PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jose Menderia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pierre Laprise (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Jose Menderia has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Menderia
vs
Laprise

172 cm
25
135 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

150 cm
25
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jose Menderia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pierre Laprise!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laprise shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Menderia but Menderia pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Laprise shoots for a double leg takedown but Menderia sprawls well. He's pushed Laprise's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Laprise looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Laprise is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Laprise decides to return to a standing position.

Laprise shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Menderia manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Menderia avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Menderia looking for a sweep. Not yet Menderia, not yet.

Laprise drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Menderia manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Laprise has Menderia in his guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Laprise keeping moving, preventing Menderia from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laprise has his foot on Menderia's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Menderia works his way back into a safe position though.
Menderia has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Laprise is proving hard to escape from.
Menderia stopping the sweep attempt from Laprise.
Laprise working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Menderia.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laprise keeping moving, preventing Menderia from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jose Menderia wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Menderia scores with a sloppy right hand. Laprise should have avoided that one.
Menderia scoring well with a low kick there.

Laprise closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Laprise is trying to work for a kimura but Menderia is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laprise lands strikes from half guard.
Menderia is trying to stand back up but Laprise is controlling him

Laprise wants to work for an arm triangle but Menderia is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Menderia is trying to stand back up but Laprise is controlling him

Laprise is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Laprise is looking for a kimura but Menderia is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Laprise to get the leverage.
Menderia is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Laprise is working for a kimura but Menderia is defending it quite comfortably.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Menderia is staying active underneath Laprise, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Laprise is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Laprise is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Laprise is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pierre Laprise dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Menderia leaves Laprise with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Menderia lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Pierre Laprise has been cut.
Menderia misses with a body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Menderia. No joy for Laprise on that attempt.
Menderia connects with a right hand. Laprise shakes it off.
No luck for Laprise with that takedown attempt.
Jose Menderia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pierre Laprise.
Menderia shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Laprise pinned against the cage. Laprise gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Laprise misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Laprise changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Menderia looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laprise is trying to get an arm triangle but Menderia is defending well.
Menderia is looking for a sweep.
Laprise postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Laprise working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Laprise working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menderia gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Laprise is looking for a kimura here.

Laprise is looking for a kimura but Menderia is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Laprise to get the leverage.
Laprise throwing shots but Menderia is blocking nicely.

Laprise is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Laprise is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Menderia doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Laprise.
Menderia makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Menderia.
Laprise missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Laprise postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Laprise wants to get up but he can't break Menderia's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Laprise keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Menderia's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menderia trying to control the position.

Laprise postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Menderia is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Laprise, into his guard.

Laprise escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Menderia gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Laprise is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Menderia trying to control the position from guard on top but Laprise is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pierre Laprise will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Pierre Laprise's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Menderia moves to clinch but Laprise breaks away

and Laprise counters with a nice double leg into side control. Menderia won't be happy with that.

Laprise is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Menderia knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Laprise tries to advance to mount but can't.

Laprise working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
We've been informed that Laprise has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Laprise is trying to get an arm triangle but Menderia is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laprise is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Menderia is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Laprise is trying to get an arm triangle but Menderia is defending well.

Laprise goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Menderia has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Laprise but great work by Menderia.
Laprise is trying to get back to half guard.
Menderia is looking to take a break and control but Laprise is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laprise tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Menderia looking to control but instead Laprise has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Laprise wants to improve his position but Menderia is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laprise is trying to stand.
Laprise is looking to improve his position.

Laprise looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Pierre Laprise has got the better of the ground game so far.
Menderia trying to control from half guard but Laprise is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Laprise actively working from the bottom here.
Menderia trying to control from Laprise's half guard. Laprise has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Menderia trying to control the position from guard on top but Laprise is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Laprise really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Menderia. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Menderia wanted to stand there but Laprise had control of the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pierre Laprise comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Laprise 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pierre Laprise!
A very excited looking Pierre Laprise made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.