PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Troy North (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Laurent Delacroux (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Laurent Delacroux was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

North
vs
Delacroux

170 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
24
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Troy North!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Laurent Delacroux!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Chris Edwards and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Delacroux moves into the clinch successfully.
Delacroux connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Troy North has been cut.
North drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Delacroux gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Delacroux with a knee to the head.

Delacroux has picked North up - he's going for a ride! Delacroux dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Delacroux is just content to waste time from the top position. North takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Delacroux sitting in guard here, content to control.
Delacroux must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Delacroux accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
North looking to control.
North utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Delacroux trying to control but North is working from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Laurent Delacroux hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Delacroux throws a left and a right that both miss
and North counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delacroux is looking to clinch but North is avoiding it.

Delacroux fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with North, pushing him back against the cage.
Delacroux lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of North backwards.
Delacroux using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Delacroux stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Delacroux manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
North working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Delacroux not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Delacroux wants to improve his position but instead North has moved into half guard.
Delacroux trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Laurent Delacroux hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Delacroux rushes North and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Good body shot from Delacroux.
North is breathing heavily.
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!
Delacroux lands a knee to the body.

Delacroux escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

North tries to keep at a distance but Delacroux has taken the fight into the clinch.
Delacroux connects with a nasty looking knee right to North's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delacroux connects with a nasty looking knee right to North's face.
Delacroux content to slow the pace in the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Delacroux.
Delacroux lands a nice elbow.

Delacroux manages to break the clinch.

Delacroux darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Delacroux is looking to take a break and control but North is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Delacroux not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Delacroux lands strikes from half guard.
Delacroux seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Delacroux is keen to just control but North is a slippery customer.
North keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
North might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ground and pound from Delacroux.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
North has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Delacroux is working away from the top position though.
Delacroux trying to control the action but North is working from the bottom.
Delacroux thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Delacroux throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
North avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Delacroux.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Delacroux throwing shots but North is blocking nicely.
Delacroux wants to lay and pray for a moment but North keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Laurent Delacroux dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Troy North's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Delacroux clinches up against the cage.
Delacroux lands a knee to the head.
North is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Delacroux to keep the fight standing.

Delacroux gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Delacroux tries to stand but can't do so whilst North controls his leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nice strikes from Delacroux there.
Delacroux with the ground and pound but North uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Delacroux looking to sit in guard and control but North gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Delacroux wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and North manages to pass to side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delacroux wants to control but North is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Delacroux is trying to stand up here but North is controlling him well.
Delacroux trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Laurent Delacroux wasn't active enough on the ground.

Delacroux clinches with his opponent.
Delacroux pressing his opponent against the cage.
Delacroux is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Delacroux lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
North is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Delacroux to keep the fight standing.
Delacroux effectively controlling the action here.
Delacroux lands a knee to the body.
Laurent Delacroux seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Delacroux unloads a knee to the mid-section. North lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Delacroux lands a knee to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Delacroux lands a shoulder strike.
Delacroux throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Norths head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Delacroux's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Delacroux clinches up against the cage.
Delacroux crunches a lovely knee into North's ribcage.
Delacroux working North over with knees to the body.
Delacroux lands a good knee to the midsection. North won't want to take too many of those.
Delacroux lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Delacroux.
North takes a knee right on the jaw!
Delacroux scores with a knee to the head.

Delacroux manages to break the clinch.

Delacroux closes the distance and clinches.
Delacroux softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Delacroux connects with a nasty looking knee right to North's face.

Delacroux successfully pulls guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
North trying to stand up but can't free himself from Delacroux's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Delacroux can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Delacroux keeping moving, preventing North from controlling successfully.
Delacroux has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Troy North has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Delacroux moves in looking to clinch but North pushes him off.
Delacroux is looking to clinch.
Delacroux wants to clinch up but North keeps it at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Delacroux closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Delacroux manages to pull guard.
Laurent Delacroux has got the better of the ground game so far.
Delacroux trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Laurent Delacroux showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Troy North's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Delacroux has North up against the cage in a clinch.
Delacroux lands a knee to the body.
Delacroux landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Delacroux manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Delacroux lands a good knee to the midsection. North won't want to take too many of those.
Delacroux landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Delacroux unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knees to the body from Delacroux.
A shot in the inside from Delacroux.

Delacroux gets control of North's arms and successfully pulls guard. Delacroux will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Delacroux is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delacroux wants to stand but North is controlling the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Troy North wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Delacroux moves into the clinch.
North takes a knee right on the jaw!
Delacroux unloads a knee to the mid-section. North lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Delacroux pressing his opponent against the cage.
Delacroux scores with a knee to the head.
Delacroux digs a right hand underneath North's ribcage. North let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Delacroux escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Delacroux pushes North up against the cage in a clinch.
Delacroux crunches a lovely knee into North's ribcage.
Delacroux lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Delacroux unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Delacroux with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Delacroux crunches a lovely knee into North's ribcage.

Delacroux's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
North avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Delacroux closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Delacroux connects with a knee to the head.
Delacroux stops a takedown attempt from North.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Delacroux working North over with knees to the body.
Delacroux prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Delacroux.
Delacroux landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Delacroux putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has North in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
North looking to stall.

Delacroux drags the fight down to the ground.
North working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Delacroux working a defensive guard here.
Delacroux looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but North puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Laurent Delacroux 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.
Delacroux wants to get back to full guard but North has mounted him!
Delacroux is looking to improve his position but North isn't that keen on the idea.
North looking to control but Delacroux is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Delacroux tries to hold on but North pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Laurent Delacroux comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Delacroux 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Laurent Delacroux!