PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Leopold Dechamps (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seth Duplesris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leopold Dechamps had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 156.4lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. 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.

Dechamps
vs
Duplesris

171 cm
26
166 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

163 cm
19
158 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Leopold Dechamps!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Seth Duplesris!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Hugh Johnson and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Duplesris decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
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.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Still in half guard, Duplesris seems content to control.
Duplesris really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dechamps. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Duplesris's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Seth Duplesris was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Duplesris scores with a takedown into Dechamps's guard.
Duplesris is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Dechamps is looking to sweep but instead, Duplesris has passed into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dechamps is trying to maintain the position but Duplesris is very close to passing his half guard.
Duplesris controlling the action here.
Dechamps blocking the ground and pound attempt from Duplesris.
The fighters are battling for position here. Dechamps manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Duplesris 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.
Duplesris is looking to stand up but Dechamps won't let him.

Duplesris stands up from Dechamps's guard - Duplesris perhaps looking for a knockout.

Duplesris closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Dechamps is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duplesris controlling the pace.
Dechamps moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Duplesris slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Dechamps is looking to regain half guard here but Duplesris keeps moving and retains side control.

Duplesris decides to stand back up. Duplesris steps back and let's Dechamps get back to his feet.
Duplesris fails with the takedown.
Dechamps doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Duplesris counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Duplesris.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duplesris pressing his opponent against the cage.

Duplesris has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Dechamps uses from the top position.
Dechamps throwing strikes but missing.
Dechamps throws a big right hand that misses.
Dechamps pushes down on Duplesris's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Duplesris tries to roll over but Dechamps keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dechamps is keen to just control but Duplesris is a slippery customer.
Duplesris gets full guard.
Duplesris utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Duplesris tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dechamps lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Duplesris has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dechamps with a nice head shot there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seth Duplesris dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Duplesris fails to land the takedown.
Dechamps lands a jab to the nose.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dechamps.

Duplesris shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Duplesris was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Duplesris looking to control and managing it successfully.
Dechamps is wriggling around trying to escape.
Duplesris fails to take his opponent's back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dechamps is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dechamps is bucking up trying to escape but Duplesris cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Duplesris prevents Dechamps from getting the reversal.
Seth Duplesris has got the better of the ground game so far.
Duplesris controlling from the full mount.
Dechamps tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Duplesris connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duplesris controlling from mount.
Dechamps working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Duplesris is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Dechamps can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Duplesris controlling from mount.
Dechamps is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duplesris works his way to his opponent's back.

Duplesris working for a choke but Dechamps reverses nicely into Duplesris 's guard.
Dechamps missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Duplesris throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Dechamps trying to control the position from guard on top but Duplesris is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duplesris bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dechamps's guard.
Dechamps manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Dechamps fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

It looks like Seth Duplesris has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Duplesris is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Dechamps unloads with some shots from mount but Duplesris bucks and avoids them well.
Dechamps tries to control but Duplesris wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Seth Duplesris will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Seth Duplesris's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Duplesris darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Duplesris controlling the action here.
Dechamps won't allow Duplesris to pass to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Duplesris is working for a kimura but Dechamps is defending it quite comfortably.

Dechamps is defending against the submission attempts here by Duplesris.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duplesris blocks the strikes from Dechamps.
Dechamps trying to control from the bottom.
Dechamps is pressing down on Duplesris's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Dechamps is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Duplesris is stalling in the full guard.

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. Seth Duplesris hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Duplesris gets a double leg takedown into Dechamps's guard.
Duplesris tries to free his leg and advance position but Dechamps is retaining full guard.
Dechamps is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dechamps tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Duplesris looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Dechamps is trying to control the position but Duplesris postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Dechamps tries for a takedown but Duplesris circles away easily

and Duplesris counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Duplesris sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Dechamps manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dechamps working a defensive guard here.
Duplesris is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Duplesris should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Seth Duplesris was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Duplesris shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Duplesris stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dechamps swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Duplesris 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.
Duplesris must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dechamps looking to control.
Leopold Dechamps has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Seth Duplesris is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Duplesris stopping the sweep attempt from Dechamps.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seth Duplesris comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Duplesris 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Seth Duplesris!
Seth Duplesris took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.