PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Stephane Boucher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stark is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: blow. Tony Stark has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Boucher
vs
Stark

175 cm
20
160 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

170 cm
26
164 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Powerful

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stephane Boucher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tony Stark!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Elvis Blanc and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stark shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Boucher connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Boucher is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Stark's half guard.
Boucher wants to control but Stark is keeping him busy.

Boucher seems to be working for a kimura but Stark defends the submission attempt.

Boucher is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stark tries to roll over but Boucher keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boucher not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Boucher throwing shots but Stark is blocking nicely.
Stark tries to get to full guard but Boucher has control of the leg.
Boucher looks to land a strike but Stark avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Stark has Boucher pulled in close to control his posture.
Stark 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.
Stark seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Boucher accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Boucher trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Boucher postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Stark is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Boucher, into his guard.
Stark is fighting to break Boucher's control of his arms but Boucher is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Boucher preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stark has gone for a leg lock! Boucher slips out almost immediately though and dives into Stark's guard.
Boucher looking to pass the guard.
Stark keeping moving, preventing Boucher from controlling successfully.
Boucher looking to pass the guard.

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.
Stark utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Boucher trying to control the position from guard on top but Stark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boucher working some strikes from top position.
Boucher stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stark swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Boucher wants to control from the top but Stark keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephane Boucher 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.

Stark tries for a takedown but Boucher circles away easily
enabling Boucher to counter with a crisp jab.

Stark gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Boucher pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stark is keeping the position for now.
Boucher throws a big right hand that misses.
Boucher stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stark swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Boucher postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Boucher accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Boucher not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Boucher trying to control the position from guard on top but Stark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stark utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Boucher wants to control from the top but Stark keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Stephane Boucher just wasn't active enough.
Stark shoots and misses

and Boucher counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Boucher sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Stark defending well though.
Boucher not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Boucher is just content to waste time from the top position. Stark takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Boucher preventing the sweep.
Stark utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Boucher tries to stand but Stark is controlling from the bottom.
Boucher trying to control the position from guard on top but Stark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Boucher postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Stark is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Boucher, into his guard.
Stark trying to move into half guard but instead Boucher has managed to sweep!
Boucher wants to control from the top but Stark keeps moving.

That's four 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.
Boucher looking to sit in guard and control but Stark gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Stark drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Boucher dives on top into guard.
Boucher throws and elbow that misses. Stark uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Boucher's guard. Nice move by Stark!
Boucher looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephane Boucher dominated that second round.
That's time! Boucher's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Boucher throws the left hand but Stark avoids the punch easily.

Stark closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Boucher manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Stark wants to pass to mount but Boucher is defending the position.
Boucher controlling the position for now.
Boucher wants to control but Stark is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stark wants to pass to mount but Boucher is defending the position.
Stark thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Boucher's head.
Stark prevents Boucher from improving his position.

Stark is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark trying to control from Boucher's half guard. Boucher has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Boucher is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Boucher is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Boucher throws a strike but Stark avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Boucher's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two 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.
Boucher trying to control the position from guard on top but Stark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stark avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Boucher missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stark keeping moving, preventing Boucher from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Boucher tries to free his leg and advance position but Stark is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boucher throws a strike but Stark rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Stephane Boucher overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Boucher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boucher lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Stark!
Boucher sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Boucher throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Tony Stark has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four 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.
Boucher wants to control but Stark has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Boucher is keen to just control but Stark is a slippery customer.
Boucher throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Boucher throws a strike but Stark avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Boucher has gone for a leg lock! Stark slips out almost immediately though and dives into Boucher's guard.
Stark working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Stark comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Boucher has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephane Boucher!