PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sid Lagove (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry William French (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lagove comes into the arena with What you say blaring out of the sound system. French has chosen Blaze of Glory as his entrance music. Henry William French acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Lagove
vs
William French

193 cm
25
210 lbs
14 - 10 - 1

194 cm
26
212 lbs
11 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 14 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Sid Lagove!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Henry William French!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Steve Erwin and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
French connects with a body shot.
A shot to the body from Lagove misses
and French counters with a left and a right that stings Lagove.
French tries to bum rush Lagove with a series of wild strikes but Lagove uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A combination from French does no damage.
Lagove moves out of range as French strikes.
Lagove bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
French misses with a straight right.
French tries to bum rush Lagove with a series of wild strikes but Lagove uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
French takes a head kick and keeps coming.
No joy there for French, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A swing and a miss from French.
French misses with a wild combination.
The fighters circling - Lagove throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lagove darts in trying to clinch
letting French counter with a right hand.
Lagove misses with a hook to the body
and French counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
French connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Jab, jab by French - just one landing.
Henry William French is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
French misses with a left hand
and Lagove counters with a three punch combo that has French backing up. French nods at Lagove to acknowledge the strikes.
French lands the left hand.
Lagove shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as French sprawls well. French wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lagove gets slowly back to his feet.
A jab from French misses.
French misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lagove takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
French misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lagove.
French jabs at Lagove's body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
French throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Lagove decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in French's guard.
French looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
French is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Lagove missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lagove throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as French works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lagove 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.
Lagove working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lagove accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lagove missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lagove trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lagove thows a big elbow that misses.
Lagove looking to sit in guard and control but French gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lagove is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lagove keeping full guard, as French tries to pass.
French postures up in Lagove's guard and throws a big left but Lagove blocks it.
Lagove looking to control.
French won't allow Lagove to sweep him here.

Lagove looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
French throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Lagove preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
French trying to control but Lagove is working from the bottom.
Lagove throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
French trying to control but Lagove is working from the bottom.
French might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Lagove kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Lagove looking for a sweep. Not yet Lagove, not yet.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Henry William French hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
French keeps the fight on the outside.
Lagove fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lagove swings and misses with a hook to the body.
French falls off balance throwing a combination

and Lagove counters with a shoot takedown. French fights it but they end up in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sid Lagove will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

French uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lagove.
Lagove throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
French throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
French misses with a series of wild punches.
Lagove tries to clinch there but French circles away.
Lagove ducks down and throws a hook to the body but French moves away.
French scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Sloppy strikes from French. Those never looked like landing.
French throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Lagove stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Lagove fails with the takedown.
Lagove moves away from the strike by French.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lagove gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and French counters with a nice body shot.
Danga de danga de dang - French scores with a four punch combination!
Lagove throws a wild body kick that French sees coming a mile off.
Crunch! Lagove slams his shin into French's torso.
Lagove is trying hard to land a takedown here. French sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sid Lagove. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lagove takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Lagove tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but French paws at him with a jab and circles away.
French takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Lagove tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but French paws at him with a jab and circles away.
French looks to score with a jab to the body but Lagove is just out of range.
Lagove is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
French uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lagove.
French with a nice cross.

Lagove shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Lagove was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Lagove is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But French has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from French!
French slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lagove manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Lagove landing strikes from the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
French throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Lagove working for a triangle but French defends it easily.

French avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
French trying to control the position from guard on top but Lagove is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lagove is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
French is looking to control Lagove's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can French avoid being mounted?
Lagove throwing shots but French is blocking nicely.

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.
French flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Lagove throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
French taking some punishment here, with Lagove in his half guard.
Lagove is pressing down on French's thigh, looking to free his foot. French is holding on for now.
Lagove looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
French tries to roll over but Lagove keeps him under control.
Lagove lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
French is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Lagove scores with a couple of nice shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
French keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Henry William French will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Lagove fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but French avoids it really well and circles away.
Lagove throws a sloppy head kick and French moves out of range easily.
Lagove darts in trying to clinch
and French counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Henry William French seems to be getting the better of the standup.
French takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lagove walks into a left hand.
Lagove tries to clinch up but French circles away and keeps his distance.
A shot to the body from French misses

and Lagove counters with a single leg into guard. French didn't expect that.

Lagove drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but French manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Lagove has French in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lagove has his foot on French's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. French works his way back into a safe position though.

French avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
French trying to control but Lagove is working from the bottom.
French forces his way into half guard.
Lagove is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lagove is looking to control French's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lagove avoid being mounted?
Lagove tries to get to full guard but French has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Lagove slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
French has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Lagove is proving hard to escape from.
French distracts Lagove with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
French throwing strikes but missing.
Sid Lagove overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lagove can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as French controls the pace.

Lagove is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. French is aware though and is defending well.

Lagove is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
French trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lagove throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
French stopping the sweep attempt from Lagove.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
French's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Lagove tries to strike from the bottom.
French trying to control but Lagove is working from the bottom.
French working some strikes from top position.
Lagove can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as French controls the pace.

Lagove looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
French cracks Lagove with a solid left hand.
Lagove trying to keep a closed guard but French is proving a slippery customer.
French trying to control the position from guard on top but Lagove is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lagove throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lagove has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but French can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
French throwing strikes from guard but Lagove blocks nicely.
Lagove utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
French trying to control but Lagove is working from the bottom.
Lagove is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
French throwing strikes but missing.
French working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
French trying to control the position from guard on top but Lagove is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Henry William French.
I think French 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Sid Lagove!