PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Aydan DaSpirit (ranked 3182 p4p, 4338 weight class) and Matthieu Placide (ranked 174 p4p, 229 weight class). Placide has chosen Diamonds from Sierra Leone - Kanye West as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

DaSpirit
vs
Placide

150 cm
19
138
2 - 1 - 1

169 cm
19
136
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of London, Aydan DaSpirit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matthieu Placide!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, William Peck and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Placide misses with a lunging right hand
and DaSpirit counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Matthieu Placide seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
DaSpirit's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Placide connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! DaSpirit scrambles back to his feet.

DaSpirit instigates a clinch.
DaSpirit fails to pull the fight into his guard.
DaSpirit tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Placide smiles and moves away.

DaSpirit takes the fight into the clinch.
DaSpirit jumps guard but Placide turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aydan DaSpirit. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Placide lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

DaSpirit has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Placide uses from the top position.

DaSpirit working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Placide doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Placide manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

DaSpirit has his foot on Placide's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Placide works his way back into a safe position though.
Placide controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Placide wants to control from the top but DaSpirit keeps moving.
Placide with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

DaSpirit looking for a guillotine here but Placide defends easily.
Placide trying to control the position from guard on top but DaSpirit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Placide looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Placide working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two 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.

DaSpirit is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
DaSpirit keeping moving, preventing Placide from controlling successfully.

DaSpirit is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Placide is aware though and is defending well.
DaSpirit looking to hit a scissor sweep but Placide is one step ahead there.
DaSpirit keeping moving, preventing Placide from controlling successfully.
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.

Placide got a little sloppy there for a moment and DaSpirit has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Placide has managed to get both his arms back between DaSpirit's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Placide loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

DaSpirit throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Placide escapes and throws DaSpirit's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Placide is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
DaSpirit is trying to get back to half guard.
Placide is looking to take a break and control but DaSpirit is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Placide lands a decent elbow from side control.
Placide is looking to take a break and control but DaSpirit is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
DaSpirit manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Placide works his way to full guard. Good work.

DaSpirit postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Placide is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of DaSpirit, into his guard.

Placide must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

DaSpirit is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Placide trying to control the position from guard on top but DaSpirit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aydan DaSpirit 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.

Placide misses with a hook
letting DaSpirit counter with a right hand.
DaSpirit tries to close the distance and clinch up but Placide swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Placide misses with a right hand
and DaSpirit counters with a straight right hand.
Placide misses with a wild body shot.

DaSpirit gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
DaSpirit fails to pull the fight into his guard.
DaSpirit is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Placide to keep the fight standing.
DaSpirit is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Placide can do to turn this around?
DaSpirit tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Placide smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aydan DaSpirit. That's going to take a lot out of him.

DaSpirit rushes Placide and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

DaSpirit pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Placide trying to control the position from guard on top but DaSpirit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

DaSpirit looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

DaSpirit is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Placide is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

DaSpirit is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Placide is aware though and is defending well.

DaSpirit had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Placide defends it easily.
Placide pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. DaSpirit is keeping the position for now.
Placide engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Placide trying to control but DaSpirit is working from the bottom.

DaSpirit throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

DaSpirit is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Placide wants to control from the top but DaSpirit keeps moving.

DaSpirit is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

DaSpirit escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Placide gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Placide passes DaSpirit's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

DaSpirit actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Placide is going to stand back up.

DaSpirit looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
DaSpirit is refusing to be controlled, as Placide sits in half guard.
DaSpirit moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Placide trying to control the position from guard on top but DaSpirit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

DaSpirit is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Placide defends well.

Placide avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

DaSpirit is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

DaSpirit looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Placide passes into side control.
Placide wants to lay and pray for a moment but DaSpirit keeps working.
DaSpirit is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
DaSpirit gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aydan DaSpirit dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

DaSpirit has closed the distance and engaged Placide in a clinch.
DaSpirit is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Placide to keep the fight standing.
DaSpirit tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Placide smiles and moves away.
DaSpirit slips under a jab from Placide.
DaSpirit tries to close the distance and clinch up but Placide swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Placide looks to throw the jab but DaSpirit is out of range.
Placide looks to throw the jab but DaSpirit is out of range.
DaSpirit wants to clinch up but Placide keeps it at a distance.
Placide throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Placide circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - DaSpirit looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Placide scores with a jab to the head.
Placide keeps the fight on the outside.

DaSpirit darts in and clinches Placide up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DaSpirit jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Placide walks away with a smile on his face. DaSpirit gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aydan DaSpirit. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Placide jabs at DaSpirit's body.
Placide rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but DaSpirit moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - DaSpirit looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Matthieu Placide is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Placide circles away from the clinch attempt.
Placide throws a right and a left that DaSpirit avoids nicely.

DaSpirit has taken the fight to the clinch.

DaSpirit manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

DaSpirit looking for a guillotine here but Placide defends easily.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Placide engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

DaSpirit looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

DaSpirit throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

DaSpirit looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

DaSpirit had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Placide defends it easily.
DaSpirit might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Placide looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

DaSpirit is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Placide defends well.
Placide trying to control but DaSpirit is working from the bottom.
Placide working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Placide looking to pass the guard.

DaSpirit working for a triangle but Placide defends it easily.
DaSpirit being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Matthieu Placide has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Placide throws a big elbow that misses.
DaSpirit keeping moving, preventing Placide from controlling successfully.

DaSpirit looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

DaSpirit escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Placide gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Placide wants to control from the top but DaSpirit keeps moving.

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 Aydan DaSpirit.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for DaSpirit, 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aydan DaSpirit!
In defeat, Matthieu Placide stepped up to the mic, saying 'Ce sont des conneries.'.