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
St Laurent throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Slay.
St Laurent lands with a light punch inside.
A short uppercut from St Laurent.
St Laurent softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
St Laurent lands with a light punch inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
St Laurent lands with a short shot to the head.
St Laurent landing knees to the body.
Slay swings away with an uppercut that misses.
St Laurent tries a knee to the head but Slay blocks it.

St Laurent breaks from the clinch.
Slay tries to clinch
and St Laurent counters with a right hand to the body.
St Laurent circles away from the clinch attempt
and St Laurent counters with a stiff right hand.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Laurent misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
St Laurent missing with a left hand there. Slay was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
St Laurent misses the shot to the body.
St Laurent swings away with a body shot that misses
and Slay counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A punch combination from St Laurent misses.
A shot to the body from St Laurent misses
and Slay counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Slay ducks under a wild hook from St Laurent.
St Laurent scores with a three punch combo!
Louis St Laurent seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slay wants to clinch

and St Laurent counters with a single leg into guard. Slay didn't expect that.

St Laurent drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Slay dives on top into guard.
Slay thows a big elbow that misses.
Slay controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Louis St Laurent is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Slay postures up.
Slay trying to control but St Laurent is working from the bottom.
Slay is stalling in the full guard.

St Laurent escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Slay gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Laurent is controlling Slay's posture.
Louis St Laurent has got the better of the ground game so far.

We're going to have a standup here because Cassius Slay wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Slay wants to clinch but St Laurent slips to the side
and St Laurent counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Slay tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and St Laurent counters with a series of strikes. Slay will be more careful next time no doubt.
St Laurent is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Slay.
St Laurent slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
St Laurent fails with the takedown

and Slay counters by clinching up.

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.
Slay misses with the head strike.
Slay swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Slay cracks St Laurent with a nice body shot.
St Laurent tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Slay stalling.
Slay swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The referee calls for Slay to work.
A right hand to the body from St Laurent.
Slay lands a hook that snaps the head of St Laurent backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Slay fails to land.
Slay effectively controlling the action here.
Cassius Slay has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
St Laurent manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Louis St Laurent comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well St Laurent has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 45:50
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 45:50
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Louis St Laurent!
Louis St Laurent is the new lightweight champion!