PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Francois La Poulet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Johnston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). La Poulet comes to the cage accompanied by "chicken dance" song. 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.

La Poulet
vs
Johnston

186 cm
28
192 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

173 cm
24
180 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Global MMA Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Francois La Poulet!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Don Johnston!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Lou da Vinci and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
La Poulet tries a head kick but it misses.
Johnston avoids the head kick by La Poulet.
Some wild striking there from Johnston.
Johnston on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
La Poulet misses with a head kick.
La Poulet throws a nice inside leg kick.
Johnston takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Johnston looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
La Poulet lands with a slapping head kick.
La Poulet lands with a slapping head kick.
Johnston on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by La Poulet. La Poulet obviously looking to wear him down.
La Poulet pulls out of a head kick attempt.
La Poulet throws a leg kick which misses Johnston's front leg but catches the back leg as Johnston tries to avoid it.
La Poulet throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Johnston's head.
Don Johnston is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
La Poulet moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
La Poulet goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
La Poulet plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A nice leg kick lands there from La Poulet.
La Poulet delivers a nice body kick.
An inside leg kick lands from La Poulet.

Johnston takes the fight into the clinch.
La Poulet scores with a hook to the body.
La Poulet lands a nice shot to the body.
Johnston looks gassed!
La Poulet throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
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!
La Poulet scores with a knee to the head.
A short left from La Poulet.
A right hand to the body from La Poulet.
La Poulet lands with a light punch inside.
Good body shot from La Poulet.
La Poulet scores with a hook to the body.
Johnston takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

La Poulet wants the takedown. Johnston is fighting it off but La Poulet persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Johnston's guard against the cage.
La Poulet tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnston is retaining full guard.
La Poulet thows a big elbow that misses.
La Poulet keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johnston's head.
La Poulet throwing strikes from guard but Johnston blocks nicely.
La Poulet throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnston works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
La Poulet wants to pass the guard but Johnston is keeping the position.
La Poulet scoring with some ground and pound.
La Poulet is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
La Poulet with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
La Poulet stands up over Johnston, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Johnston working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from La Poulet.

La Poulet drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and La Poulet jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as La Poulet accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as La Poulet accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
La Poulet throws a big right hand that misses.
La Poulet throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Johnston really doesn't want to stay on the ground with La Poulet. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells La Poulet's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
La Poulet thows a big elbow that misses.
La Poulet working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
La Poulet sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Johnston's guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. La Poulet lands a nice short elbow.
La Poulet takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
La Poulet not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Johnston blocking the ground and pound attempt from La Poulet.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
La Poulet throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Johnston taking some punishment here, with La Poulet in his half guard.
La Poulet 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.
La Poulet thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
La Poulet works his foot free and advances to mount.
La Poulet lands a heavy elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francois La Poulet 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.

La Poulet fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Johnston.
Don Johnston is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
La Poulet closes this distance looking for a takedown but Johnston circles away.
An inside leg kick lands from La Poulet.
Johnston tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A solid body kick from La Poulet.
A solid leg kick lands there for La Poulet.

La Poulet shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Johnston's guard.
Johnston has momentary wrist control but La Poulet slips an elbow through the middle.
La Poulet postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnston preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
La Poulet postures up in Johnston's guard and throws a big left but Johnston blocks it.
Johnston is breathing heavily.
La Poulet lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
La Poulet connects with a couple of short punches.
La Poulet throwing strikes from guard but Johnston blocks nicely.
La Poulet thows a big elbow that misses.
La Poulet working some strikes from top position.
La Poulet content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
La Poulet cracks Johnston with a solid left hand.

La Poulet drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and La Poulet jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
La Poulet postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
La Poulet postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Johnston has momentary wrist control but La Poulet slips an elbow through the middle.
La Poulet stands up over Johnston, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
La Poulet postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
La Poulet landing some decent shots from guard.
La Poulet with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
La Poulet is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnston can do to turn this around?
La Poulet throwing strikes from guard but Johnston blocks nicely.
La Poulet postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
La Poulet advances position into side control!
La Poulet lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Johnston down.
La Poulet scoring with punches from side control.

La Poulet is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Johnston has escaped the position, nice work there.
La Poulet scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Johnston to see if he's OK.
La Poulet scores with punches from side control.
Johnston taking a bit of punishment here - La Poulet scoring with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
La Poulet lands an elbow.
La Poulet is chipping away with strikes.
La Poulet is putting a hurting on Johnston here, landing some big shots from side control.
La Poulet connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Johnston some visible discomfort.
Johnston takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
La Poulet working the ground and pound from side control.
La Poulet grinds an elbow into Johnston's temple.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
La Poulet working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
La Poulet throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
La Poulet in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
La Poulet landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francois La Poulet dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnston takes a head kick and keeps coming.
La Poulet throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Johnston.
La Poulet connects with a leg kick. Johnston looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
La Poulet throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Johnston's head.
Johnston's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
La Poulet lands a nice looking body kick.
La Poulet throws a head kick that misses.
Johnston takes a kick to the side of the head.
La Poulet doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnston circles away.
La Poulet jabs Johnston right on the nose. Johnston blinks but takes it well.
La Poulet cracks the inside of Johnston's front leg.
Johnston takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
La Poulet misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for La Poulet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by La Poulet.
La Poulet throws a front kick that sends Johnston stumbling back into the cage.
La Poulet throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Johnston's head.
La Poulet throws a nice head kick!
La Poulet throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Johnston's head.
La Poulet lands a body shot.

Johnston gets caught flat footed, as La Poulet shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
La Poulet postures up in Johnston's guard and throws a big left but Johnston blocks it.
La Poulet loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
La Poulet will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
La Poulet throwing strikes from guard but Johnston blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
La Poulet throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnston works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
La Poulet working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johnston preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johnston preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
La Poulet works over Johnston with some ground and pound from guard.
La Poulet is looking to work some ground and pound but Johnston has wrist control.
Johnston preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johnston avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
La Poulet postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
La Poulet landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
La Poulet wants to pass the guard but Johnston is keeping the position.
Johnston is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
La Poulet forces his way into half guard.
La Poulet missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
La Poulet missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
La Poulet working over Johnston with some ground and pound. Johnston looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

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.
La Poulet not landing any meaningful shots this time.
La Poulet winds up and cracks Johnston with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
La Poulet is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Johnston!
La Poulet unloading with bombs!
La Poulet working away from the top, dropping strikes.
La Poulet landing punches.
La Poulet lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
La Poulet raining down hammerfists from mount.
La Poulet lands a heavy elbow.
Don Johnston has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
La Poulet breaks from Johnston's wrist control and lands an elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francois La Poulet showed his dominance in that final round.
Well La Poulet 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:24
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:24
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francois La Poulet!