PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ripper Tremblay (ranked 4675 p4p, 4853 weight class) and Viktor Igbonefo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tremblay
vs
Igbonefo

175 cm
20
161
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
21
165
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ripper Tremblay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Viktor Igbonefo!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Alec Ball and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tremblay blocks the body kick.
Tremblay moves out of range of the strikes.

Igbonefo has managed to clinch.

Tremblay jumps guard.
Igbonefo wants to stand and escape but instead Tremblay has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Tremblay wants to control from the top but Igbonefo keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Igbonefo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tremblay can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tremblay tries to stand but Igbonefo is controlling from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Igbonefo holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tremblay postures up.
Tremblay stands and throws Igbonefo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Igbonefo looking for a sweep but Tremblay has passed into full mount! Oh no!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Igbonefo tries to reverse the position but Tremblay maintains control.
Igbonefo is squirming around, avoiding Tremblay's attempts to control the action.
Igbonefo is trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tremblay looking to control and managing it successfully.
Tremblay breaks from Igbonefo's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Tremblay thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Tremblay throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Igbonefo is squirming around, avoiding Tremblay's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tremblay lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Igbonefo is squirming around, avoiding Tremblay's attempts to control the action.
Tremblay avoids the attempt from Igbonefo to control.

Tremblay is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Igbonefo plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Tremblay will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Igbonefo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tremblay sprawls well initially but Igbonefo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Igbonefo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Tremblay trying to control but Igbonefo postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tremblay is staying active underneath Igbonefo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Igbonefo is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
It looks like Igbonefo is going to stand back up.
Tremblay is looking to control Igbonefo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tremblay avoid being mounted?
Igbonefo looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tremblay is trying to control but can't.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ripper Tremblay 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.

Tremblay will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Igbonefo looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Igbonefo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Tremblay gets tackled into the cage by Igbonefo. Igbonefo maintains the clinch.
Tremblay is trying to break the clinch but Igbonefo is controlling him.
Tremblay has Igbonefo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Igbonefo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Igbonefo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tremblay shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Igbonefo defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ripper Tremblay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Igbonefo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tremblay paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Igbonefo tries to clinch but Tremblay is having none of it.
Tremblay takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Igbonefo is looking to clinch.
Igbonefo tries to clinch but Tremblay is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tremblay goes for a double leg but Igbonefo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Igbonefo continues to drive forward.
Igbonefo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tremblay swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Igbonefo wants to clinch up but Tremblay keeps it at a distance.

Igbonefo pushes Tremblay up against the cage in a clinch.

Tremblay's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tremblay walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Igbonefo checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Igbonefo drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Tremblay defends it well.
Tremblay displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Igbonefo.

Tremblay closes the distance and clinches.
Tremblay fails to pull guard.
Tremblay wants to take the fight to the mat but Igbonefo manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Tremblay is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Igbonefo is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Igbonefo wants a takedown.
Tremblay effectively controlling the action here.

Tremblay drags the fight down to the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Igbonefo gets to his feet. Tremblay looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Igbonefo wants to clinch.
Igbonefo tries to clinch but Tremblay is having none of it.
Viktor Igbonefo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tremblay gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Igbonefo counters with a leg kick.
Igbonefo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Igbonefo wants it to stay on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tremblay fails with a takedown attempt.
Igbonefo lands a head kick. Tremblay smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Ripper Tremblay has been cut.
Tremblay takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Igbonefo moves in looking to clinch but Tremblay pushes him off.

Igbonefo darts in and clinches Tremblay up against the cage.
Tremblay wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Igbonefo fails to pull guard.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Igbonefo misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tremblay breaks from the clinch.
Igbonefo scores with a head kick.
Igbonefo has a takedown stuffed.
Viktor Igbonefo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Igbonefo tries to clinch up but Tremblay circles away and keeps his distance.
Ripper Tremblay is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Igbonefo moves into range and clinches up with Tremblay.

Tremblay has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Igbonefo uses from the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Igbonefo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Igbonefo wants to get up but he can't break Tremblay's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Igbonefo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ripper Tremblay's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Igbonefo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Igbonefo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tremblay pinned against the cage. Tremblay gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tremblay keeps the fight on the outside.

Igbonefo has managed to clinch.
Igbonefo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Igbonefo wants to stall.
Tremblay goes for a takedown attempt but Igbonefo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Igbonefo scoring well with a low kick there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Igbonefo blocks a head kick by Tremblay.
Igbonefo tries to clinch up
and Tremblay counters with a one-two to the body.
Igbonefo tries a head kick but it misses.

Tremblay darts in and clinches Igbonefo up against the cage.

Igbonefo gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Tremblay regains guard.
Tremblay not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tremblay preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Igbonefo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Igbonefo throwing strikes but missing.
Ripper Tremblay overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Igbonefo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tremblay looking for a guillotine here but Igbonefo defends easily.

Igbonefo gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Tremblay shoots in looking for a takedown. Igbonefo tries to sprawl out of it but Tremblay keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Igbonefo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Igbonefo being controlled against the cage.
Igbonefo prevents Tremblay from breaking the clinch.

Igbonefo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tremblay shoots in for a takedown but Igbonefo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ripper Tremblay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Igbonefo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Tremblay misses with a takedown attempt
and Igbonefo counters with a big head kick but Tremblay shrugs it off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Igbonefo tries to clinch there but Tremblay circles away.
Tremblay tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Igbonefo manages to circle out of the way.
Igbonefo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Igbonefo wants it to stay on the feet.
Tremblay swats away the attempt to clinch by Igbonefo.
Tremblay appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Igbonefo wants to clinch up but Tremblay keeps it at a distance.
Tremblay changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Tremblay avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tremblay attempts a counter takedown but Igbonefo avoids it well and moves away.
Tremblay misses with a hook. Igbonefo ducked under it nicely.
Tremblay circles away from the clinch attempt.

Tremblay feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Tremblay pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Igbonefo is keeping the position for now.

Tremblay gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tremblay shoots for a takedown but Igbonefo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Igbonefo lands a nice looking body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Viktor Igbonefo.
I think Igbonefo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Viktor Igbonefo!