PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joe Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thom Le Bou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Le Bou comes into a darkened arena with his song building. H.A.M. - Kanye west kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Joe Swanson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Swanson
vs
Le Bou

178 cm
31
182 lbs
19 - 16 - 0

184 cm
25
181 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

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 19 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Swanson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Thom Le Bou!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Columbo Gatti and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Swanson throws a hook but Le Bou avoids it easily.
Swanson misses with a straight right.
Swanson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Le Bou darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Le Bou. Swanson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Le Bou lands a right hook to the body.
Swanson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Swanson takes a swing at Le Bou's ribcage but misses.
Swanson throws out a loose jab but Le Bou uses good head movement to avoid it.
Le Bou is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Le Bou misses with a straight right.
Swanson missing with a left hand there. Le Bou was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Swanson takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Le Bou.

Swanson rushes Le Bou and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Le Bou has a couple of punches blocked by Swanson.
Le Bou misses with some punches.
A short right from Le Bou.
Nice body punch from Swanson - that landed with a thud.
Swanson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Le Bou backwards.
Swanson misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Swanson.
Le Bou tries to work over Swanson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Swanson tries to throw a body punch but Le Bou avoids it by throwing Swanson back against the cage.
Swanson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Le Bou's elbow.
A short left from Swanson.
Le Bou misses with a hook to the ribs.
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!
A left hand lands to the body for Le Bou.
Still in the clinch, Swanson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Le Bou struggles to land a body shot inside as Swanson controls his hands.
Le Bou is trying to stall.
A frustrated look appears on Swanson's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Le Bou scores with a shot to the side of Swanson's head.
Le Bou scores with a nice hook to the head.
Swanson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Le Bou.
Swanson struggles to land a body shot inside as Le Bou controls his hands.
Le Bou lands with a light punch inside.
Swanson has had enough of the clinch but Le Bou keeps him there for the moment.
Le Bou tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Le Bou is trying to stall.
Swanson scores with a shoulder strike.
Swanson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Swanson breaks from the clinch.
Swanson loads up on a big right hand but Le Bou slips the punch.
Swanson moves out of range as Le Bou strikes.
Swanson misses with an uppercut
and Le Bou counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Le Bou. Swanson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Le Bou throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Swanson on the side of the head.
Le Bou lands a right hook to the body.
Le Bou lands a nice looking body shot.
Le Bou misses with a double jab
enabling Swanson to counter with a crisp jab.
No joy there for Swanson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Swanson lands a head shot.
Le Bou throws a body punch but Swanson moves out of range.
Le Bou scores with a hook to the body. Swanson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Le Bou bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Le Bou's waist but Le Bou gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Swanson off to one side.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Swanson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Swanson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Swanson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Swanson throws the left hand but Le Bou avoids the punch easily.
Swanson scores with a hook.
Le Bou scores with a leg kick.
The crowd cheers as Le Bou lands an impressive looking overhand right. Swanson doesn't seem phased though.
Swanson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Le Bou.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Le Bou lands with a good body shot.
Le Bou darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Thom Le Bou will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Le Bou thows a body shot but no joy.
Le Bou misses with a body shot.
Swanson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Swanson just misses with a punch to the body.
Le Bou avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Swanson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Le Bou throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Le Bou defending well as Swanson loads up on a big left hand.
Le Bou tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Swanson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Swanson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Le Bou.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson looks to score with a jab to the body but Le Bou is just out of range.
Swanson throws out a leg kick but Le Bou moves out of range and Swanson only half commits.
Swanson misses the jab.
Swanson takes a jab right on the kisser.
Le Bou connects with the punch.
Le Bou dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Swanson misses with a lunging right hand
and Le Bou counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Swanson is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Le Bou misses with a straight right.
A big left from Swanson misses.
Swanson throws a hook but Le Bou blocks it.
Swanson misses with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swanson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Swanson misses with an uppercut. Le Bou saw that one coming.
Swanson avoids the body shot from Le Bou.
Swanson avoids the body shot from Le Bou.
Swanson misses with a straight left.
Le Bou misses with a body kick.
Swanson fails to land with a series of punches.
Swanson moves away from the strike by Le Bou.
Swanson thows a body shot but no joy.
Le Bou getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Swanson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Swanson misses.
Le Bou slips under a jab from Swanson.
Swanson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Le Bou.
Le Bou thows a body shot but no joy.
Le Bou avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Le Bou's jab looks to have found its range, popping Swanson under the eye.
Swanson fails to land with a series of punches.
Swanson throws a hook to the side of Le Bou's head but Le Bou sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Le Bou checks a leg kick.
Swanson takes a swing at Le Bou's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Le Bou misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Swanson.
A looping hook to the body misses from Le Bou. Swanson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Le Bou keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Swanson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Swanson walks forward, straight into a front kick from Le Bou.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Le Bou wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Le Bou clinches.
Swanson is trying to break the clinch but Le Bou is controlling him.
Swanson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Swanson blocks a body shot from Le Bou.
Le Bou tries to work over Swanson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Le Bou can't find room to land a body shot as Swanson controls the action.
Swanson can't find room to land a body shot as Le Bou controls the action.
Swanson blocks an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thom Le Bou showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Le Bou ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Le Bou misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Swanson.
Le Bou fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Swanson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Swanson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Swanson throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Le Bou is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Swanson rather than just go for the knockout.
Le Bou misses with a straight right.
Le Bou tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Some bone on bone action there as Le Bou checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Le Bou swings for the body but Swanson moves out of range.
Swanson blocks the body kick.
Thom Le Bou seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Le Bou shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Swanson is trying to defend but Le Bou finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson is trying to control but Le Bou manages to pass to mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Le Bou tries to control but Swanson wriggling away.

Le Bou is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Swanson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Swanson shrugs it off.
Le Bou works his way to his opponent's back.
Joe Swanson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swanson breaks Le Bou's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Swanson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Le Bou kicks Swanson off and gets to his feet.
Swanson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Le Bou scores with a nice strike.
Le Bou uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Swanson has time to react.
Swanson ducks under a wild hook from Le Bou.
Swanson misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson closes the distance and clinches up with Le Bou, looking for a takedown. Swanson pushes Le Bou against the cage but Le Bou circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Le Bou misses with a kick to the body.

Le Bou manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Swanson on his heels. He'll look to pass Swanson's guard now, I'm sure.
Swanson keeping moving, preventing Le Bou from controlling successfully.
Le Bou throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Swanson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Le Bou working some strikes from top position.
Le Bou postures up.
Thom Le Bou is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Swanson isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Le Bou stacks Swanson on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Le Bou!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Swanson is trying to control Le Bou's posture but Le Bou avoids it.
Swanson seems a little lost for a moment, as Le Bou dominates the positioning.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Let's hope that Le Bou has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Swanson is looking for a sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thom Le Bou comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Le Bou winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30

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