PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mos Def (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephane Ouelet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Def comes into the arena with Mathematics blaring out of the sound system. Ouelet is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Chien Fou . Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Def
vs
Ouelet

179 cm
30
170 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

180 cm
27
165 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Steel Penn's All 160

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 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mos Def!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stephane Ouelet!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Elvis Blanc and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Def gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ouelet decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Def's guard.
Ouelet trying to control but Def is working from the bottom.
Ouelet postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ouelet throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Def controlling Ouelet's posture.
Ouelet won't allow Def to sweep him here.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Ouelet working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Ouelet throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ouelet wants to control from the top but Def keeps moving.
Ouelet looking to sit in guard and control but Def gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Def is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Ouelet not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Def postures up in Ouelet's guard and throws a big left but Ouelet blocks it.
Ouelet trying to control the position.
Ouelet looking to hit a scissor sweep but Def is one step ahead there.
Def keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ouelet's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Def drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Def jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ouelet wants to control but Def passes easily into half guard.
Def throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ouelet really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Def. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Def sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Def is thwarting Ouelet's attempts to control the position.
Def landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
We've been hearing that Def has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Ouelet wants to control but Def is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ouelet wants to improve his position but Def is controlling well.
Def works his way into side control.
Ouelet is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
You can see the frustration on Ouelet's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ouelet is trying to buck Def off.

Def tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Def throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Ouelet prevents Def from improving position.
The ground and pound from Def seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Ouelet is not content to let Def control the position.
Ouelet is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Def asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
You can see the frustration on Ouelet's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mos Def will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Def misses with a head kick.
Def misses with a leg kick.
Mos Def seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ouelet misses the shot to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Def with a knee to the head.
Ouelet looking to throw knees to the head but Def is blocking nicely.
Ouelet with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Def trying to land knees to the body.

Def pulls guard effortlessly.
Ouelet wants to control from the top but Def keeps moving.
Ouelet looking to sit in guard and control but Def gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Def throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Def seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Ouelet looking for a sweep. Not yet Ouelet, not yet.
Def trying to control but Ouelet is working from the bottom.
Ouelet lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Def!
Def is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ouelet thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ouelet looking to control but Def is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ouelet dominating with strikes here.
Ouelet with shots to the head and body - Def looks very uncomfortable down there.
Ouelet 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.
Def bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Def trying to control but Ouelet is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Def is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ouelet is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Ouelet wants to improve his position but instead Def has moved into half guard.
Ouelet avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Def.
Ouelet is looking to escape.
Def wants to pass the guard but Ouelet is defending well.
Ouelet wants to control but Def is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Def works his way into full mount!
Ouelet is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Def thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Def content just to control the position here.
Def throwing strikes here but Ouelet is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Def looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Def tries to control but Ouelet wriggling away.
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 Mos Def will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ouelet gets tackled into the cage by Def. Def maintains the clinch.
Ouelet throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Def blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Def misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ouelet.
Ouelet lands an elbow inside that Def shrugs off.
Def misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ouelet.

Ouelet tightens his grip and picks Def up, before dumping him to the ground. Def manages to land in guard.
Ouelet is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Def looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Def has momentary wrist control but Ouelet slips an elbow through the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouelet trying to control the position from guard on top but Def is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Def is trying to keep Ouelet in close.
Ouelet trying to control but Def is working from the bottom.
Ouelet postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ouelet wants to stand but Def is controlling his posture from full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ouelet in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Def preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ouelet lands a couple of elbows.
Def is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ouelet trying to control the position from guard on top but Def is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Def pulls Ouelet in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Stephane Ouelet.
Ouelet ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Def moves away.
Ouelet tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Def was well out of range. Poor timing from Ouelet.

Def has closed the distance and engaged Ouelet in a clinch.
Ouelet is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Def is defending well for now.
Def tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ouelet avoids it.

Ouelet gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Def regains guard.
Def managing to control the position.
Ouelet stands and throws Def's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Ouelet throws a strike aimed at the side of Def's head but Def avoids it well.
Ouelet is staying tight to Def's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Stephane Ouelet has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ouelet in side control, throwing shots but Def defends.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Ouelet crashes against the mat.
Def is working to avoid the ground and pound but Ouelet connects with a decent elbow.
Mos Def is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ouelet scoring with punches and elbows.
Ouelet throws an elbow but Def slips to the side and avoids it well.
Ouelet looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Def is avoiding damage well.
Def tries to bench press Ouelet off him but Ouelet keeps the position.
Ouelet working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Def wants to control but Ouelet postures up.

Ouelet wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Def, who protects the arm well.
You can see the frustration on Def's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephane Ouelet comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Def 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!