PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hector Linhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ron Lemieux (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Linhares might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Los Sicarios, Sokol, Koras - A veces. Lemieux has chosen Sliwa as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Linhares
vs
Lemieux

176 cm
22
145 lbs
8 - 1 - 1

179 cm
27
135 lbs
13 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Elite Canadian Threads
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Hector Linhares!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ron Lemieux!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Alec Ball and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circle momentarily. Linhares darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Lemieux lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Linhares!

It looks like Ron Lemieux has been cut.
Lemieux swings widly with a right hand
and Linhares counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A low kick from Lemieux misses
and Linhares counters with a leg kick.
Linhares defending well as Lemieux loads up on a big left hand.
Linhares walks into a stiff left hand from Lemieux.
Lemieux is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Linhares pulls out of a head kick attempt.
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 misses with a takedown
and Linhares counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Lemieux throws a leg kick
and Linhares counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Linhares throws the left hand but Lemieux avoids the punch easily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lemieux.
Lemieux fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Linhares looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lemieux is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Lemieux lands a two punch combo.
Linhares avoids the body shot from Lemieux.
We've been told by Linhares's head coaches at School Of Fighting that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Linhares scores with a nice right hand.
A left and a right from Linhares both land. Nice combination.
Linhares throws a body kick that misses.
Lemieux lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Linhares at a distance.
Lemieux throws a lazy right hand but Linhares sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Lemieux misses with a low kick as Linhares jumps back.
Linhares scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Lemieux misses with a leg kick
and Linhares counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lemieux keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Linhares.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linhares swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Linhares on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Lemieux. Lemieux obviously looking to wear him down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A punch combination from Lemieux misses.
Linhares misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lemieux scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Lemieux misses the jab.
Linhares with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Lemieux to score with a decent uppercut.
Linhares misses with a leg kick

and Lemieux counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Linhares looking for a sweep. Not yet Linhares, not yet.
Linhares keeping full guard, as Lemieux tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lemieux has gone for a leg lock! Linhares slips out almost immediately though and dives into Lemieux's guard.
Linhares trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lemieux pulls Linhares in close to his closed guard and prevents Linhares from doing any damage or advancing position.
Linhares not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Linhares wants to control from the top but Lemieux keeps moving.
Lemieux trying to keep a closed guard but Linhares is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lemieux blocks the body kick.
Linhares misses the shot to the body.
Lemieux swats away the attempt to clinch by Linhares.
Linhares turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Lemieux.
Linhares throws a hook but Lemieux blocks it.
An inside leg kick from Lemieux misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lemieux slips a jab and a cross from Linhares.
Lemieux misses with a takedown attempt
and Linhares counters with a leg kick.

Lemieux closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Linhares did well to prevent Lemieux getting side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hector Linhares will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ron Lemieux's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lemieux misses with a takedown attempt
and Linhares cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lemieux scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Lemieux misses with an uppercut. Linhares saw that one coming.
Linhares swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lemieux throws a hook but Linhares blocks it.
Lemieux cracks Linhares with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Linhares throws a wild body kick that Lemieux sees coming a mile off.
Lemieux avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Linhares throws a head kick that half lands.
Lemieux avoids the body shot from Linhares.
Jab, jab by Linhares - just one landing.
Lemieux cracks Linhares with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linhares takes one on the button.
Lemieux throws the left hand but Linhares avoids the punch easily.
Linhares stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Linhares swinging wildly here.
Lemieux swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Linhares counters with a nice uppercut.
Linhares throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lemieux lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Hector Linhares is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Linhares swings for the body but Lemieux moves out of range.
Lemieux swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Linhares throws a head kick that Lemieux semi-blocks.
Linhares tries to move into range but Lemieux moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Lemieux scores with a shot to the body.
Hector Linhares is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linhares is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lemieux.
Linhares takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lemieux fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Linhares on the side of the head.
Lemieux tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Lemieux lands a lovely overhand right.
Linhares just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice shot lands for Lemieux.
Linhares just misses with a punch to the body.
Linhares ducks under a wild hook from Lemieux.
Linhares blocks a head kick by Lemieux.
Lemieux fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Linhares was well out of range. Poor timing from Lemieux.

Linhares gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Linhares pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Linhares will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Linhares connects with a nice looking jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Linhares. Lemieux does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lemieux swings for the body but Linhares moves out of range.
Linhares scores with a hook.
Lemieux looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Linhares throws a push kick but Lemieux slaps the foot to one side.
Lemieux misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Linhares.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux lands a body shot.
Linhares missing with a left hand there. Lemieux was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Linhares moves out of range of the body kick.
Linhares takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Lemieux defending well as Linhares loads up on a big left hand.
Linhares slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Lemieux lands a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Linhares takes a jab right on the kisser.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jab by Lemieux.
Lemieux scores with a jab to the head.
Linhares scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hector Linhares will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ron Lemieux's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Linhares tries to score with a low kick but Lemieux moves his leg out of the way.
Lemieux just misses with a punch to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Linhares checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Lemieux throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Linhares misses with a hook

and Lemieux counters with a nice double leg into side control. Linhares won't be happy with that.
Lemieux working away.
Linhares is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Linhares is looking to regain half guard here but Lemieux keeps moving and retains side control.

Lemieux is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Linhares has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lemieux is chipping away with strikes.
Sloppy strikes there by Lemieux.
Linhares tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Linhares struggling a bit here.
Linhares is not content to let Lemieux control the position.
Lemieux working the body and head with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux trying to control the position but Linhares is working away.
Linhares prevents Lemieux from improving position.
Sloppy strikes there by Lemieux.
Lemieux misses with the ground and pound.
Linhares manages to work his way to half guard, despite Lemieux's best efforts.
Lemieux is just content to waste time from the top position. Linhares takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux connects with a couple of short punches.
Lemieux working some strikes from top position.
Linhares controls Lemieux momentarily but Lemieux frees himself.
Linhares keeping moving, preventing Lemieux from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lemieux accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lemieux is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lemieux wants to control from the top but Linhares keeps moving.
Lemieux looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Linhares 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.
Lemieux lands a couple of digs.
Lemieux throws an elbow that misses. Linhares uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lemieux's guard. Nice move by Linhares!

Lemieux looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Linhares tries to stand but Lemieux is controlling from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Lemieux throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Linhares escapes and throws Lemieux's legs to the side, diving into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ron Lemieux really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ron Lemieux's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lemieux moves out of range as Linhares throws a body kick.
Linhares misses with a kick to the body.
Linhares takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A lazy left from Lemieux finds it's target.
Lemieux misses with a leg kick
and Linhares counters with an outside leg kick.
Linhares works the jab nicely.
Linhares scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Lemieux doesn't seem bothered though.
Lemieux throws a leg kick but Linhares checks it.
Linhares swings for the body but Lemieux moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linhares throws a lazy uppercut

so Lemieux counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Lemieux landing some decent shots from guard.
Lemieux throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Linhares works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lemieux stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Linhares swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lemieux missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lemieux's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lemieux throws a big elbow that misses.
Lemieux loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Linhares has momentary wrist control but Lemieux slips an elbow through the middle.
Ron Lemieux has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lemieux works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Linhares avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lemieux.
Lemieux looks to land a strike but Linhares avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Lemieux trying to control but Linhares is working from the bottom.
Lemieux stands up over Linhares, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lemieux in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lemieux lands a couple of elbows.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Linhares holds on and takes a little breather.
Lemieux trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux is looking to advance position but Linhares has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Lemieux is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Linhares wants to control the pace but Lemieux is squirming around nicely.
Linhares pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Linhares avoids the attempt from Lemieux to control.
Lemieux tries to reverse the position but Linhares maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Linhares can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lemieux is looking to escape.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Linhares cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Linhares working Lemieux over with strikes here.
Lemieux tries to reverse the position but Linhares maintains control.
Lemieux bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
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.
Linhares is trying to keep Lemieux in close.
Lemieux has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lemieux trying to control but Linhares is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ron Lemieux dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Ron Lemieux's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Lemieux feints a jab promting Linhares to slip. Lemieux then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Linhares slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Linhares takes one to the side of the head.
Linhares misses with an attempted mid kick.
Lemieux throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
An inside leg kick lands from Lemieux.

Lemieux closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Lemieux tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Linhares can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lemieux throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Linhares parries the strikes from Lemieux easily there. Lemieux is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Linhares to escape.
Lemieux connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Linhares some visible discomfort.
Linhares struggling a bit here.
Lemieux postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Linhares regains half guard there - taking advantage of Lemieux's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Lemieux sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Linhares defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lemieux is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Linhares is just riding it out for now. Lemieux eventually gives up the hold.
Linhares is not content to let Lemieux control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lemieux is working for a kimura here but Linhares manages to reverse the position and he's now in Lemieux's guard.

Lemieux is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Linhares has his hands clasped together but Lemieux extends and breaks Linhares's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Lemieux.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ron Lemieux!
Ron Lemieux is the new bantamweight champion!
Ron Lemieux seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.