PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between David Ibofen (ranked 4654 p4p, 3150 weight class) and Claude Giguere (ranked 524 p4p, 398 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ibofen
vs
Giguere

179 cm
23
180
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
175
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, David Ibofen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Claude Giguere!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Trevor Gratis and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Giguere displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ibofen throws out the jab.
Ibofen throws a series of punches but Giguere moves out of range.
Giguere looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ibofen misses with the combination.
Giguere throws a combination that misses
and Ibofen counters with a leg kick.
Ibofen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Giguere circles away quickly and effectively.
Giguere misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ibofen tries to clinch but Giguere is having none of it.
Ibofen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Giguere manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Giguere looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Ibofen throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Giguere's head.

It looks like Claude Giguere has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Giguere shoots for a takedown but Ibofen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ibofen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Giguere.
David Ibofen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Claude Giguere.
Ibofen misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ibofen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ibofen lands in his opponent's guard.
Ibofen trying to control but Giguere is working from the bottom.
Giguere looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ibofen is one step ahead there.

Giguere has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ibofen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ibofen drops back looking for a leg! Giguere is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Giguere manages to kick Ibofen off! Ibofen jumps back into Giguere's guard.
Ibofen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Giguere is proving hard to escape from.
Ibofen wants to control from the top but Giguere keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

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

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibofen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Giguere.
Giguere shoots in looking for a takedown but Ibofen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Giguere's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Giguere closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Giguere tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ibofen just stands there and leans against the cage.
Giguere tries for a takedown. No joy.

Giguere's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Giguere shoots in but Ibofen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ibofen wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Giguere takes the fight into the clinch.
Ibofen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ibofen dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Giguere looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibofen is trying to stall.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Giguere successfully pulls guard.

Giguere is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ibofen defends well.

Giguere looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Giguere keeping moving, preventing Ibofen from controlling successfully.
Ibofen prevents Giguere from getting back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

David Ibofen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Claude Giguere's cut.
That's time! Ibofen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ibofen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Giguere pinned against the cage. Giguere gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ibofen throws a combination that misses

and Giguere holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Giguere looking for a takedown.
Giguere jumps guard but Ibofen stands there with Giguere around his waist. Giguere gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Giguere is trying to drag Ibofen to the mat but Ibofen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
David Ibofen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Claude Giguere.
Giguere throws a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibofen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Ibofen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ibofen tries to clinch up but Giguere circles away and keeps his distance.
Giguere shoots in but Ibofen avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ibofen closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch on the inside from Ibofen fails to land.
Ibofen looking to slow down the pace here.
Giguere is trying to drag Ibofen to the mat but Ibofen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ibofen looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Ibofen misses with an elbow strike.
Giguere pressing his opponent against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Giguere as Ibofen tries to tie him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ibofen trying to land knees to the body.
Giguere can't break the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Giguere.
Giguere being controlled against the cage.
Ibofen stalling in the clinch.
Giguere controlling the action here for a moment.
Giguere wants to take the fight to the mat but Ibofen manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Giguere tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ibofen just stands there and leans against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Giguere ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Giguere no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Ibofen trying to control the position from guard on top but Giguere is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Giguere working for a triangle but Ibofen defends it easily.
Giguere has his hands on Ibofen's head, controlling the position.

Giguere escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ibofen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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.
Giguere is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Giguere is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ibofen defends well.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Ibofen looking to sit in guard and control but Giguere gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Giguere got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ibofen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Giguere has managed to get both his arms back between Ibofen's legs - danger averted.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that David Ibofen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Claude Giguere's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ibofen swings for the body but Giguere moves out of range.
Ibofen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Giguere fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Giguere takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Giguere lands a jab to Ibofen's midsection.
Ibofen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Giguere can do to turn this around?

Giguere closes the distance and pushes Ibofen back into the cage.
Ibofen misses with the head strike.
Ibofen displaying some good clinch control by pressing Giguere up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibofen is trying to stall.
Giguere lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ibofen backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibofen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ibofen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Giguere is defending well for now.
Giguere working hard to break the clinch.
Giguere blocking some punches.
David Ibofen has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ibofen creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Ibofen is pressed up against the cage. Giguere has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ibofen down to the mat. Ibofen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ibofen misses with a low kick as Giguere jumps back.
Giguere misses with a takedown attempt - Ibofen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
David Ibofen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Claude Giguere.
Giguere has a takedown stuffed.

Giguere takes the fight into the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ibofen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ibofen obliges.

Ibofen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Ibofen. Giguere shrugs it off though.

Giguere has managed to clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ibofen.
Giguere takes a shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ibofen looking to slow down the pace here.
Ibofen holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Giguere has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ibofen after a bit of a struggle.
Giguere has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ibofen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giguere is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ibofen tries to land knees in the clinch but Giguere avoids the damage to the body.
Giguere looking for a takedown.
Giguere is trying to pull guard but Ibofen turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ibofen lands with a left to the head.
Ibofen is trying to maintain a safe position but Giguere gets an underhook and turns Ibofen into the cage.
Giguere jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ibofen walks away with a smile on his face. Giguere gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ibofen thumps Giguere with a low kick.
Nice body kick from Ibofen.
Giguere shoots in looking for a takedown. Ibofen tries to sprawl out of it but Giguere keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ibofen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ibofen tried to counter with a leg kick but Giguere avoided it.
Giguere takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A good leg kick by Ibofen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibofen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Giguere paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Giguere throws a hook but Ibofen avoids it easily.
Giguere looks for a takedown but Ibofen sprawls well.
Ibofen misses with a head kick.

Giguere closes the distance and clinches.

Giguere jumps guard and drags Ibofen to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Giguere trying to control the position.
Giguere preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Ibofen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ibofen, 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Ibofen!
David Ibofen decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.