PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Georges Laraque (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Schuman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Laraque
vs
Schuman

195 cm
22
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
230 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Georges Laraque!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dan Schuman!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Alec Ball and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laraque tries to clinch there but Schuman circles away.
Schuman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Laraque scores with a jab.
Laraque tries to clinch there but Schuman circles away.
Schuman misses with a head kick.
Schuman tries to clinch but Laraque moves out of range.
Schuman takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Laraque walks into a left hand.
Laraque fails with a takedown attempt.
Laraque wants to clinch but Schuman slips to the side

and Schuman counters with a shoot takedown. Laraque fights it but they end up in guard.
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!
Schuman prevents Laraque from getting back to his feet.
Laraque is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Laraque wants to get back to his feet but Schuman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Schuman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Laraque swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Laraque wants to stand but Schuman is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laraque striking off his back but it's not causing Schuman any problems.
Schuman prevents Laraque from getting back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Schuman swinging wilding here.
Schuman looks gassed!
Laraque works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Laraque bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Laraque scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Schuman to see if he's OK.

Laraque stands up and we're back to a striking position.
A bone on bone clash there as Laraque blocks the leg kick.
Schuman throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Laraque is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laraque is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Schuman gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Laraque gets control of Schuman's arms and successfully pulls guard. Laraque will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Laraque looking for a sweep. Not yet Laraque, not yet.
Schuman wants to stand but Laraque is controlling his posture from full guard.
Laraque wants to stand but Schuman is controlling the position.
Laraque keeping full guard, as Schuman tries to pass.
Schuman trying to control the position from guard on top but Laraque is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Schuman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laraque is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schuman won't allow Laraque to get back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Laraque forces Schuman back against the cage and clinches.

Laraque drags the fight down to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Laraque keeping full guard, as Schuman tries to pass.
Schuman postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Laraque is controlling Schuman's posture.
Laraque 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.
Schuman passes Laraque's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Schuman is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Laraque is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Schuman's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Schuman's back!
Schuman looking very determined here, making life difficult for Laraque.
Laraque is really struggling to control Schuman but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Laraque is controlling the position but Schuman somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.

Schuman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Schuman tries to roll over but Laraque keeps him under 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 Georges Laraque will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Laraque throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Laraque looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Schuman will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Schuman shoots for a double leg takedown but Laraque sprawls well. He's pushed Schuman's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Laraque scores with a jab to the jaw.
Schuman tries to clinch
and Laraque connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Laraque cracks the inside of Schuman's front leg.
Laraque keeps Schuman at a distance using the push kick.

Laraque shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Laraque gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Laraque shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Schuman but Schuman pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Schuman throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Laraque counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Laraque instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laraque lands a nice shot to the body.
Laraque has had enough of the clinch but Schuman keeps him there for the moment.
Laraque tries to score a body lock takedown but Schuman shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Georges Laraque. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Schuman goes for a takedown in the clinch but Laraque prevents it.

Laraque pulls guard effortlessly.
Schuman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Schuman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Laraque swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Laraque is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Schuman is controlling him.
Schuman wants to control from the top but Laraque keeps moving.
Schuman prevents Laraque from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Schuman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Laraque swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Laraque is trying to keep Schuman in close.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Schuman connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Laraque wants to clinch.
Schuman takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Schuman moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laraque goes for a takedown in the clinch but Schuman prevents it.
Laraque is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Schuman is keeping busy.
Schuman goes for a takedown attempt but Laraque pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Schuman takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Laraque connects with a single shot there.
Laraque tries to clinch but Schuman is having none of it.
Laraque closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Laraque lands a high kick!
Laraque takes a swing at Schuman's ribcage but misses.
Schuman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

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

Schuman wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Laraque, who protects the arm well.
Laraque gets back to half guard.
Laraque wants to get back to his feet.
Laraque wants to get back to full guard but Schuman has passed into side control.
Laraque is trying desperately to improve position.
Laraque is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georges Laraque dominated that second round.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Laraque is looking to clinch.
Laraque takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Laraque looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Laraque misses with a body kick.
Laraque throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Schuman misses with a looping left.
Schuman swings for the body but Laraque moves out of range.
Laraque lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Laraque tries to land a front kick but Schuman steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Laraque clinches up against the cage.
Schuman lands a body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Laraque breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Schuman fails with an attempt to clinch.
A swing and a miss from Schuman.
Schuman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Laraque does no damage.
Schuman throws a leg kick but Laraque moved away.

Laraque instigates a clinch.
Laraque throws a knee to the head but misses.
Schuman is pressed up against the cage. Laraque has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Schuman down to the mat. Schuman avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Schuman swings for the body but Laraque moves out of range.
Laraque smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
The fight stays on the outside here - Laraque looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fight stays on the outside here - Schuman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Laraque darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Laraque is looking to clinch.
Schuman misses with a double jab
and Laraque counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Laraque scores with a crisp jab that stopped Schuman in his tracks.
Laraque smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Laraque tries to clinch up.
Laraque tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Schuman paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Laraque tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Schuman paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Laraque feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Schuman's calf.
Schuman throws a half hearted mid kick.
Laraque stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Nice body kick from Laraque.
Donk. Laraque catches Schuman right on the button with a cross.
Laraque tries to close the distance and clinch up but Schuman swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Laraque misses with a head kick.
Laraque clinches but Schuman breaks the clinch

and Schuman counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Schuman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laraque is looking to stand up but Schuman isn't so interested in that idea.
Schuman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Schuman trying to control but Laraque is working from the bottom.

Laraque has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Schuman off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Laraque misses with a wild combination.
Laraque misses with a takedown attempt - Schuman sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Georges Laraque. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Schuman shoots in and drives through. Laraque sprawls well.
Dan Schuman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Laraque's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Laraque duly obliges.
Schuman misses with a straight right.
Laraque scores with a sloppy right hand. Schuman should have avoided that one.
Laraque tries to clinch but Schuman is having none of it.
Laraque lands a nice shot that snaps Schuman's head back.
Georges Laraque is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Laraque shoots in looking for a takedown. Schuman tries to sprawl out of it but Laraque keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Schuman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice uppercut lands for Laraque. That snapped Schuman's head back.
A left and a right from Laraque both land. Nice combination.
Schuman shoots in looking for a takedown. Laraque tries to sprawl out of it but Schuman keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Laraque manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Laraque fails in his attempt to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Georges Laraque.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Laraque, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Georges Laraque!