PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Xain Zhao (ranked 496 p4p, 164 weight class) and Rene Lafayette (ranked 74 p4p, 26 weight class). Zhao comes to the cage accompanied by I love Friday. Lafayette has chosen Erasure - Always as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Zhao
vs
Lafayette

180 cm
27
182
13 - 4 - 0

179 cm
20
170
10 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Xain Zhao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rene Lafayette!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Santiago Holmes and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lafayette ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A swing and a miss from Lafayette.
Zhao was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Lafayette throws a lazy right hand but Zhao sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zhao moves away from the strike by Lafayette.
Lafayette ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zhao moves away.
A little feinted left hand from Zhao on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Lafayette digs a good body shot into Zhao's ribs.
Zhao takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zhao takes the fight into the clinch.
Zhao is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Lafayette to keep the fight standing.
Lafayette looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Lafayette breaks the clinch.
Zhao is looking to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Lafayette on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lafayette misses the jab.
Zhao gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Lafayette.
Lafayette throws a body punch but Zhao moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Zhao on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Lafayette throws a big shot that misses.
Zhao closes the distance but Lafayette moves to the side
and Lafayette counters with a right hand to the body.
Lafayette fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zhao manages to avoid it.
Zhao doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lafayette counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lafayette lunges at Zhao with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Zhao's hand.

Zhao has taken the fight to the clinch.

Lafayette breaks the clinch.
Zhao uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lafayette.
Zhao moves out of range of the strikes.
Zhao fails with the takedown
and Lafayette counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xain Zhao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lafayette is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zhao.
Zhao throwing a counter right hand but Lafayette manages to avoid it.
Zhao looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lafayette is fending him off so far but Zhao persists. Nope, Lafayette circles away and we're back to standing.
Rene Lafayette is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Lafayette.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lafayette. Zhao does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lafayette waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zhao.
Lafayette lands a nice shot that snaps Zhao's head back.
Zhao wants to clinch.
Lafayette throws the left hand but Zhao avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lafayette looks to land a left hand but Zhao moved out of range nicely.
Lafayette thuds his right hand into Zhao's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Zhao shoots in but no luck this time.
Rene Lafayette seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lafayette avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Zhao gets a clinch.

Lafayette's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zhao misses with a takedown
and Lafayette makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lafayette scores with a nice head shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zhao drops his hands momentarily and Lafayette takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Zhao is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rene Lafayette dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lafayette misses with a straight right.
Zhao throwing a counter right hand but Lafayette manages to avoid it.
Lafayette thows a left - swing and a miss!

Zhao has managed to clinch.
Lafayette gets through Zhao's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Lafayette escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lafayette lands a body shot.
Lafayette lands with a nice body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lafayette misses with a straight right.
It looked like Zhao wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Lafayette throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zhao sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zhao tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lafayette paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhao steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lafayette.
Lafayette fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zhao manages to avoid it.
Lafayette throws a shot to the body.
Zhao avoids the body shot from Lafayette.
Zhao tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lafayette paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lafayette now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zhao looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lafayette. Zhao does a little dance to reset his feet.
An attempted straight right counter from Zhao misses the target.
Lafayette looks to throw the jab but Zhao is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lafayette fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zhao manages to avoid it.
Lafayette has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zhao tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lafayette manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zhao takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Zhao takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A jab lands there for Lafayette.
Zhao tries to clinch but Lafayette is having none of it.
Zhao changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lafayette tries to avoid it but Zhao manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lafayette to the ground. Lafayette escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lafayette looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Lafayette listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lafayette with a nice cross.
A swing and a miss from Lafayette.
Zhao was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Lafayette jabs at Zhao's body.
Lafayette misses with a wild body shot.
Zhao was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Zhao moves into the clinch.

Lafayette's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lafayette swings for the body but Zhao moves out of range.
Lafayette bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Zhao's head backwards.

Zhao clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhao jumps guard but Lafayette turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Zhao tries to pull guard but Lafayette won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xain Zhao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zhao jumps guard but Lafayette turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Zhao tries to pull guard but Lafayette forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Lafayette manages to break the clinch.

Lafayette lands a left and a right that sends Zhao crashing to the canvas! Lafayette dives into mount looking to finish!
Oh Zhao is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

It looks like Xain Zhao has been cut.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zhao has given up his back here. Will Lafayette look for the submission or keep pounding away?

Lafayette looking for the choke but no joy.
Zhao tries to break free.
Zhao seems to have got his legs back now.
Zhao looking very determined here, making life difficult for Lafayette.
Zhao tries to roll but Lafayette sticks to his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rene Lafayette showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Xain Zhao's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Lafayette fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Zhao avoids the body shot from Lafayette.
It looked like Zhao wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Lafayette throws a lazy right hand but Zhao sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zhao is looking to counter punch.
Rene Lafayette seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lafayette is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zhao.
A little feinted left hand from Zhao on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Lafayette loads up on a big right hand but Zhao slips the punch.
Zhao swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Zhao fails with the takedown
enabling Lafayette to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lafayette throws a jab when Zhao was well out of range.
Lafayette tests Zhao's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lafayette connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Lafayette misses with a wild body shot.
Zhao's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Lafayette connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Zhao scrambles back to his feet.
Lafayette throws a shot to the body.
Lafayette misses the shot to the body.
Zhao is looking to counter punch.
Zhao avoids the body shot from Lafayette.

Zhao rushes Lafayette and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhao tries to pull guard but Lafayette forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Zhao tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xain Zhao. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lafayette breaks the clinch.
Lafayette is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zhao.
Zhao tries to clinch up
and Lafayette counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zhao dives in and grabs Lafayette's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lafayette pushes down on Zhao's head and hops out.
Zhao takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zhao ducks under a wild hook from Lafayette.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lafayette swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lafayette misses with a straight left.
Zhao was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Zhao slips a straight right by Lafayette.
Zhao bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zhao looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Lafayette is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Lafayette lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Rene Lafayette is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A jab lands there for Lafayette.
Lafayette lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Zhao at a distance.
Xain Zhao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lafayette scores with a hook.
Lafayette fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Zhao misses with a lunging right hand
letting Lafayette counter with a right hand.
Lafayette connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lafayette lands a jab to Zhao's midsection.
Lafayette's corner calls for a 1-2. Lafayette obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Zhao takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Lafayette scores with a punch to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rene Lafayette comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lafayette winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight for Rene Lafayette!
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight for Rene Lafayette!
Judge David Hoff scores the fight for Rene Lafayette!

Rene Lafayette wins by unanimous decision!
Rene Lafayette was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.