PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Le Bard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucian Bute (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bard
vs
Bute

177 cm
20
165 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
163 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Resistance

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Le Bard!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lucian Bute!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Dillan Fox and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bute throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Bard gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Bute to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bute throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bute looking to pass the guard.
Bute passes Bard's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Bute missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bute in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bute seems to be looking for submissions.
Bute stalling away here and it's allowed Bard to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Bute wants to pass the guard but Bard is keeping the position.

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.
Bard 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.
Bute pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bard is keeping the position for now.
Bute postures up.
Bard wants to get back to his feet but Bute is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bute throws a jab but it's blocked by Bard.
Bard misses with a low kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Bute. That snapped Bard's head back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bard goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Bard throws a sloppy head kick and Bute moves out of range easily.
Bute swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lucian Bute seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bard tries a head kick but it misses.
Bard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bute.
Bute lands a two punch combo.
A head kick misses from Bard.
Bard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bute shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bard pinned against the cage. Bard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bute throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bard.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Bard.
Bute jabs at Bard's body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bute darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Bard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bute moves away.
Bute tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bard swivels and escapes.
Bard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bute.
Bute misses with a body punch
and Bard makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Bute shoots for a double leg takedown but Bard sprawls well. He's pushed Bute's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Le Bard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucian Bute.
Bard throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Bute swinging wildly here.
Bute scores with a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucian Bute 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.

Bute fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bard sprawls well initially but Bute persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bard trying to hold on to Bute's head to control him but Bute postures up.
Bute wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bard keeps working.
Bard tries to get to full guard but Bute has control of the leg.
Bard is trying to stand back up but Bute is controlling him
Bute trying to pass the guard but Bard defending well.
Bute is keen to just control but Bard is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bute working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Bard's thigh. Bard counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Bute trying to control but Bard is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bute with a hook.
Bute throws a combination that misses
and Bard counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bute lands a right hook to the body.
Bard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bute.
Bard tries to land a front kick but Bute steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Bute just misses with a punch to the body.
Bard throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Le Bard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Bute - just one landing.
Bute swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bute misses with a wild body shot.
Bute on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Bute is breathing heavily.
A slow jab from Bute misses its intended target.
Bard misses with a low kick.
Bute misses with a looping left.
Bute misses with a jab to the body
and Bard counters with a head kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bute is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bard.
Le Bard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bute throws a shot from downtown. Bard moves away and avoids it.
Bard takes a jab right on the kisser.
Bute lands a body shot.

Bute shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bard wants to control but Bute is having none of it.
Bard bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Bute is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bute is trying to control the position but Bard postures up.

Bute escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Bard thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

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.
Bard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Bute working for a triangle but Bard defends it easily.

Bard drops back looking for a leg! Bute is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bute manages to kick Bard off! Bard jumps back into Bute's guard.
Bard throws and elbow that misses. Bute uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bard's guard. Nice move by Bute!
Bard keeping moving, preventing Bute from controlling successfully.
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 Le Bard will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bard takes one to the chin there.
A head kick misses from Bard.
Bard throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bute misses with an uppercut.
Bard looks to score with a jab to the body but Bute is just out of range.
Bute misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Bard counters with a right hand to the body.
Bute goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Le Bard has been cut.
Bard is looking to wear down Bute with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Bard throws a head kick that misses.
Bute throws a combination. Bard tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Bute's corner calls for a 1-2. Bute obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Bute misses with a hook. Bard ducked under it nicely.
Bute fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bard avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bard ducks under a wild hook from Bute.
Bute shoots in for a takedown but Bard shows good takedown defense.
Bard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bute.
Bard looks to score with a jab to the body but Bute is just out of range.
Bard keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Le Bard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucian Bute.
Bute takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bute lands with an overhand left.
Bard lands a nice looking body kick.
Bard misses with a leg kick.
A left and a right from Bard both land. Nice combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Bard. That's going to slow Bute down.
Bard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bute.
Bute avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bute moves out of range of the body kick from Bard.
Bard throws a shot from downtown. Bute moves away and avoids it.
Bute lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Bard at a distance.
Bute avoids the body shot from Bard.
Bard doesn't manage to clinch there - Bute circles away.
Bute lands a jab to Bard's midsection.
Bute misses the jab.
Bute misses with an uppercut.
Bard lands a high kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bute throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bard throws a leg kick but Bute checks it.
Bard slaps away a takedown attempt from Bute, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bard. Bute does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bute swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bute. Bard does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bute misses with a wild body shot.
Bute takes one on the button.
Bard misses with a head kick.
Bute fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bard pulls out of a head kick attempt.

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.
Bard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bute.
A jab from Bute misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Bard.
Bute fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bard manages to avoid it.
Bute scores with a crisp jab that stopped Bard in his tracks.
Bute throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Bard counters with a nice leg kick.
Bute shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bard as he jumps to the side.
Bard throws a sloppy head kick and Bute moves out of range easily.
Bard throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bute sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bard bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Bard tries a head kick but it misses.
Bute fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Le Bard clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Le Bard's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bute throws a series of punches but Bard avoids them all with ease.
Bute lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Bard backs up against the cage.
Bute lands a nice shot to the body.
Bute bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Bard's head.
A left lands for Bute.
Bard looks for the body kick but Bute saw that one coming.
Nice uppercut there from Bard.
Bard lands a nice hook to Bute's body. Bute takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Bute misses the body punch
and Bard counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Bute throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bute darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Bard on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Bard tries to score with a low kick but Bute moves his leg out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bute throws out a loose jab but Bard uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bard tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Bute is able to avoid easily.
Bute shoots in for a takedown but Bard shows good takedown defense.
Bute shoots in but Bard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bute is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
A nice combination there by Bute.
Bute misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A head kick from Bard lands but Bute takes it in his stride.
Bard walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Bute checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Bute scores with a shot to the body.
Bard ducks under a wild hook from Bute.
An inside leg kick lands from Bard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bute connects with a good right hand that stumbles Bard. Bard circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Bute throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bard sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bute ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bard moves away.
Bard lands a head kick!
Bute misses with a looping left.
Bute tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bard was well out of range. Poor timing from Bute.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Bard.
A big right from Bute misses.
Bute misses with a looping left.
Bute lands a body shot.
Bard takes a swing at Bute's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bute avoids a kick to the body.
Bute stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bard.
Bute works over Bard's head and body with a nice combination.
Bard tries to work over Bute's front leg with a kick but Bute checks it.
Bute avoids a kick to the body.
Bard throws a head kick that misses.
Bute lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Bute.
Bute pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bard scores with a nice strike.
Bard looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Bard scores with a jab to the body.
Bard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bute.
Bute throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bute moves out of range of the body kick from Bard.
Bard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bute.
Bute jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bard slaps away a takedown attempt from Bute, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Le Bard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucian Bute.
Bard misses with a few strikes there.
Bard connects with the punch.
Bard misses with a looping right.
Bute closes the distance and clinches up with Bard, looking for a takedown. Bute pushes Bard against the cage but Bard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A swing and a miss from Bute.
Bute throws a body punch but Bard moves out of range.
Bard fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Bute looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Bute on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Le Bard had his way with Lucian Bute in that round.
The cut man is working on Le Bard's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Bard misses with a series of wild punches.
Bute moves away from the strike by Bard.
Bard fails to land with a series of punches.
Bute throws out a loose jab but Bard uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bard misses with a combination
and Bute counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Bute bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bute takes a swing at Bard's ribcage but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bard throws a head kick that misses.
Bard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bute.
Bute thows a body shot but no joy.

Bute gets a takedown into half guard.
Bute is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bard trying to control here.
Bute is trying to control. Bard wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bute thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bute controlling the pace.
Bute wants to take a breather but Bard is having none of it.
Lucian Bute has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Bute throwing shots but Bard is blocking nicely.
Bute is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Bard reverses the position - he's now on top in Bute's guard.
Bard is looking to work some ground and pound but Bute has wrist control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bute swings for the body but Bard moves out of range.
Bard misses with a two punch combination.
Bute misses with a hook. Bard ducked under it nicely.
Bute shoots in for a takedown but Bard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bute takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Bard stuffs the takedown.
Bard feints and then cracks Bute's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bute down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bard misses with a two punch combination.
Bard misses with a wild body shot.
Bute misses with a few strikes there.
Horrible takedown by Bute or perhaps it was just good defense by Bard which made him look bad.
Le Bard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucian Bute.
Bard lands with a slapping head kick.
Bute takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Bute needs to keep his hands up - Bard had a free shot at his head there.
Bute tries for a takedown but Bard sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bute uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bard.
Bute throws a series of punches but Bard avoids them all with ease.
Bute keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Le Bard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bard connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Le Bard is winning the standup battle so far.
Bard fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Bard.
Bute shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bard lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Bard throws a right and a left that Bute avoids nicely.
Bard bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Bard - that will leave a mark!
Bute throws a predictable looking body shot
and Bard counters with a slapping leg kick.
Bute throws out a loose jab but Bard uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bard jabs at Bute's body.
Bard uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bute.

And that's the end of the fight!
Le Bard showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bard has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 49:46
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 49:46
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Le Bard!
Le Bard is the new lightweight champion!