PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pierre Laprise (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Laprise
vs
Swanson

150 cm
34
130 lbs
11 - 14 - 0

150 cm
22
130 lbs
4 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 11 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pierre Laprise!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Swanson!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Alexandre Firmino and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laprise tries for a takedown but Swanson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Swanson dives in and grabs Laprise's left leg, looking for a takedown. Laprise pushes down on Swanson's head and hops out.

Swanson pushes Laprise up against the cage in a clinch.

Laprise gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Laprise wants to pass the guard but Swanson is keeping the position.
Laprise works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Laprise seems to be working for a kimura but Swanson defends the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Laprise is looking for a kimura but Swanson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Laprise to get the leverage.

Laprise is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Swanson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Laprise.

Laprise is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swanson misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Laprise blocks the strikes from Swanson.

Laprise is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Laprise looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Laprise is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Swanson defends it well.

Laprise is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Swanson is just riding it out for now. Laprise eventually gives up the hold.
Swanson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Swanson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Laprise connects with a couple of short punches.
Swanson throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
We've been hearing that Laprise has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Laprise has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Laprise slips nicely into half guard.
Laprise lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swanson missing with punches from the bottom.
Swanson flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Swanson flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Laprise has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Laprise working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Swanson is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Swanson sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Swanson punching from the bottom.
Swanson punching from the bottom.

Laprise is trying to work for a kimura but Swanson is defending well.
Laprise prevents Swanson from improving his position.
Laprise lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Laprise lands a nice short elbow.
Laprise looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Laprise is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Swanson is just riding it out for now. Laprise eventually gives up the hold.
Laprise works his foot free and advances to mount.
Swanson is looking to get to half guard.
Laprise scoring with strikes but Swanson is staying in there.
Laprise blocks Swanson's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Laprise fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Laprise lands a big shot there that rocks Swanson but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Laprise lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Laprise jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Swanson manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Laprise is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Swanson has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laprise scores with punches from side control.
Laprise lands some shots froms side control.
Swanson is looking to reverse the position.

Laprise tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Laprise has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Laprise tries to move into full mount but can't pass Swanson's legs.
Laprise looks up at the clock and then as Swanson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Laprise smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Laprise looks up at the clock and then as Swanson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Laprise smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Swanson is working to avoid the ground and pound but Laprise connects with a decent elbow.
Swanson tries to improve position but can't.
Swanson taking a bit of punishment here - Laprise scoring with strikes.
Swanson tries to bench press Laprise off him but Laprise keeps the position.
Swanson striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Laprise working the ground and pound from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pierre Laprise dominated that round.
That's time! Laprise's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Swanson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Laprise as he jumps to the side.

Laprise feints and as Swanson raises his hands in defense, Laprise changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Laprise content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Laprise scoring with punches to the head and body.
Laprise is working Swanson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Laprise drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Swanson dives on top into guard.

Swanson throwing strikes but missing.
Swanson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swanson is looking to work some ground and pound but Laprise has wrist control.
Swanson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Swanson throws a strike but Laprise rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Laprise is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laprise passes Swanson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Laprise drops an elbow to the side of Swanson's head.
Laprise lands strikes from half guard.
Laprise prevents Swanson from improving his position.
Swanson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Laprise scores with a couple of nice shots.

Laprise is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Laprise is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Laprise is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Swanson is just riding it out for now. Laprise eventually gives up the hold.
Laprise blocks the strikes from Swanson.
Swanson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Laprise is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Laprise is working for a kimura but Swanson is defending it quite comfortably.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Laprise lands a nice short elbow.

Laprise is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Laprise blocks the strikes from Swanson.
Laprise blocks the strikes from Swanson.

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

Laprise wants to work for an arm triangle but Swanson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Swanson punching from the bottom.
Swanson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Laprise lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laprise blocks the strikes from Swanson.
Swanson taking some punishment here, with Laprise in his half guard.
Swanson punching from the bottom.

Laprise is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Swanson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Laprise is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Swanson is just riding it out for now. Laprise eventually gives up the hold.

Laprise is working for a submission of some sort.
Swanson punching from the bottom.

Laprise seems to be working for a kimura but Swanson defends the submission attempt.
Swanson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Swanson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Swanson pushes Laprise off and gets back to his feet.
Swanson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Laprise tries to avoid it but Swanson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Laprise to the ground. Laprise escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Swanson has a takedown stuffed.
Pierre Laprise has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Swanson.
Swanson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Laprise.
Laprise shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Swanson pinned against the cage. Swanson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Laprise shoots in looking for a takedown but Swanson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Laprise's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Swanson is looking for the big counter here.

Laprise scores with a takedown into Swanson's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Swanson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Laprise scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Swanson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pierre Laprise dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Swanson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Laprise to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Swanson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Swanson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Laprise is looking for a sweep. Swanson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Swanson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Laprise wants to improve his position but Swanson is controlling well.
Swanson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Laprise defending well though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swanson throwing shots but Laprise is blocking nicely.
Laprise keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Laprise is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson looks to land a strike but Laprise avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Swanson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Swanson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Swanson is looking to work some ground and pound but Laprise has wrist control.
Laprise avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Swanson throws a big right hand that misses.
Laprise working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Swanson.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Swanson postures up in Laprise's guard and throws a big left but Laprise blocks it.
Laprise is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Laprise has his foot on Swanson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Swanson works his way back into a safe position though.
Pierre Laprise is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swanson throws a big right hand that misses.
Laprise looking to hit a scissor sweep but Swanson is one step ahead there.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The fight stays on the outside here - Swanson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Swanson shoots in for a takedown but Laprise shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Swanson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Swanson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Pierre Laprise overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Swanson throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Laprise to regain full guard.
Swanson throws an elbow that misses. Laprise uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Swanson's guard. Nice move by Laprise!

Laprise is in close to Swanson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Laprise passes into half guard.
Swanson misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson is staying active underneath Laprise, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Laprise wants to pass the guard but Swanson is defending well.

Laprise looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Swanson landing rabbit punches to the side of Laprise's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.
Laprise is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Laprise is nestled in close to Swanson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Laprise is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Swanson is just riding it out for now. Laprise eventually gives up the hold.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laprise trying to control the action but Swanson is working from the bottom.
Swanson punching from the bottom.
Swanson misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Swanson gets back to full guard.
Laprise 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.
Swanson throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Swanson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Joe Swanson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Swanson keeping full guard, as Laprise tries to pass.

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

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 Pierre Laprise.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Laprise, 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pierre Laprise!
Pierre Laprise seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.