PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Geffrey Lefebvre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Birch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Geffrey Lefebvre is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Lefebvre
vs
Birch

168 cm
30
192 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

171 cm
25
193 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Geffrey Lefebvre!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tom Birch!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Trevor Gratis and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Birch closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Lefebvre to the mat! Lefebvre manages to get full guard.
Lefebvre keeping moving, preventing Birch from controlling successfully.
Lefebvre looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lefebvre not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lefebvre wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Birch not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Lefebvre 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.
Birch is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lefebvre working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Birch doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Birch manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Birch keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lefebvre's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birch loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Birch is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Lefebvre trying to control the position.
Lefebvre wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Birch is looking to advance position but Lefebvre has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Birch working to try and regain half guard.

Lefebvre has control of Birch's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Birch regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Lefebvre looking to control but Birch is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birch working to try and regain half guard.
Birch is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Birch wants to control but Lefebvre is having none of it.

Lefebvre looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Birch tries to hold on but Lefebvre postures up.
Birch is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lefebvre controlling his opponent.
Birch is trying desperately to improve position.
Lefebvre trying to control but Birch is having none of it.
Birch is looking to get to half guard.
Birch tries to hold on but Lefebvre postures up.

That's four 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.
Birch sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Lefebvre is trying to control the action in half guard but Birch is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Birch is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lefebvre's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lefebvre's back!

Birch is looking for the choke from the back position but Lefebvre is controlling his hands well.
Birch gets his hands free as Lefebvre looks to control.
Lefebvre tries to break free.
Birch scores with punches to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Birch is looking to control Lefebvre but Lefebvre is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Birch has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Lefebvre has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Birch dominated that 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.

Lefebvre will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Birch closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Lefebvre quickly recovers to half guard.
Lefebvre is trying to get back to full guard.
Lefebvre is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Birch's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Birch's back!
Lefebvre trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Birch trying to control the hands but Lefebvre breaks the grip.
Lefebvre scores with punches and elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A lull in the action here.
Lefebvre avoiding Birch 's attempts to control his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birch breaks Lefebvre's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Lefebvre 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.
Lefebvre has his hands on Birch's head, controlling the position.

Lefebvre has his foot on Birch's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Birch works his way back into a safe position though.
Birch controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Birch wants to control from the top but Lefebvre keeps moving.
Lefebvre has momentary wrist control but Birch slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birch trying to control but Lefebvre is working from the bottom.
Lefebvre pulls Birch in close to prevent any damage.

Birch thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lefebvre keeping moving, preventing Birch from controlling successfully.
Birch is fighting to break Lefebvre's control of his arms but Lefebvre is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Lefebvre looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birch shoots in looking for a takedown but Lefebvre manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Birch's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
We've been informed that Birch has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Lefebvre closes this distance looking for a takedown but Birch circles away.
Lefebvre avoids the body shot from Birch.
Lefebvre looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Lefebvre fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Geffrey Lefebvre. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lefebvre stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lefebvre wants it to stay on the feet.
Birch swings away with a body shot that misses
and Lefebvre counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Birch looks to score with a jab to the body but Lefebvre is just out of range.
Birch shoots in looking for a takedown. Lefebvre tries to sprawl out of it but Birch keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lefebvre manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lefebvre keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Birch looks to score with a jab to the body but Lefebvre is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birch misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Lefebvre gets a takedown into half guard.
Birch is staying active underneath Lefebvre, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Birch won't allow Lefebvre to pass to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lefebvre is thwarting Birch's attempts to control the position.
Lefebvre prevents Birch from improving his position.
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 Geffrey Lefebvre will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Birch shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lefebvre as he jumps to the side.
Lefebvre will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lefebvre fails with a takedown attempt.

Birch closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Lefebvre did well to prevent Birch getting side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lefebvre is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lefebvre on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Lefebvre controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Tom Birch has got the better of the ground game so far.
Birch takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birch looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Birch trying to control the action but Lefebvre is working from the bottom.
Birch stalling away here and it's allowed Lefebvre to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Birch avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lefebvre has momentary wrist control but Birch slips an elbow through the middle.
Birch trying to control the position from guard on top but Lefebvre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Lefebvre working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Birch doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Birch manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lefebvre keeping moving, preventing Birch from controlling successfully.
Birch's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Lefebvre looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Birch trying to control but Lefebvre is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birch misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lefebvre.
Lefebvre shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Geffrey Lefebvre. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Birch misses the shot to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Birch is defended easily by Lefebvre.
Birch with a poor takedown
enabling Lefebvre to counter with a crisp jab.
Birch is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Lefebvre rather than just go for the knockout.
Birch shoots in looking for a takedown. Lefebvre tries to sprawl out of it but Birch keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lefebvre manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Birch shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lefebvre as he avoids it easily.
Birch slaps away a takedown attempt from Lefebvre, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Birch changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Birch tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lefebvre was well out of range. Poor timing from Birch.
Lefebvre throwing a counter right hand but Birch manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lefebvre avoids the body shot from Birch.
Birch throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Lefebvre closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Lefebvre lands in his opponent's guard.
Lefebvre wants to control from the top but Birch keeps moving.
Birch keeping full guard, as Lefebvre tries to pass.
Birch tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lefebvre trying to control the position from guard on top but Birch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Birch has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Lefebvre should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Birch has tightened it up now! Lefebvre should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Tom Birch!
Tom Birch is the new light heavyweight champion!