PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Radeon Lafleur (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Walter Flanagan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Flanagan is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Wizard . Radeon Lafleur had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 136.0lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Walter Flanagan has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lafleur
vs
Flanagan

167 cm
26
145 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

171 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Radeon Lafleur!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Walter Flanagan!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lafleur tries to score a power double leg takedown but Flanagan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lafleur somewhat.
A little jabbing left from Flanagan on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Flanagan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Flanagan is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Lafleur with a body shot.
Lafleur fails with a takedown attempt.
Lafleur shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Flanagan pinned against the cage. Flanagan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Flanagan throws out a counter right but Lafleur avoids it with no problem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Radeon Lafleur. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice shot lands for Lafleur.
Lafleur looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Flanagan has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Lafleur is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Flanagan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lafleur.
Flanagan throws a counter combo.
Flanagan slips a jab and a cross from Lafleur.
Flanagan is looking for the big counter here.

Lafleur shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Flanagan napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Lafleur is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lafleur misses with the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Flanagan can do anything to dispel that myth.
Lafleur in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Lafleur creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Flanagan sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Lafleur sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Flanagan is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Lafleur misses with the ground and pound.
Lafleur postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lafleur misses with the ground and pound.
Flanagan managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Lafleur.
Lafleur throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Lafleur in side control lands a decent elbow.
Flanagan parries the strikes from Lafleur easily there. Lafleur is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Flanagan to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Flanagan is trying to control Lafleur's posture but Lafleur avoids it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lafleur throws a strike aimed at the side of Flanagan's head but Flanagan avoids it well.
Lafleur in side control, throwing shots but Flanagan defends.
Lafleur tries to move to mount but Flanagan blocks the move with his legs.
Lafleur throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Lafleur creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Flanagan sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flanagan wants to control but Lafleur postures up.
Lafleur working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
What's Flanagan going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Flanagan is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Lafleur throws an elbow but Flanagan slips to the side and avoids it well.
Flanagan is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Lafleur misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Flanagan avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Lafleur.
Flanagan is looking to regain half guard here but Lafleur keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flanagan takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Flanagan dodges the ground and pound from Lafleur.
Lafleur postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Lafleur fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Lafleur in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Lafleur has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Flanagan is trying to get back to half guard.
Lafleur postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Lafleur throws an elbow but Flanagan slips to the side and avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Radeon Lafleur dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lafleur will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lafleur shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Flanagan defends it nicely.
Lafleur shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Flanagan defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Radeon Lafleur. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lafleur swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A slow jab from Lafleur misses its intended target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lafleur takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Lafleur fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Flanagan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Flanagan! But no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flanagan lands the left hand.

Flanagan shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lafleur's guard.

Lafleur is rocked!
Flanagan scoring with punches to the head and body.
Oh Lafleur is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Flanagan not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Flanagan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Lafleur escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Flanagan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Flanagan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lafleur keeping moving, preventing Flanagan from controlling successfully.
Lafleur seems to have got his legs back now.

Lafleur has his foot on Flanagan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Flanagan works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flanagan scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Flanagan keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lafleur's head.
Flanagan postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Flanagan trying to control the position from guard on top but Lafleur is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Flanagan works over Lafleur with some ground and pound from guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lafleur is on top in guard.

Flanagan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lafleur is one step ahead there.
Lafleur in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lafleur postures up and lands a big shot to Flanagan's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lafleur throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Flanagan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lafleur throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lafleur working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lafleur with a nice head shot there.
Lafleur loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Flanagan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lafleur throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lafleur trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lafleur is looking to work some ground and pound but Flanagan has wrist control.
Flanagan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lafleur. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Flanagan seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Lafleur in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Flanagan stuffs the takedown attempt from Lafleur. Lafleur gets slowly back to his feet.
We've been informed that Flanagan has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Flanagan has closed the distance and engaged Lafleur in a clinch.
A short right from Flanagan.

Flanagan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lafleur throws a right hand that Flanagan ducks under and follows up with a left that Flanagan also avoids with ease.
Flanagan lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Flanagan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Flanagan doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Flanagan scores with a jab.
Flanagan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Flanagan wants it to stay on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walter Flanagan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Flanagan wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Lafleur shoots in for a takedown but Flanagan shows good takedown defense.
A little jabbing left from Flanagan on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Lafleur falls off balance throwing a combination
and Flanagan counters with a left and a right that stings Lafleur.

Flanagan sends Lafleur crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Flanagan is motioning to the referee to let Lafleur up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lafleur goes for a double leg but Flanagan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Flanagan continues to drive forward.
Flanagan tries to counter by closing the distance.
Lafleur keeps the fight on the outside.
Lafleur fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Radeon Lafleur. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Flanagan lands an uppercut out of nowhere! Lafleur falls backwards - clearly groggy! Flanagan dives in and finishes the fight with more strikes for a TKO finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Walter Flanagan!
Walter Flanagan was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.