PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thom Le Bou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Spartan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Le Bou comes to the ring accompanied by in the Night Garden Theme Tune. Matt Spartan has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Thom Le Bou's chin.

Le Bou
vs
Spartan

184 cm
22
181 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

177 cm
25
178 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Thom Le Bou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Spartan!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Dean Styles and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Le Bou connects with a good right hand that stumbles Spartan. Spartan circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Le Bou changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Spartan takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Spartan misses with a body shot.
Jab from Le Bou.
Spartan slips under a jab from Le Bou.
Spartan moves out of range of the strikes.
Spartan looks to score with a jab to the body but Le Bou is just out of range.
Le Bou checks the leg kick.
Spartan misses with a body punch

and Le Bou counters with a takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Le Bou tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Le Bou remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Spartan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Le Bou. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Spartan tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Le Bou working the ground and pound but Spartan is defending the strikes.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Spartan gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Le Bou is looking to stall here but Spartan recovers full guard.
Le Bou wants to control from the top but Spartan keeps moving.

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.
Le Bou stays in close to Spartan's body and controls the position.
Spartan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Le Bou seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Thom Le Bou just wasn't active enough.

Le Bou rushes Spartan and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Spartan can't break the clinch.
Le Bou is struggling to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Le Bou keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Spartan's efforts to push away.
Le Bou stalling the fight.
Spartan working hard to break the clinch.
Le Bou misses with a punch to the body.
Le Bou tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Spartan's elbow.
Spartan tries to circle away but Le Bou has him pinned against the ropes.
Spartan is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Spartan tries to break the clinch but Le Bou is controlling the position.
Le Bou lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Spartan backwards.
Spartan leaning his opponent against the ropes.

That's four 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.
Spartan tries to circle away but Le Bou has him pinned against the ropes.
Le Bou wants to break the clinch but can't.
Spartan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Come on Spartan - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Spartan wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Spartan is trying to break free.
Le Bou looking to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Le Bou seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Spartan is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
Spartan wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thom Le Bou dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A looping hook to the body misses from Le Bou. Spartan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Le Bou ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Spartan moves away.
Spartan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Le Bou counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Spartan thinking.
Spartan moves away from the strike by Le Bou.
Le Bou thuds a left hand into Spartan's body.
Le Bou keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Spartan.
Spartan moves out of range as Le Bou strikes.
Spartan takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Le Bou throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Spartan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Le Bou was well out of range. Poor timing from Spartan.
Spartan rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Le Bou counters with a right hand to the body.
Matt Spartan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Le Bou scores with a nice strike.
Le Bou connects with the punch.
Donk. Le Bou catches Spartan right on the button with a cross.
Le Bou looks to land a right hand but Spartan moved out of range.
Spartan misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Le Bou. Beautiful body shot.
Spartan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Le Bou checks a leg kick.
Le Bou throws a looping overhand right but Spartan ducks down to avoid it.
Spartan lands with a cross.
Spartan with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Le Bou throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Matt Spartan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Le Bou looks to score with a jab to the body but Spartan is just out of range.
Spartan throws a hook but Le Bou avoids it easily.
Spartan slips under a jab from Le Bou.
Spartan misses with a right hand
and Le Bou counters with a stiff right hand.
A slow jab from Le Bou misses its intended target.
Spartan fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Le Bou has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Spartan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Le Bou.
Le Bou fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Spartan manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spartan throws a leg kick but Le Bou moved away.
Le Bou avoids the body shot from Spartan.
Spartan throws a predictable looking body shot
and Le Bou counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Le Bou scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Le Bou swings for the body but Spartan moves out of range.
Le Bou checks the leg kick nicely there.
Spartan tries a low kick but Le Bou avoids it.
Spartan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Le Bou jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Spartan misses with a body shot
and Le Bou counters with a nice uppercut.
Le Bou uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Spartan.
The fighters circling - Spartan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Le Bou throws a shot from downtown. Spartan moves away and avoids it.
Spartan connects with a body shot.
Le Bou lands with a nice body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spartan missing with a left hand there. Le Bou was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nice straight punches there by Le Bou. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Le Bou.
Spartan throws a leg kick but Le Bou sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Spartan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Le Bou counters with a straight right hand.
A shot to the body from Spartan misses
and Le Bou counters with a stiff right hand.
Spartan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Le Bou counters with a left to the body.
Spartan misses with an uppercut
and Spartan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Spartan falls off balance throwing a combination
and Le Bou counters with a stiff right hand.
Spartan throws an off balance right hand
and Le Bou counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Le Bou scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Spartan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Le Bou works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Spartan throws a poor cross that misses
and Le Bou counters with a right hand to the body.
Spartan is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Le Bou moves into range and connects with a jab.
Spartan avoids the body shot from Le Bou.
Spartan takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Spartan catches Le Bou with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Spartan takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Le Bou closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Spartan throws a right hand that misses
and Le Bou counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Spartan thinking.
Spartan is breathing heavily.
Le Bou stuns Spartan with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
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!
Spartan misses with a low kick.
Le Bou stuns Spartan with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Thom Le Bou is winning the standup battle so far.
Spartan swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Le Bou counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Le Bou digs a good hook to Spartan's body.
Spartan looks to land a left hand but Le Bou moved out of range nicely.
Le Bou uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Spartan.
Le Bou just misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thom Le Bou dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Spartan moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Spartan walks into a jab.
Le Bou throws a jab when Spartan was well out of range.
Spartan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Le Bou moves away.
Le Bou throws a hook but Spartan blocks it.
Spartan rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Le Bou counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Le Bou misses with a hook
and Le Bou takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Le Bou fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Spartan on the side of the head.
Le Bou 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.
A left lands for Le Bou.
Spartan has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Spartan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Le Bou manages to avoid it.
Spartan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice body punch from Spartan.
A shot to the liver by Le Bou. Beautiful body shot.
Le Bou keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spartan connects with a nice looking jab.
A big right from Spartan misses.
Le Bou steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Spartan.
Le Bou with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Spartan to score with a decent uppercut.
Spartan lands a body shot.
Spartan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Le Bou moves away.
Spartan throws a predictable looking body shot
and Le Bou counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Spartan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Le Bou jabs at Spartan's body.
Spartan misses with a wild body shot.
Spartan throws a body punch but Le Bou moves out of range.
Good shot there by Le Bou.
Spartan throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Le Bou to counter with a crisp jab.
Spartan throws a jab when Le Bou was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Le Bou loads up on a big right hand but Spartan slips the punch.
Spartan jabs Le Bou to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Le Bou fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Spartan slips a jab from Le Bou.
Spartan stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Spartan slips under a jab.
Spartan missing with a left hand there. Le Bou was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Le Bou throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Le Bou connects with a good right hand that stumbles Spartan. Spartan circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Spartan misses with a hook.
Spartan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Le Bou.
Spartan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Le Bou avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spartan scores with a body shot.
A big right from Spartan misses.
Le Bou uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Spartan.
Spartan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Le Bou waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Spartan.
Spartan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Le Bou was well out of range. Poor timing from Spartan.
Le Bou uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Spartan.
Spartan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Le Bou sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Spartan misses with a body punch
and Le Bou counters with a left to the body.
A left lands for Spartan.
Spartan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Le Bou was well out of range. Poor timing from Spartan.
A decent looking cross lands there for Spartan.
Jab from Spartan.
Matt Spartan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Spartan. Le Bou does a little dance to reset his feet.
Spartan slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Spartan misses with an uppercut
and Le Bou counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Spartan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Spartan ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Le Bou uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Spartan.
Spartan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Le Bou takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Le Bou stuns Spartan with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Spartan misses with a lunging right hand
and Le Bou counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Le Bou swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Spartan.
Spartan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Spartan misses with a wild body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Spartan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Le Bou has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thom Le Bou!