PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Araujo (ranked 796 p4p, 108 weight class) and Vincent Lemieux (ranked 731 p4p, 97 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Araujo
vs
Lemieux

193 cm
26
285 lbs
15 - 11 - 0

193 cm
33
270 lbs
20 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

UnderGround Clothing Co.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Araujo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vincent Lemieux!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Araujo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Araujo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lemieux lands a right hand.
Lemieux misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lemieux is working Araujo over against the cage.

Araujo ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Araujo no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Lemieux is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Araujo pulls Lemieux in close to his closed guard and prevents Lemieux from doing any damage or advancing position.
Lemieux is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Lemieux trying to control the position from guard on top but Araujo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Araujo wants to sweep but no luck.

Lemieux avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Araujo looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Lemieux passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araujo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Araujo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Araujo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lemieux pulls his head out easily.
Araujo wants to improve his position but Lemieux is controlling well.

Araujo looking for submissions off his back.
Araujo has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Araujo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Araujo.

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

Araujo working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Lemieux has passed into half guard!
Lemieux is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Araujo tries to roll over but Lemieux keeps him under control.
Lemieux content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Araujo wants to get back to full guard.
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.
Lemieux wants to get back to his feet.
Araujo tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Araujo actively working from the bottom here.
Well, if Lemieux is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Araujo tries to get to full guard but Lemieux has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Araujo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lemieux pulls his head out easily.
Araujo is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Araujo wants to control but Lemieux is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Araujo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lemieux was well out of range. Poor timing from Araujo.
Lemieux throws a hook but Araujo blocks it.
Lemieux misses with the combination.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Araujo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lemieux counters with a series of strikes. Araujo will be more careful next time no doubt.
No luck for Araujo with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincent Lemieux dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Araujo misses with a takedown
and Lemieux counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Araujo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lemieux was well out of range. Poor timing from Araujo.
Lemieux has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Araujo has his takedown stuffed
and Lemieux connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lemieux throws a looping overhand right but Araujo ducks down to avoid it.

Lemieux gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Araujo throws a strike but Lemieux rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Araujo controls Lemieux momentarily but Lemieux frees himself.

Araujo working for a triangle but Lemieux defends it easily.
Araujo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lemieux is looking to stand up but Araujo won't let him.
Araujo keeping full guard, as Lemieux tries to pass.
Lemieux sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Araujo trying to keep a closed guard but Lemieux is proving a slippery customer.
Araujo looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Lemieux puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Lemieux slows the pace down in half guard.
Araujo trying to control but Lemieux postures up.

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

Araujo actively working from the bottom here.
Vincent Lemieux has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lemieux not doing much here.
Araujo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Araujo working for a triangle but Lemieux defends it easily.
Araujo wants to control but Lemieux passes easily into half guard.

Araujo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Araujo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lemieux pulls his head out easily.
Araujo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Araujo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lemieux can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Araujo is trying to control the position but Lemieux postures up.
Araujo trying to strike off his back.

Araujo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Araujo throws his legs up looking for a submission but Lemieux uses it to pass to side control.
Araujo tries to bench press Lemieux off him but Lemieux keeps the position.
Araujo wants to control but Lemieux postures up.
My spies in Touch Of Death Combat Academy inform me that Lemieux has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Araujo tries to improve position but can't.
Araujo can't do much from the bottom here.
Araujo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Lemieux's best efforts.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Lemieux moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Araujo.
Lemieux working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincent Lemieux showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Araujo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lemieux sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Araujo somewhat.

Lemieux clinches up with Araujo and pushes him back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lemieux.
A head punch on the inside from Lemieux fails to land.
Araujo has a couple of punches blocked by Lemieux.
Lemieux works on Araujo's body with a couple of short punches.
Nice body punch from Lemieux - that landed with a thud.
Lemieux lands with a right to the head.
Lemieux fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lemieux misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lemieux lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Lemieux.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lemieux creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lemieux softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A hook to the body from Lemieux.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araujo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Lemieux digs a right hand underneath Araujo's ribcage. Araujo let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Lemieux lands a nice uppercut.

Araujo is rocked!
Lemieux lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Oh Araujo is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Lemieux lands an uppercut in the clinch that drops Araujo to his knees! Lemieux keeps firing more shots against his stricken opponent and the referee jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Vincent Lemieux!