PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Derick Sprole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pierre Lemieux (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sprole's entrance music is Youre Gonna Go Far, Kid. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sprole
vs
Lemieux

165 cm
21
142 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

165 cm
27
140 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Derick Sprole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pierre Lemieux!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Trevor Gratis and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sprole gets tackled into the cage by Lemieux. Lemieux maintains the clinch.
Sprole using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lemieux has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Lemieux successfully pulls guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Lemieux is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sprole is controlling him.
Sprole trying to control but Lemieux is working from the bottom.
Lemieux is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Lemieux is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Sprole trying to control the position from guard on top but Lemieux is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lemieux looking for a sweep. Not yet Lemieux, not yet.

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

Lemieux gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Sprole with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Lemieux taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sprole is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Lemieux stalling.
Lemieux lands a good knee to the midsection. Sprole won't want to take too many of those.
The referee calls for Lemieux to work.
Lemieux lands a good knee to the midsection. Sprole won't want to take too many of those.
Sprole throws a knee to the head but misses.

Lemieux breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sprole looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Lemieux instigates a clinch.
Sprole using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lemieux has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sprole with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sprole with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lemieux has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. So far he's outscoring his opponent in the clinch so it seems to have been worthwhile.
Lemieux utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sprole scores a nice knee to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sprole throws a knee to the head but misses.

Lemieux ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Lemieux no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Lemieux is trying to keep Sprole in close.
Sprole wanted to stand there but Lemieux had control of the position.
Lemieux keeping moving, preventing Sprole from controlling successfully.
Lemieux controlling the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sprole won't allow Lemieux to sweep him here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sprole tries to clinch but Lemieux moves out of range.

Lemieux gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Lemieux is stalling here.
The crowd are getting on Lemieux's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lemieux breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
An inside leg kick from Lemieux misses.

Lemieux looking to score a takedown here. Sprole is defending well but Lemieux drives through and ends up in Sprole's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lemieux working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sprole not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lemieux throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sprole works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lemieux throwing strikes but missing.
Sprole preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sprole on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sprole tries to get out of the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lemieux accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lemieux wants to control from the top but Sprole keeps moving.
Lemieux postures up in Sprole's guard and throws a big left but Sprole blocks it.
Lemieux showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lemieux accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lemieux accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lemieux stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sprole swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sprole preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pierre Lemieux dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from Sprole. No joy for Lemieux on that attempt.

Lemieux moves into the clinch successfully.
Sprole taking a breather.
Lemieux is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sprole is defending well for now.
Lemieux lands a knee to the head.
Sprole blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sprole tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sprole as Lemieux tries to tie him up.
Lemieux pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Sprole tries to stall but Lemieux uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Lemieux tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sprole avoids it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sprole tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sprole tries to land knees in the clinch but Lemieux avoids the damage to the body.
Sprole looking to slow down the pace here.
Sprole tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lemieux avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lemieux missing with knees to the body.
Sprole misses with a knee to the head.
Sprole managing to block the knees to the body from Lemieux.
Sprole tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sprole managing to block the knees to the body from Lemieux.
Lemieux landing knees to the body.
Sprole avoiding damage as Lemieux throws knees to the body.
Sprole tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lemieux avoids it.
Lemieux looking to throw knees to the head but Sprole is blocking nicely.
Sprole tries to land a knee to the head but Lemieux blocks with his arms.
Lemieux lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Lemieux tries to land knees in the clinch but Sprole avoids the damage to the body.
Sprole with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lemieux taking a breather.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Lemieux as Sprole tries to tie him up.
I was talking to Sprole's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Sprole trying to land knees to the body.
Lemieux tries to land knees in the clinch but Sprole avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux tries to stall but Sprole uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Lemieux breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sprole misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lemieux avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lemieux shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sprole as he avoids it easily.

Lemieux closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sprole misses with a knee to the head.
Sprole avoids the elbow strike from Lemieux, against the cage.
Sprole tries to land knees in the clinch but Lemieux avoids the damage to the body.
Lemieux crunches a lovely knee into Sprole's ribcage.
Lemieux misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sprole.
Lemieux tries to pull guard but Sprole won't allow it.
Derick Sprole has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pierre Lemieux.
Sprole is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Lemieux utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux stalling in the clinch.
Sprole throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Lemieux blocks an elbow strike.
Sprole avoiding damage as Lemieux throws knees to the body.
Lemieux trying to land knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sprole.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sprole as Lemieux tries to tie him up.
Sprole landing knees to the head.

Lemieux decides to pull guard.
Lemieux wants to sweep here but Sprole controlling him for the moment.
Sprole wants to control from the top but Lemieux keeps moving.
Sprole preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sprole is fighting to break Lemieux's control of his arms but Lemieux is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Lemieux wants to stand and escape but Sprole is having none of it.
Lemieux really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sprole. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Derick Sprole wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Lemieux has managed to clinch.
Sprole unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lemieux takes an elbow to the temple.
Lemieux takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sprole tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Lemieux manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Lemieux wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Sprole is now in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sprole throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sprole content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Lemieux is trying to stand back up but Sprole is controlling him
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pierre Lemieux showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Lemieux shoots in and drives through. Sprole sprawls well.

Lemieux has closed the distance and engaged Sprole in a clinch.
Lemieux wants a takedown.
Lemieux misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sprole.
Sprole managing to block the knees to the body from Lemieux.
Sprole stalling in the clinch but Lemieux improves position.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Pierre Lemieux seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sprole misses with an elbow over the top.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Sprole missing with knees to the body.
Sprole scores with a knee to the head.
Sprole lands a nice elbow.
Sprole is looking to control Lemieux's arms but Lemieux gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sprole has his back to the cage.
Sprole tries to land a knee to the head but Lemieux blocks with his arms.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lemieux scores with a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Lemieux.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Lemieux takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Lemieux misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sprole.
Lemieux landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sprole throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lemieux blocks it with crossed arms.
Sprole is trying to stall.
Lemieux tries to land a knee to the head but Sprole blocks with his arms.
Lemieux blocks the elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sprole just misses with a elbow thrown towards Lemieux's brow.
Lemieux holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Sprole throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lemieux blocks it with crossed arms.
Lemieux takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Sprole blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lemieux is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
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!
Lemieux managing to block the knees to the body from Sprole.
Lemieux stalling the fight.
Sprole tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lemieux tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sprole avoids it.
Lemieux scores a nice knee to the body.
Sprole looking to throw knees to the head but Lemieux is blocking nicely.
Knees to the body from Lemieux.
Sprole being controlled against the cage.
Sprole looking to throw knees to the head but Lemieux is blocking nicely.

Lemieux pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Lemieux has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sprole being controlled against the cage.
Sprole creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Sprole managing to block the knees to the body from Lemieux.
Sprole looking to throw knees to the head but Lemieux is blocking nicely.
Lemieux with a knee to the head.
Sprole on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sprole lands an elbow inside.
Sprole swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Lemieux obliges.
Sprole missing with knees to the body.
Lemieux missing with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Sprole.
Lemieux landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Lemieux fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Derick Sprole has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Derick Sprole has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pierre Lemieux.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Sprole managing to block the knees to the body from Lemieux.
Lemieux looking to throw knees to the head but Sprole is blocking nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sprole misses with a knee to the head.
Sprole tries to land a knee to the head but Lemieux blocks with his arms.
Sprole on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Lemieux.
Lemieux with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Pierre Lemieux is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sprole looking to throw knees to the head but Lemieux is blocking nicely.
Sprole pushes off an throws an elbow but Lemieux leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sprole blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lemieux blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lemieux lands a good knee to the midsection. Sprole won't want to take too many of those.
Lemieux scores a nice knee to the body.
Lemieux is pushing Sprole up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pierre Lemieux comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lemieux 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pierre Lemieux!
Pierre Lemieux gave a mention to Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).