PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodney Garner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis LaPointe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Garner
vs
LaPointe

179 cm
19
213 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

191 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Planet Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rodney Garner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Travis LaPointe!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, William Peck and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Garner drives through and clinches with LaPointe against the cage.
LaPointe tries to pull guard but Garner holds him up against the cage and eventually LaPointe drops back down to his feet.
LaPointe tries to land knees in the clinch but Garner avoids the damage to the body.

Garner turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Garner manages to end up in side control.
LaPointe tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Garner wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garner in side control, just content to control the action for now.
You can see the frustration on LaPointe's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Garner has control of an arm but LaPointe manages to advance to Garner's back!
LaPointe trying to control.
Garner is in bad spot here.
LaPointe really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Garner. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
A lull in the action here.
LaPointe throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

Garner is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.

Garner instigates a clinch.
Garner keeps control of LaPointe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Garner lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Garner makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
LaPointe tries to pull guard but Garner holds him up against the cage and eventually LaPointe drops back down to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LaPointe stalling in the clinch but Garner improves position.
LaPointe fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rodney Garner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Travis LaPointe.

Garner lands a takedown into guard.
LaPointe trying to control the position.
Garner stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. LaPointe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Garner is stalling in the full guard.

Garner decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on LaPointe, up you get!

Garner rushes LaPointe and presses him up against the cage.
Garner lands a hook that snaps the head of LaPointe backwards.
Garner lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of LaPointe backwards.
LaPointe wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaPointe is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Garner gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Garner throws a blind hook that connects with the side of LaPointes head.

Garner wants the takedown. LaPointe is fighting it off but Garner persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in LaPointe's guard against the cage.
Garner might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
LaPointe looks gassed!
Garner sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Garner pushes down on LaPointe's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Garner content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
LaPointe pushes Garner off looking to stand but Garner dives back in and keeps control.
Garner wants to pass to mount but LaPointe is defending the position.
Garner not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garner passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for LaPointe!
Garner sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Garner has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
LaPointe wants to control but Garner is having none of it.
Garner looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Garner dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Garner drives through and clinches with LaPointe against the cage.
Garner stalling.

Garner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rodney Garner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Garner takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
LaPointe slips under a jab from Garner.

Garner scores a takedown into full mount!
Garner controlling the position easily from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garner throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
BOOM! Garner connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Garner controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garner avoids the attempt from LaPointe to control.

Rodney Garner has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from LaPointe enables Garner to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. LaPointe manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Garner stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Garner takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaPointe fails with the takedown

and Garner counters with a nice double leg into side control. LaPointe won't be happy with that.
LaPointe is breathing heavily.
Garner controlling the position.
Garner advances to full mount.
Garner landing strikes, looking to finish!
LaPointe wants to hold on but Garner pushes him away.
Garner content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LaPointe is in all sorts of trouble here.
Garner misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Garner takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
LaPointe is desperately trying to improve his position but Garner has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Garner lands a big elbow.
Garner controlling from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Garner dominated that second round.
That's time! Garner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Garner shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
LaPointe trying to control but Garner postures up.
Garner performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Garner decides to stand and escape the position.
LaPointe fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Garner avoids it really well and circles away.
LaPointe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Garner moves into the clinch.
Garner is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Garner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
LaPointe tries for a takedown but Garner circles away easily

so Garner counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Garner stands and steps away. LaPointe gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Garner pushes LaPointe up against the cage in a clinch.
Garner lands a shoulder strike.

Garner manages to break the clinch.

Garner forces LaPointe back against the cage and clinches.

Garner gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garner stops LaPointe from getting back to his feet.
Garner has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garner sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodney Garner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
LaPointe wants to hold on but Garner pushes him away.
Rodney Garner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rodney Garner just wasn't active enough.

Garner clinches with his opponent.
Garner lands a nice uppercut.
Garner lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
LaPointe jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Garner walks away with a smile on his face. LaPointe gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rodney Garner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Travis LaPointe.

Garner darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Garner has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garner controlling the pace for now.
Garner seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down LaPointe for as long as he can get away with.

Garner stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Travis LaPointe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Garner has managed to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodney Garner showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Garner, 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:26
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodney Garner!