PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Donnie Lalonde (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ippo Hamazaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ippo Hamazaki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lalonde
vs
Hamazaki

184 cm
22
182 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Donnie Lalonde!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ippo Hamazaki!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Trevor Gratis and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hamazaki rushes Lalonde and presses him up against the cage.
Lalonde looking for a takedown.
Lalonde wants a takedown but no success here.
Hamazaki is working for takedown but Lalonde is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lalonde looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donnie Lalonde. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hamazaki jumps guard.
Hamazaki keeping moving, preventing Lalonde from controlling successfully.

Lalonde drops back looking for a leg! Hamazaki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hamazaki manages to kick Lalonde off! Lalonde jumps back into Hamazaki's guard.
Lalonde looking to pass the guard.
Hamazaki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hamazaki working a defensive guard here.

Lalonde is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Hamazaki is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Hamazaki has escaped and now he's on top!
Lalonde throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamazaki wants to stand but Lalonde is controlling his posture from full guard.
Lalonde wants to sweep but no luck.
Lalonde is breathing heavily.
Hamazaki wants to pass the guard but Lalonde is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hamazaki looking to sit in guard and control but Lalonde gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hamazaki is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lalonde closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hamazaki circles away.

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.

Hamazaki gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Lalonde changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hamazaki fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Hamazaki gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hamazaki looking for a sweep. Not yet Hamazaki, not yet.
Hamazaki manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Lalonde is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hamazaki controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lalonde is desperately trying to improve his position but Hamazaki has a good base and remains in mount.
Lalonde taking shots to the head.
Hamazaki can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lalonde is looking to escape.
Lalonde bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Lalonde won't allow Hamazaki to sweep him here.
Hamazaki keeping full guard, as Lalonde tries to pass.
Hamazaki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Hamazaki has his foot on Lalonde's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lalonde works his way back into a safe position though.

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.
Hamazaki is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Lalonde trying to control but Hamazaki is working from the bottom.
Hamazaki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hamazaki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Lalonde rushes Hamazaki and presses him up against the cage.
Hamazaki goes for a takedown attempt but Lalonde pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Lalonde shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Lalonde was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
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 Donnie Lalonde will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lalonde shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Lalonde is pressing down on Hamazaki's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hamazaki is holding on for now.
Hamazaki tries to get to full guard but Lalonde has control of the leg.
Lalonde trying to control from half guard but Hamazaki is working away.
Lalonde slows the pace down in half guard.
Lalonde wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hamazaki keeps working.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lalonde seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hamazaki looks like he's trying to stand up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lalonde trying to control the action but Hamazaki is working from the bottom.
Lalonde lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hamazaki missing with punches from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lalonde dodges the punch combination from Hamazaki.

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.
Hamazaki tries for a takedown but Lalonde circles away easily

and Lalonde counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hamazaki's guard now.
Lalonde sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Lalonde has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hamazaki is proving hard to escape from.
Hamazaki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lalonde is one step ahead there.
Lalonde has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lalonde trying to control the position from guard on top but Hamazaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lalonde stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hamazaki swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamazaki is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lalonde pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hamazaki is keeping the position for now.

Hamazaki working for a triangle but Lalonde defends it easily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Lalonde rushes Hamazaki and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Lalonde has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Hamazaki is trying to keep an underhook but Lalonde manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hamazaki wants to control but Lalonde is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Lalonde not doing much here.
Lalonde is trying to control the action in half guard but Hamazaki is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hamazaki is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lalonde's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lalonde's back!

Hamazaki is looking for the choke from the back position but Lalonde is controlling his hands well.
Hamazaki trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
I really don't envy Lalonde right now.
Hamazaki trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Hamazaki doesn't have the hooks in and Lalonde manages to turn into his guard.
Lalonde works over Hamazaki with some ground and pound from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnie Lalonde dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Lalonde darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Hamazaki pushes Lalonde off looking to stand but Lalonde dives back in and keeps control.
Hamazaki is trying to get back to full guard.
Hamazaki is refusing to be controlled, as Lalonde sits in half guard.
Lalonde is really struggling to control Hamazaki but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Hamazaki is trying to maintain the position but Lalonde is very close to passing his half guard.
Lalonde is keen to just control but Hamazaki is a slippery customer.
Lalonde takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Hamazaki has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lalonde is working away from the top position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A combination from Hamazaki does no damage.

Lalonde changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hamazaki looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hamazaki tries to buck Lalonde off but Lalonde is having none of it.
Lalonde wants to control but Hamazaki is keeping him busy.
Donnie Lalonde overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lalonde working away.
Lalonde is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Hamazaki's shoulder. That is not cool.
Hamazaki is trying to improve his position.
Hamazaki is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lalonde is looking to take a break and control but Hamazaki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hamazaki looks to land a body kick but Lalonde moved away.

Lalonde drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lalonde thows a big elbow that misses.
Lalonde passes Hamazaki's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hamazaki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hamazaki is trying to maintain the position but Lalonde is very close to passing his half guard.
Lalonde controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lalonde trying to pass the guard but Hamazaki defending well.
Lalonde lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hamazaki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lalonde content to control rather than advance.
Lalonde is looking to take a break and control but Hamazaki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Donnie Lalonde is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Lalonde looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Hamazaki moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Lalonde controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Lalonde's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lalonde has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donnie Lalonde showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lalonde, 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 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donnie Lalonde!